The Irish standard., 1889-06-01

EW Cali dltSF ~ ZOE
you in ono monent.n The girls tone was
fully rs naughty and cold as madam's own,
Hod there was not % symptom OF cringing
In tbs proud face Of "that shop-girl," as
.Ess Monteith mentally designated her.
She was used to servility and fawning, and
of FLEEING liattered and told how exceedingly
well every thing became her, and, conse-
suently, was not pleased, With this quiet at
tendance.
"Dear me, what an awkward bow you
naye tied!, ard Mrs Monteith petulantly
Switched the strings of the bonnet spite
fully, as she took it eff for the alteration.
isabel Grant looked at her half de1iantly,
,hen took the bonnet in her hand, with a
arrong effort at repression, and biting her
Liz until it bled to keep back the words
which longed to break out in q torrent and
rveywhelm this aristocratic lady in her VIC
leaee.
she had been in G. 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
81 three il the afternoon, she had been
xasped and tortured, until every nerve was
In aQuiver
'iBless US, Isabel Grant, you look like a
thunder~cloudl' said lively Jennie Dewey,
rs Isabel ca1ne back 10 the work-roon for a
seedie.
"{aet up your lightning rods, then, if you
axe afraid OF q storm" replied Isabel,
pyleKy. She was IN no hunaor for jolxipg =,
sven with Jennie.
"{'n sure I don't sec any need of using
strre Arnot's needle" SAID another; e'ycu
have pins and needles enough in your ex-
preston to supply the whole shop"
"For sharne, girls; you can't help seeing
:>,at lisa bel is tired and worn ont with wait
ing On those trying custo,ners.'
The voice was soft, gentle one, and at
Its sound the lively girls ceased their tan
talizing laughter and looked gently al 5he
Epsaker; il was sweet Lotlje Ford. the lame
girl, whose terder sym pathies for others
p7as born of intense suffering, ana Isabel,
having secured her needle. stopped and
isisset3 the white, blue~veined forehead Of
Use sirl az sha turned to leave the ROOM.
"you have always 8, soothing WORT, you lit
tlss white dcve,'' she said, in q alf-whsper,
sad q gentle expression came over her face
W she made her way back to Mrs. Montsith.
II WAS very fashionable establishment,
sz1ne Arnot's, aud its plate glass show
gsindows wera nlarvsis of tasteful beauty,
apng with airy laces and bright designs IN
gibbons; the show room itself had little to
Indicate the character Of the establishment
except one large rack in the center Of the
eoo1n, hung with trimmed hats, aud the tow
o.. row; Of band boxes on the handsome
sAalges where the choicest specimens Of
aatSern hats and Partisan styles were kept.
Elegant mirrors hung on all sides; easy
chairs and little sofas were scattered about
sor the convenience OF the fashionable
ladies', whose labors in shopping were sup
posed SC be SO exhaustive, but woe to the
anluck7 shop-girl who should dare sit down
en these inviting rests fcr Mime. Arnot
Was q strict diselpiiuarian and INDUCED III
e, announcement sympathy for her work
people. t. mere sbop-girl was not sup
pt,sed 50 be tired, and if she was there we're
pianfy Of good, hard chairs in the work
ROOM, provided she found any time TO use
ore.
Rime. Arnot had no idea Of being a
harsh mistress; in fact she prided herself
exceedingly ON her Christian virtues, and
scnsidere,. herself g. particularly amiable
parson; indeed among q certain class Of her
customers she was spoken Of as that
'sweet person." Nine. LArnot, but the title
never extended to the work room.
She was small woman, with blue eyes
which were capsule of a variety OF express
sions; to the rich Mrs. Monteith they
Neayned with good nature and pleasant emo
Nous; 70 Isabel Grant, the poor shop~girl, q
n,sit, person, Shey could flash with tyran.
nlcel CLEAN that transformed the plump,
pretty face completely.
Mmc. Ar,ot had been once poor herself,
bitterly poor, and had risen by various
kI,> a. ~,
commend me &c that person who, with =
mean, selfish heart to begin with, rises from
poverty to aftlueuco tor al example Of the
dependents down to the very smallest pow
dor and make them feel her power to the
utte rruost.
10 say that Isabel Grant felt this amiabIe
euality in Nine Arnots makeup is fee
Me *er,m; it stung her, degraded her, filed
hsr very soul with bitterness from day TO
day, but as yet she had seen no escape from
n, tor she had her bread to earn.
The season was almost over, and only this
morning Isabel had received q letter from
hor aunt, with whoa she had always lived,
and it was filled with hitter complaints Of
poverty, Of the husbands drunkenness, and
sad bewailings Of her hard lot, which sent
tie girls heart throbbing with pain, down,
down like lead, and made her feel as ii she
Mad no right in that already oyer-crowded
hcme.
She was no tender-eyed heroine who could
10 into that oisordered household and, with
sen tie words and sanity influences, lure
coarse John Harmon FROM his cups and be
s tower Of strength to the long-suffer!ng
wife No, indeed she felt only too clearly
Shat, harassed, goaded and overworked as
abe had been, she would only prove another
element Of discord there, and she longed,
with fierce intensity, for some refuge which
would take her from it.
"Miss Grant, if you can not look more
pleasant you had better retire to the work
room and let Miss Dewey take your place, T"
;said Nine. Arnot, coldly, IS Mrs. Mon
telth swept out to her carriage, followed by
Isabels flashing eyes. ''Your expression
lis enough to drive customers away, instead
ot attracting them.'
; They were alone for moment, and Nine
|Arnot took the opportunity to speak he1
;reproof, but another party coming in she
was al smiles In moment.
There were several in the party, and de-
mandiag immediate attention. else 1sabe