Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-04-18
NOT WITHOUT HER REWARD.


Whitridge was the first girl to come
into the great millinery and dress
making establishment of Strawbridge
IL Hess.
The rooms had already been swept
and busted, but it was Armies work
to arrange the models on the forms,
wheel them into position, and drape
the new displays of silks, laces, flow
ers and feathers in the window.
She had just completed her task,
and was wondering what made the
other girls so late this morning, mean
while busting her dress-the girls at
Strawbridge's were required to appear
well dressed always-when small,
old man, lean and pale, with per-
picked, careworn look, came briskly
in, and with quite dapper air for
such little, light old man, addressed
her.
Woodworking, madam. You are
the proprietor here? All, yes, sup
posed so. Just allow me to show you
these little plans of mine"
Annie had fastened to say she was
not the proprietor, but not paying the
least attention to her, the old man
put his hat on the handicapped ia
bic near by, and taking a sheet of pa
per, upon which some patterns were
drawn, from his pocket, he spread it
down on the table, and entreated her
to look at it.
81 won't take above minute of
your time, madam" he said, looking
at her with an air Of almost childish
pleading. But please look at this.
1t is an invention of my own, a plan
to cut the boddices of dresses without
seams, saving all trouble of fitting,
stitching, ETC., warranted to make
the fortune of any dressmaker who
can be induced to try it."
He ran over the explanations with
a glib, breathless rapidity, which told
Annie that he had learned it by heart
long ago. The utter absurdity of the
thing struck vein of fun in her, and
the pathetic, tired face of the little
old man touched her with pity, so she
stood still and listened with a respect
full manner. while he ratified off fur
Their explanations. price only five
dollars for this valuable, labor-saving
invention. Can ] sell it to your firm,
madam ?"
Smiling, and humoring his conceit
that she was mistress there, Annie
shook her head and said, "No, thank
you. We are not in need of such an
article at present"
Gall right. knew it; l knew it.
Nobody has any need of me-" said
the little man, with such pathetic,
disappointed air that it went straight
to Armies kind heart.
Poor fellow, he seems to have no
one to care for him." she thought.
Without word of remonstrance
the little man put up his odd patterns,
and turned to go out of the store.
But as he neared the door, Annie
saw him reel and catch to tall bon
net-form to support himself, until he
dropped upon one of the velvet stools
by the counter.
In an instant she was beside him.
"Poor old man. are you sick? Can
| get you anything?" she asked, kind
ly.
"a glass Of water, please; | am
not WELL" he said, family.
Annie ran to the cooler and brought
glass of water to him. He drank
eagerly, and leaning his head back a
moment against the counter, the girl
heard him say something about MANY
mansions-cool brooks-all there
waiting for me"
She stopped and said, gently, "Sir,
you seem sick. Had you not better
60 homer"
He looked up at her, smiled, and
said, "Home' Oh, yes. But l don't
think | know the way"
"Could you find it if went with
you part way 7" said Annie.
Eyes, oh, yes" said the little fel.
low, and rose up at once.
"Wait till / get my hat" said An.
ME. BY this time several girls had
come in, and when Annie came to the
cloak rack for her hat. they asked her
what was the matter.
"Its an old man who seems sick
I'm afraid he'll get run over in the
streets, and I'm going a little way
with him." said Annie.
Better not be gone long, then. II
is past hours now, and Mr.. Hess will
be out of humor if any one is absent
said one of the girls.
Cant help it, said Annie, as she
! went back to her new acquaintance.
She could afford to be a little more
independent than some of the girls
Instead of boarding in a crowded
| ,baop tapor,oot -to,.o IL LII - -