The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-17
lpR0MPT SOLUTION.
Saturday Night.

EUVeWr ] zulu uVWs
Saturday Night.
1t was the typical country store.
There were soap and pins, needles and
letter paper, and back combs and pa
per collars, and suspenders, in glass
cases in the front, and crockery and
calico, and tinware and overalls, and
cowhide boots disposed on the shelves,
and butter and dried beef, and buck.
wheat and kerosene, and molasses and
Goldfish in friendly confusion in the
rear. Its motley variety was, indeed,
IL necessity. I.amphier's was the only
store at Unionville.
Ii Lamphier's was the typical coun-
try store, Lottie Lamphier was not
the typical country storekeeper's
daughter. So John Stockham, Mr..
I.amphier's clerk from the next town,
had thought, when he saw her trip.
ping into the store one morning after
spool OF thread, and a pound OF COT
fee-she was her fathers housekeeper.
She had seemed to John, in her crisp
pink calico, and her natty straw hat,
the most jauntily stylish girl he had
ever seen, as well as the prettiest.
That was four months ago. Lottie
came down to the store frequently.
OF course it was necessity that she
should; something was always needed
at the house. Certainly John was far
too modest to dream that his pres.
ence could have tile remotest in
tluence on her cominss and goings.
But he had not neglected his oppor.
tunities. He had talked to her as he
tied up her sugar. or rolled ND her lin.
ing cambria, or smiled ut her from
over the kerosene can and the molas.
ses barrel, and Lottie had not been
prudishly backward in responding.
The first snow found them very good
friends indeed.
The one blot on this extremely pleas.
ant companionship was Mr.. Lam.
phier. Whether Mr.. Lamphier was
guilty OF the notion that his clerk was
an undesirable party, and therefore a
dangerous companion for his daugh,
ter, or whether he was possessed OF an
isnobe fear OF the loss OF q good
housekeeper; or whether he had de-
veloped q streak OF the unreason and
contrariness not entirely unknown to
old gentlemen, who are undergoing
their first touches ofrheumatism, and
feeling the need OF an older pair of
classes-what Mr.. Lamphier's motive
was. was doubtful.
But he was plainly opposed to John
Stockham's growing admiration for
his pretty daughter.
The scene which took place one
snowy December morning had come
be common one.
Lottie came down to the store at a
quarter to nine. 1t was earlier than
she generally came. and the TACT ac-
counted for the blackness OF Mr.. Lam.
pliers frown.
Her new brown dress was extraor-
dinarily stylish and becoming, and
John Stockham fairly blushed with
delighted admiration at the sight OF
her
Lottie had nothing to get but O.
pound of rice, and it was impossible
to be very long about getting that.
But Lcttie was young person OF
ways and means.
Good morning, Mr.. Stockham,"
she called ont cheerflllv
John was replenishing the fire at
the back OF the store.
Good morning, Miss Lamphier,"
he reioined, with subdued en- thusiasm.
Mr.. Lamphier's sharp eyes were up
on him, and he did not venture to
join her.
What are these, pa?" cried Lottie,
Immediately. "Do come and show me
how they work, Mr.. Stockham."
They were patent mouse traps. It
was improbable that Lottie was ig.
norant OF their function, or that John
Stockham believed that she was, but
he got himself to the front OF the store
with alacrity.
ats lovely weather, Mr.. Stockham,"
Lottie observed, forgetting the mouse
trap. elegant"
ais it?" said John, not brilliantly,
but devotedly, looking his admiration
OF Lottie's bright eyes and red cheeks.
"Oh, yes, the SHOWS q foot deep,
and had to wade; but like it,"
"Do youlike wading alone-by your.
self?" John ventured.
ooh, well, ] suppose it would be
pleasant with somebody along" Lot
tie responded, with her eyes on row
OF stove polish boxes.
II should say SO. decidedly" said
John, growing holder.
"stockham!" Mr.. Lamphier call
ed. snapishly, "please attend to Gus.
toner's"
The customers" consisted of old
Billy Murdoch, who came in regularly
to sit over the stove, but never bought
anything; but John went back ODE.
IDENTITY.
There was a period of silence, and
then clatter from the front.
"Oh, goodness" cried Lottie, in q
tone OF horror, "I've knocked down a
box of curtain fixtures. Mercy! do
help me to pick them up."
John rushed to her side. He did
not know whether she had knocked
them off purposely, but he hoped she
had. Lottie knew; but she looked
quite innocently regretiul.
They groped about together for the
missing curtain fixtures among the
empty boxes under the counter. DC.
casionally their hands touched each
other.
"We'n never find them ALL" said
Lottie.
81 hope we won't. Pm willing to
keepon hunting" John rejoined, with
q sly, shy glance at the pretty face
near him.
"Ive got lot of things to do at
home," said Lottie smiling back at
him. Pm trimming q new hat"
You couldn't improve on that
one" John put i'll, with another adj.
miring glance.
"And if Pm going to have rice pud-
ding for dinner, it ought to be going
OF" said Lottie. musinsly.
But she kept on feeling aimlessly
about for curtain fixtures.
cpd be glad to walk home with you
if my time were my own" said John,
wistfully.
you've never been to the house,
have your" Lottie queried.
You We never invited me-" John
responded with q gentle reproach.
''Not that I'd dared come if you did, +"
he added, with q faint motion of his
head toward Mr.. Lamphier.
Lottie sighed.