Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-02-01
Only a Few Stitches
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

And about two yards Of delicate
flounce abruptly severed its connection
with the pretty grenadine dress which
II had up to that moment adorned.
Dear met" gloomily mHttered its
fair wearer, thus brought to sudden
stand-still, as she gathered up
the torn fiounce and glanced quickly
about her in CONSERVATION. Now
what shall do1 can't go through
the streets in this plight, and here am
in the very heart Of the city, and not
place where l can step in and ask for
a needle and thread to repair itl'
And the look Of annoyance on the
really pretty face deepened as. after a
hasty search, she found that she had
not even 30 much az q pin wherewith
10 conceal the gaping rent.
Suddenly her rowing glance caught
the CLEAN of q plate-glass window, in
which was handsome display of gen.
tlemen's hats, and just above ii, In
richly carved gilt letters tine sign:
"Charles Knight, Fashionable Hat
ter"
The lady's blue eyes suddenly light
ed up with a ray OF hope.
"A hat storep' she calculated In re-
lief. " If they make hats in there,
surely they must have needles and
thread, and perhaps"
But by the time her thoughts had
run thus far, she had stepped over the
threshold of the hat-storc, and was in
some embarrassment preferring her
modest but somewhat unusual request
to the proprietor.
"a needle and thread, Certainly,
madam. Step right this way, please,
and the gentleman courteously usher
cd her into his private office, and pro-
yided her Mt once with the needed i'm
plements.
He himself was busted at something
near the ofice-door, which stood open
and as the lady sewed away upon thu
torn fiounce they casually drilted into
conversation.
In very few minutes Mr.: Knigh
had learned that his lair visitor was &
widow, and was seeking employment
rs housekeeper. And In those same few
minutes she had discovered that thu
gentleman was widower, and tina
his establishment was already presided
over by a perfect treasure.
There is no chance Tor me there,
though the fair widow, heaving little
Unconscious sign.
But her task was ended now, ant
she rose 10 go.
"There!" she exclaimed, giving
dainty shake TO the disordered foun
ccs, and handing back TO Mr.. Knigh
the tiny instrument which had serve'
as card of introduction. Il am pre-
sentable once more, and thank you
ever so much for your courtesy. b.
the way" she added hesitatingly, {"
will leave this, II you will allow me,
and blushing little, she drew neat
unpretentious card from its case, IAN,
possibly you may hear of some on
among your circle OF acquaintance
who may need my services"
"IfI ever have the opportunity t.
serve YOU" replied the gentlema
/ calamity, "it will afford me plea
sure, Mrs All, Mrs, Sanford
glancing at the card, " 1t will, indeed
/ assure you"
And the wealthy merchant bowe
the poor widow out OF his elegant sho
with as much: courty politeAess as
she had been a duchess.
"An interesting woman" h
thought after she was gone, with tn
graceful figure, the blue eyes, and til
fair, youthtul-looking face still fresh
his mind. !" If l were not so admir-,
bly, suited already in my housekeepel
would give her the place at once
would, indeed"
il Then business demanded his clos
attention for the next hour or 30, an
by that time the little incident of I'll
torn flounces was almost forgotten.
II Meantime, as the young widow pur
sued her way up the crowded stree
the image of the handsome, court
merchant had very prominent cornt
in her thoughts.
"a pleasant gentleman. very" 81
REFLECTED, land I'm sure he meant q
he said about his willingness to asst
line If he has an opportunity. Att
all, am not so sorry that necessit
drove me in there to take few stitch
: In my dress"
And for few days-women hay
ibetter memories for these things, "
see, than men have-the tall form Al
kindly dark eyes of the merchant we
) inextricably mixed up In her though
with the search for employment. b
soon the stern realities of life drove d
. else from her mind, and she, to
, forgot the little incident of tn, ha
store.
But those twopeopledwered estined
J. meet again. ~ say, Charlie, " crit
one of our hero's friends, jolly bach
lor, who owned AN elegant establish
ment and ran it with the utmost he
pitality. dropping into the store OIL
Iday, i" don't know what under hea
en- Pm going to do. Here's my hous
keeper obliged to leave me almo
without an hours warning: that crow
81 of fellows coming from Philadelph
? to- morrow Now, look here, you kno
Everybody, seems to me-can't you b
upon some one to help me out of til
. COMPOUNDED scrape? "
: "Why, I'll try, my boy, of course,
promptly responded the merchant syr
lpathizingly, Pm ask my hous'
keeper to-night-but stopl by Jov
. the very thing" and going to certa
shelf he took down small white /
!. lof pasteboard and gazed at it wit
] awakened interest. Yes, the yer
J thing" he repeated emphatiarlly? ="
! this lady hasn't found place air eat
I'll get her for you"
Tom Gordon fairly wrung h
! friends hands in his relief and gra
! Itude.