The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-11-27

| greeted her with a smile "You are |
five minutes carly, Miss Wilbur he
said, graciously.
| She passed into the courtroom, which |
was filling fast, and put her small lunch
in her compartment, took off her hat
and then hesitated under running
fire of "What lovely coat, Miss Will
| burm
"Is that plush2'
"No, indeed, sealskin; my, amt we
fine, 3" etc.
Tessies tones trembled slightly as she
tried to answer quietly.
"Its borrowed plumage"-but she did
not finish the sentence.
Don't leave it down here whis-
pered a kind-hcarted girl. at won't
be safe, and you couldn't make fuss if
you lost it
She hesitated no longer but taking the
coat and her courage into her hand, went
over to the suit department, to the head
of which she owed her situation.
''Well, Miss Tessie," he said, as he
looked up from his desk. "Good
morning. What can l do for you to-
day"
"a great favor, please; will you keep
this wrap for met 1t was papa's last
present to mamma, and she made me
wear it because mine is being altered and
wasn't quite done. don't like to leave
it in the common cloak room
Certainly, certainly. Is that all"
and he hung the coat in his private
wardrobe. Remember Inc to Mrs.
Wilbur" aud with a light heart Tessie
went to her post at the ribbon
counter.
1t was busy day in spite of the lower
ing skies. Everybody seemed to be buy
ing new ribbons for Thanksgiving, and
Tessie matched shades and rolled and uu-
rolled ball after ball trying as much as in
her lay to be all things to all women in
order to earn her salary.
She was glad when pleasant little Miss
Baker, of the mlil order, came to her
with long memorandum TO fill, and
chatted brightly over the task, promising
before she was through TO bring her a
lot of samples of reduced black dress
goods for her mother.
Then came her lunch hour, and on her
way back to the counter visit to the
cashiers desk. Thursday was pay day, and
being Thanksgiving, the day before was
substituted. As she approached the desk
she was struck by the expressions of face
' in those who were leaving-some angry,
some detected, some scowling, Others al
most in tears-and she was not altogether
surprised when the amount was handed
to her sixty cents short.
GAN right said the cashier, frown-
ing, in answer to her look of inquiry.
e ''All salaries reduced ten per cent. from
e the drapers down. Sign, please. Next
N And she was prshed away by those press
n ing behind. The silver made her nurs,
is sarcastically full, she thought, bitterly
r and it was fuller yet, when, later in the
1t day, she placed the sample from Mis-
d Baker. in the same receptacle for SAT-
It keeping.
II When at last the long day was ended
IS the ribbons replaced in their boxes, anC
Z, she stood on the street corner, waiting
/. for her car with the rich sealskin Goa
Y almost covering her neat black dress, anC
&c a pretty black hat crowning her COLDER
e tresses, she felt herself fraud, and tn,
g fat purse in her hand was but of piec
n with the rest of her toute ensemble
II Indeed, there was nothing about her t,
Is suggest the working girl; she looked
II much more like a rich young woman be
d lated in shopping 1t was too late tC
/. walk, and few flakes of snow were fall
}, ing, which made the ride imperative fo
II the sealskin. Tessie promised hersel
a never TO wear it again, as she boarded
the crowded car, and felt that she mus
v stand a while longer.
, But beauty, becomingly dressed, ha
p charms to melt the heart Of man, and
e distinguished looking gentleman, youns
n enough to be impressed by such charms
/ galantly offered her his seat. She sanl
into it with graceful thanks, and having
J. paid her fare, slipped her purse in tn
l. fur coat pocket. People began to &c
" out, and presently she was able TO max
J room for the polite gentleman who ha,
d vacated his seat in her favor. Havin.
n done so. she looked straight out of tn,
L, window, as a well-bred girl should do
3. Two gentlemen ON the other side of her
a men of substance, evidently, were talk
e ing. A sentence caught her interest: g
see Draper has sent so, 600 to the suffer
k crs by the Western floods"
II eyes; what a public-spirited MAJ
d he is"
y Tessie's heart burned with an insan,
desire to supplement the statement witt
r. that of the reduction of his employees
e salaries.