Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-21

She thought of Aunt Sarah with sudden fright, but then she went in at the door, her unsteady hands tightly, determinedly clasped, and said to the staring shop keeper that she would like to try to fill his cashiers place.
 Willard Oliver walked up Third avenue at elght o'clock that evening.
 He had stopped at two points below Fif- tieth street, and he had still point to make above it. He walked fast and looked wor ried, tor he feared ho would be kept out too late to make a certain call tonight.
 He thrust his stick under his arm and strodo hard.
 If he could make it by 8 :45 he would drop in anyhow; he didn't think she would mind it, though her aunt might. Or if ho did not have to go home and dress-if she would overlook the unconventional tic he had hated himself for having pat on that morning! He thought she would, though he didn't know about her aunt. He did not care about her aunt, either, only as regarded her weight and influence with her.
 But then he was certain, whenever ho could rouse himself to look tho matter In the face, that influence the most favorable yea, and any amount of it-would avail him nothing with-her! Therefore he looked tho matter in the face as little as possible. He brought up at his destination sharply. and burst in at the door. If there had been @ hindering rush of cus- 1 toners he knew he should have gone crazy. He eyed girl with a pail of pickles scowl- l ingly, and cringed with impatience as the proprietor went to the cashiers desk with her bill.
 "Feefty from vun tollar, mees," he said, | with certain politeness. 'rI'm late, Schwab," his caller broke In, following him. ''It doesn't inconvenience you7"
 The shop-keeper smilingly shrugged. | "It wouldn't do me no hurt uf.you all de time stayed avay," he declared jooularly. 1 "Achl 1t Is do rent dot geeps us poor, vc storegeepers. Dot man moost be reech like de Rothschild-eh, Mir. Oliver3' | "Well, he's richer than you or l." Mr. Oliver rejoined, taking a receipt from his pocket-book.
 He leaned against the desk while Schwab went to the safe. A hat and jacket hung on | a nail near him.
 His eyes remained fastened upon them wonderingly; he turned to look respect fully at the girl who wore things 50 much like hers. Tho back of her head was ! toward him; he thought the likeness fol- lowed even here, and his interest was warm ly aroused. He made remark to her ! about the weather.
 There was blank pause when she had turned to him.
 He stammered her name and blushed for his rudeness of nMazement, and strovc to speak. But he only faltered fragmentarily.
 ''lt sounded like your voice." said Cor nelia-she tried, with bewildered eyes, and I a humping heart, and trembling lips, to smile-"but couldn't believe it was you"
 "And I couldn't believe it was you" he said. "It's mutual surprise"
 He looked at her, eagerly smiling, through the latticed wires that topped the desk. ! hurrying tremendously to get to see you"
 II shall be going soon,' she said.
 She held her head we'll up, though her chin quivered.
 She felt ashamed that 1t should. He ! would have known it sooner or later-she would have told him; and why did she feel it somehow cruelty ridiculous that he should ! find4er thus!
 But there was only pleasant smile in his eyes as ho looked at her, and she went on hurriedly. He was asking if he might not, then, take her home, but she did not hear | him.
 t'I will tell you-I know you are wonder. ing," she said. sBut IT thought you knew was poor, and-'
 She tried to be calmly deliberate as she told him, and she was puzzled that she should be so incoherent. And she did not know why he should keep on smiling, oven when she accounted ! for it all-even when she anxiously gave him her motive-her long desire for self ! support and independence of "charity."
 She put 1t at its worst; atleast, there was no worse to come.
 She did not look at him again. She did not want to see how he looked after that But he laughed explosively, pushing back V l,s. ~ l. l~1 1l- l.; citement.
 "I didn't know that-that 1t Is 'charity,''
 he said, breathlessly, trying to look over | the grating. 'I didn't know it. Ineedn't \ stand quite in such awe of you any more
 need I1 If am poor lawyer who collects
 rents after hours to help out, and zoe.
 about on false pretenses trying to make 2 good impression on people-certain people I-trying to give them an effect of solid wealth because of this awe and fear, and an | interest-a certain interest,"" ! The wires were too high. He stopped te | the small oval change window.
 ''You couldn't take care of yourself" he | whispered, with a mingling of scorn ano | exultation. "You'u have to let me take
 care of you."
 He reached down her hat.
 The shop-keeper came up with roll 0,
 bills for the agent. His round face broad | ened.
 wy, you are ogwainted" he said, beam
 ing.
 The agent, joyously laughing, gave , ! brief explanation.
 "She wouldn't suit you, schwab," i" he con cluded. ''She doesn't know any thing abou | keeping books or making change" 'T am sorry," Cornelia faltered.
 She felt, with all tho rest-the blissfu rest-ridiculously defeated. She looked protestingly into her Iover' twinkling eyes. He took down her jacke and held it for her.
 s'What will your aunt-what will ou [ aunt-say to youT" he queried. s'She doesn't know 1t yet" CorneAa mur 7 mured. "I telegraphed her that ! was de . tained. She'll think I'm at Cousin Mary's.
 "She'll never knowP' he cried, with silen
 hilarity.
 , Schwab, oheerfully uncemprehendinI l | save for the main fact, waited for her at th F | door with a silver dollar and a bow.