Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-06-20
THE SWEET MYSTERY
A HaIf-True a,orv.

ible authority then a declinature and
finally, as an incline plane on which 10
shove his visitor with gentle rapidity TO the
street, there was the promise to notify her
If vacancy occurred.
Todays visitor bothered him by her un-
likeness TO the rest She was not nervous,
did not seem anxious, spoke of no need,
told him nothing Of her history, and was
evidently neither moved by the statement
that there was no vacancy, nor hoodwinked
by the suggestion that she should leave her
address.
As she sat calmly awaiting his reply to
her last proposition, the old merchant was
struck with the perfect self possession and
| dignity Of her bearing. She was neither
handsome nor SNOWY, but the very lack of
pretension accentuated her gentility. The
| style Of the woman was not tailor made
style. "She will attract, said the old man,
his perception of what was attractive in a
woman being sharpened by forty years of
| picking and choosing-and refusing.
He agreed to her proposal, taking care to
let it appear that he was doing her an i'm
mense favor. But somehow his new sales
woman did not seem oppressed by the obi
cation she bowed slightly, drew off her
long gloves, which Mr.. Warner observed at
once as a costly pair, took a white apron
ready to begin work.
'Your first name, please, said her en-
ployer my girls are only known in the
store by their first names"
There was an instant's hesitation, and
suggestion as of one shrinking from au un-
expected blow, before she answered Miss
Carey"
THAT is your first name /"
"No; it is my middle name, but prefer
to be known by it. NY first name is Mary"
Let it be Miss Carey, then" said Mr.
Warner, after a moments silence ON his
part. II have Marys enough"
"You have sold goods before, said Miss
Grace, tired looking, youngish old maid,
who was put in charge of the novice to
teach her the mysteries of trade.
NO." answered her pupil with a merry
smile. "Why do you think so y
"You are not half stupid enough for a
beginner"
Thanks. That is an unusually fine com
pliment can learn something from you
besides the meaning of these hieroglyphics;
but you have fiuttered me into into forget
ting what HID g means"
At the end of her month Miss Carey
thanked her employer for the opportunity
he had given her.
IL can now ask elsewhere for a place
with some assurance" ," said this willy young
woman, 'for | not only know the tricks,
but also know good many people"
OF course Mr.. Warner did not let her go
and she, moreover, made very good terms
with him.
What are you going to do to night, Es-
sic I" asked the girl at the stocking counter,
as she busily sorted and rearranged her
boxes.
The girl addressed was leaning against
the middle counter, in a tired, but grace
full, attitude She was out of bounds, but,
being by far the handsomest woman in the
store, the manager gave her great liberty,
when Mr.. Warmers back was turned.
81 am going TO see The Faithless Wife
with Joe Barton"
81 wonder you aren't ashamed, Essie
Thorpe, and afraid. too, to be seen with
that man" said Miss Grace, sharply. "You
know what he is
II don't care what he is !" cried the girl,
angrily, with red in her cheeks. He is
very nice to me-brings a carriage for me
aud a bunch of flowers, and takes me
where have so much fun that | almost
forget this hateful place where l have to
drudge all day"
But don't go to night, Essie, dear, " said
Miss Careys soft voice. 'If you will prom
Use not to go out with that man for a month,
| will bring a carriage for you this even
ing and take you to delightful place"
\ most surprised silence fell upon the
group of listeners; but the sound of the Of
fee door creaking startled the idlers back
to their places. Miss Carey followed up
her offer, and the beauty reluctantly made
| the bargain.
HAS somebody died and left you rich :"
/ l-,l la
seem to have money to throw away"
81 don't call any money thrown away
that will help to keep a young thing like
that out of harms way" said Miss Carey,
her face glowing with earnestness. But
the sweet earnest face was unusually grave
the rest of the day, for, truth to tell, this
rash promiser wondered how she could
make her promise good "What place do
know of, +" she asked herself over and over;
'what place can l take the girl to that will
amuse her unframed mind as those sensa-
tional plays do :"
81 say, girls" said Miss Essie, in half
whisper, the next morning, as she stood in
group of girls who were hanging up their
hats and coats, "where do you think Miss
| Carey gets money enough to spend on us as
she did last night She took four of us in
a carriage, as she had promised me, to some
/
l tell you we felt fine. They were in a pri-
vate house, you know, given for hospital
or something, and l hardly knew myself
when an old lady in lace and diamonds real
lace and real diamonds, mind you, came
and spoke to me, and called me my dear
She and Miss Carey were as thick as hops
the old lady called her Mary, and l think
Miss Carey must have asked her to come
and speak 10 me, to make me feel more at
home, l guess. Heigh. no l wish l was
rich and respectable"
Evidently Miss Carey had accomplished
something by this effort; it surely was
something to make poor, unfriended,
tempted girl long to be respectable.
Miss Essie, / want you to do something
for me, -" said the new saleswomAn, a few
days after the tableaux party. 81 want
you TO get some girls to spend an evening
in my room playing games l know some
charming games. viii you get me up a
party Of eight from the store-and," Miss
Carey looked little quizzical, persuade
them to come"
Miss Carey boarded in the house with a
large number of Warmers girls, but had a
room TO herself while most of them, for
ecOnomy's sake, lived three and four in a
room.
The evening was a success. After the
first ten minutes of stiffnes the girls
found themselves laughing and talking gay
ly, and getting thoroughly interested in
the games around a bright, softly shaded
lamp. And now these "eveningsn became
a regular institution but the party was
different on different evenings.
Miss Carey must be well off, >" said one
of her girl guests, as the party separated
for the night. Even small cakes aud lem
onade, or apples and nuts cost something
when they are handed around three times a
week"
"Goosey I" answered her companion, edo
you think she would slave at the store, aud
live on old Cranch's hash and potatoes, il
she had any money! ~
"Well, she certainly is a mystery, said
one.
"A mighty sweet mystery" sighed an
other. 'Im only afraid she is too good Il
last"
! "Where's Essie :" asked Miss Carey one
morning of that young woman's two room
/ mates.
The months promise to keep clear of JO'
Barton had been kept, but the month wa
just out, and Miss Carey's heart sank with