The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-27

She Kne At Romeo and Juliet
W. g. BOOK, not q
Painting,
Mother Co. " Nfostaer Browning 9
fore Her Marriage There's
Life There's Soap"

Some of the down town merchants put in
stock of books just before the holiday
season, and sell the volumes at way down
prices that would make the authors grOan.
Sometimes these book counters, or stalls,
are placed in charge of young lady who
has all the necessary qualifications for
making one buy, but is utterly destitute of
the sort Of information the buyer sometimes
wants before he makes purchase. says the
Chicago Tribune. It isn't the fault Of the
young lady. She could puzzle man very
quickly if she were over in the embroidery
department, and man went there to pur-
chase. But she is sent to the book stall by
the manager, who doesn't stop to inquire
whether she knows anything about books,
and the result is that the young lady is
often quizzed in way that makes hel
cheeks Jingle.
gentleman was at one Of these book
stalls, Cooking over the bargains"
''Have you seen the beautiful books
which We advertised today" asked the
young lady behind the books.
The gentleman said he had seen the ad-
vertisement, but not the books.
Indeed the young lady replied. swell
they are here. Have you seen our beauti-
full Romeo and Juliet?' Here it is.
Only S3'-and the odd cents, whatever they
were. ,
The gentleman concluded he would have
some fun quietly, SO he looked over his
"Who is+he painter of this Romeo and
Juliet?"
PAINTER exclaimed the young lady. ut
isn't painting, it's book."
'sAh, I beg your pardon. Who is the
author-f didn't mean painter meant
author?"
The young lady blushed and then raj
."WeM,'' she said, eff you don't know
who wrota Romeo and Juliet don't
think there is much use OF showing you the
s'Possibly not" the stranger replied.
"But am a stranger in the city and have
been fooled SO much since came to CHI
caqo that thought might venture to aek
who wrote the beautiful book which you
have advertised
This was long speech. The gentleman
intended it should be, for during its de-
Livery the young lady peeped into the front
of the book, and. shutting it quickly, said
in decided way: "Mr. Shakespeare wrote
it. Maybe you have heard of hinl.''
She uttered the last sentence in mean
way-the way in which only woman can
utter mean sentence. 1t was scorn and
hatefulness and triumph all in heap.
The gentleman replied: 1T seems to me
have. Have you his other worksfs
There was no improperly in the query,
and yet the young lady blushed again and
looked at the man as If she could kill him.
Then a light broke over her face, and the
look OF triumph came back to her eyeS-the
look which comes into the cats eyes when
it discovers that the canary is asleep.
II will 6ee." she said. and in her face was
. q you-haven't-got-me-y expression. Then
she glided to the end of the counter where
rhe hairless headed floor walker was posing
in his Sunday school attitude. She whis-
pered to him and he shook his head. She
glided back to the place of beginning and
said in a firm, You-are-a-wretch tone of
voice: ''No, sir; we had his other works but
they have all been Sold"
I am sorry to annoy you," said the gen
tleman, "but could you tell me where could
get 'Shakespeare's Hiawatha' in the same
binding as this2 The publishers list must
be in your house."
The young lady bit her under lip until all
the blood in her beautiful face-for she is
beautiful girl-rushed to the place of at
tack. A woman'S intuition is quick. She
knew this man was intent upon mischief,
and yet there was nothing in his speech or
manner to which she could take exception.
She again had recourse to the pious-look-
ing floor walker, who said something and
smiled. She returned to confront the man
whom she now hated. She informed him
in hurrying way that this Romeo and
Juliet" was the only one of hr. Shakes
peare's works in the house, and that the
house had no publishers list.
Very well,' said the gentleman, II will
look at this, if you please, and see whose
version it 10, il You have no objection"
ssCArtainlvS ahA renlied And the NAV
she said it!
He looked at the copy for half hour. It
seemed whole afternoon to the young lady.
Then he said to her:
''Of course it is not your fault. I don't
blame you or your house. You could not
have known this, Of course. You will par
don me, of COURSE"
This Was one time when she had nothing
to say. She stood like piece of statuary
that is to be ratified off for fair.
The gentleman seeing her position, con-
tinued: According to this edition Of 'Ro-
meo and Juliet Juliet kills herself, when
the truth is she was smothered to death by
fraud"
II had not read the young lady an
swered in a subdues. manner. II am here
to all hooks-not to read them" she con-
''Of course not" the gentleman replied,
MelodiesY' he asked.
"You mean Mother Goose?
mo. I mean Mother Browning. She
used to be Mother Goose, but she is mar
ried.''
The young lady put pin in her hair and
said something about high time she was.''
Where is the soap counter?" asked the
V:etch.
Second aisle to the right. That way
The young lady felt relieved when he
asked for the soap counter. It was an in
dication that he was going. Hut he lin
gered.
Maybe You have it here,' he said, 81
want book Of poe.ical quotations. i have
made a bet with friend of mine that
Campbell is the author of the line While
there's life there's saap.' and it occurred to
maybe You have it here,''
Il think you will find it in the second
~rTr