Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-22

Won in one moment" The girls tone was
fully as naughty and cold as madaIn's own,
and there was not a symptom of cringing
IN the proud face of that shOpgirI." as
Mrs. MonteIth mentally designated her.
She was used to servility and fawning. and
of being flattered and told how exceedingly
well every thing became her, and, conse-
Quently, was not pleased with this quiet at
tendance.
"Dear me, what an awkward bow you
have tied - and Mrs. Monteith petulaDtly
twitched the strings of the bonnet spite
fully, as she took it OF for the alteration.
Isabel Grant looked at her half detiantly,
then took the bonnet in her hand, with
strong effort at repression, and biting her
lip until it bled to keep back the words
which longed to break out in torrent and
overwhelm this aristocratic lady in her vio-
lence.
She had been in a stormy humor all day,
and from the first customer in the morning.
the fat woman who tried on every hat on
the rack, and departed with the purchase
of a hat-pin, to this naughty Mrs. Monteith
at three in the afternoon, she had been
rasped and tortured, until every nerve was
in a quiver.
BLESS US, Isabel Grant, you look like
thunder-cloudp' said lively Jennie Dewey,
as Isabel came back to the wOrk-roOm for
needle.
"Get up your lightning rods, then, if you
are afraid of a storm" replied Isabel,
briefly. She was in no humor for joking,
even with Jennie.
Pm sure don't see any need Of using
Nine Arnot's needle" SAID another; ''you
have pins and needles enough in your ex-
preston TO supply the whole shop
For shame, girls; you can't help seeing
that Isabel Is tired and worn out with wait
ing on those trying customers"
The voice was a soft, gentle one, and at
rs sound the lively girls ceased their tan
talizing laughter and looked gently at the
speaker; it was sweet LOttie Ford, the lame
cirl. whose tender sympathies for others
was born of intense suffering, and Isabel,
having secured her needle, stopped and
kissed the white, blue-veined forehead OF
the girl as she turned to leave the room.
You have always soothing word, you lit
tie white dove" she said, in halfwhisper,
and a gentle expression came over her face
as she made her way back to Mrs. MOnteith.
It was very fashionable establishment,
Nine Arnot's, and its plateglass show
windows were marveis of tasteful beauty,
hung with airy laces and bright designs IN
ribbons: the showroom itself had little to
indicate the character of the establishment
except one large rack in the center of the
room, hung with trimmed hats, and the row
on row of band-boxes on the handsome
shelves where the choicest specimens of
pattern hats and Partisan styles were kept.
Elegant mirrors hung on all sides: easy
chairs and little sofas were scattered about
for the convenience of the fashionable
LII,
posed to be so exhaustive, but woe to the
unlucky shop-gIrl who should dare sit down
on these inviting rests, for Nine. ArnOt
was strict discipInarian and Indulged in
no inconvenient sympathy for her work
people. A mere shop-girl was not sup
posed to be tired, and if she was there were
plenty of good, hard chairs in the work
room, provided she found any time to use
one.
Nine Arnot had no idea of being a
harsh mistress in fact she prided herself
exceedingly on her Christian virtues, and
considered herself a particularly amiable
person; indeed among a certain class of her
customers she was spoken of as that
"sweet person." Nine. Arnot, but the title
never extended to the work room.
She was a small woman, with blue eyes
which were capable of a variety of express
slons; to the rich. Mrs. Monteith they
beamed with good nature and pleasant emo
tons; to Isabel Grant, the poor shop-girl, a
paid person, they could fash with tyran-
nical CLEAN that transformed the plump,
pretty face completely.
Nine. Arnot had been once poor herself,
bitterly poor, and had risen by various
stages to the position she now occupied, and
ssmmend me to that person who, with a
mean, selfish heart TO begin with, rises from
poverty 10 afiuence for an example of the
snob perfect; one who will grind her poor
dependents down to the very smallest pow
der and make them feel her power to the
uttermOst.
To say that Isabel Grant felt this amiable
quality in Nine Arnot's makeup is a fee
bic term; it stung her, degraded her, filled
her very soul with bitterness from day to
day. but as yet she had seen no escape from
it, for she had her bread to earn.
The season was almost over, and only this
morning isabel had received a letter from