Mohave County miner., 1890-10-25
THE THEFT OF A TRESS.

The rivalry between the two young
men was very bitter. Little Billy
Stedman. one OF the eleyerest sales
men In the great retail store Of Square
shell, Shields Il CO., considered HIM
self every whit the equal Of young
Ernest Trevor. the rich brokers son,
who did not work for living and
wore yellow kid gloves every day of
the year. rain or shine. Nevertheless
Mr.. Trevor was wont to look down
somewhat on Billy and would perhaps
not have condeseended 10 notice him
at all IL certain circumstances were not
constantly throwing them together.
Miss Millicent Turner, The head
s2leswoman in the cloak department
OF Squareshell. Shields & Co.'S, was a
singularly beautiful young woman.
Tall and shapely. with big brown eyes
deeply fringed with heavy iashes. tiny
hands aud feet and carriage IN which
decision aud grace were happily blend
ed she was very refreshing object to
look at on warm day. Her most re-
markable feature. however. was her
hair. which was o. a rich bronze tint
and curled away up on her head like
shining pyramid Of silk. When she
let il down sometimes for the amuse-
ment OF the other girls. il fell almost
to her knees in perfumed torrent that
excited both admiration and envy on
every side.
Miss Miliieent had many admirers
and among them were numbered both
Billy and Trevor. The latter had ac-
rrsr..l kta a L..
she had come to look al some cloaks.
He was smitten at once. Notwith-
standing his superior station in society.
the young mans conduct had been
propriety itself There was no sug-
gestion Of friyolity or impudence about
it. He had sought an introduction In
perfectly legitimate way and from
almost the first day he made her ac-
qnaintanee had been her devoted
slave.
Billy owed bis acquaintance with the
charmer to the very practical inter-
course of dry, every day business. He
had improved his opportunities and
stood at this time very high In her good
grsces. They we're together great
deal and il was common rumor about
the store that they had decided TO make
match Of IL.
The beautiful saleswoman was to
certain degree impartial in her treat
ment OF her two adorers. True. she
was more with Billy than with his
rival. and their intercourse was nat
urally more familiar. It would have
been very hard for an outsider to pick
ont the winner. Both had made dec
laraticn Of lore to her and besought
her to put them out OF their misery.
10 Billy, who had looked very hand
some with his curly brown hair and
pathetic blue eyes as he knelt on the
damp grass at Lincoln Park to make
his aYowal, she had said that they were
both too poor to marry; TO Trevor, who
had pleaded with all the impetnosity
OF q pampered boy OF 20. she had said
very Prettily that she could not think
OF entering family where she was
sure her present occupation and posi-
ton in society would prevent her re-
ceiying a welcome. Both young men.
however, despite these refnsals. con-
tinued to call on her. Neither Of them
knew that the other had proposed aad
been rejected--a fact which was in it.
self high tribute 70 the fair ones
good sense-and though they general
ly happened 10 strike separate even
ings for their visits. they occasionally
met in the tastefully decorated little
parlor. At such times they would
exchange monosylisbie remarks. or
glare at each other like prize-fghters,
until their pretty hostess, in sheer des-
peration aud dread Of bloOdshed, would
turn them both ont at once.
But there came an eYeBtful day
when all the fates seemed to play d.
rectly into BilIy's hands. The en-
ployes Of SouaTeshell. Shields & Co.
bad picnic at pretty grove a couple
Of hours ride from town. There was
broad. swift river aud boat in
which Miss Millicent sat W n au an-
gular hoorwalker. went shooting over
high dam and unset. The angular
foorwalker turned his attention 10
saving himself and Billy. who by
special dispensaiiOn OF his lucky star.
happened 10 be standing on the brink
at that point. plunged 10 like the
plucky fellow he was and fisbed out
Hts dEipDtbR EhhIuBSTr ONE WAS lDTEBu
10 take her wonderful hair down. to
let it dry in the breeze. and an hour or
two later, when the dusk had fallen,
Billy wrapped the soft tresses all aboat
his throat and face to give him courage.
and made another appeal. OF couFse
II was successful; Miss MiIlicent would
not have been woman otherwise.
Dear Billy" murmured she. strok-
ing bis cheek (that was no less inDo-
cent Of down than her own with her
soft hand. IL always loved you the
best any anyway. You saved my life
to-day. too - Billy blnshed in the
darkness; he had not told her that he
had walked ashore With her in bis
arms. the water being only up 10 bis
shoulders and | think we eau be
happy together, You and J. Billy"
Somehow or other Billy found
passage 20 her mouth through the bill
loxs Of aowipz hair, aud tue compact