The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-28

and loved by thriving merchant of the
town, wldower, some years older than
herself, though still in the prime of life.
At first Emily had declared that she never,
never could marry any one, but Mr.. Lester
had quietly persevered and had at last
won her reluctant assent. Two children
also were the fruits of this union, and as
they grew and prospered Emily declared
that she had never supposed she could live
to be SO happy.
The worthy merchants house-one of
those large substantial brick mansions fire.
quently jammed up in old-fashioned towns
faced directly on the High street. nearly
opposite to the grocery shop of the Jol-
iltfes, and it now became the pain of Joanna
to behold the woman whose place she had
usurped out OF pure covetousness looking
down from her position of comparative
wealth upon the humble shop window,
with its dusty sugar loaves, heaps of rails
ms and canisters of tea, over which it was
her own lot to preside. The BUSH
ness having so dwindled, Jo-
anna was obliged TO serve in the
shop herself, and it CALLED and mortified
her that Emily Lester, sitting in her large
drawing room over the way, could witness
her own dancings up and down behind the
counter at the beck and call of wretched
two penny customers, whose patronage
she was driven to welcome gladly-per-
sons TO whom she was compelled to be
civil In the street-while Emily was bound
ing along with her governess and convers-
ing with the genteelest people of the town
and neighborhood. This was what she
had gained by not letting Shadrach JolIiffe,
whom she had so family loved, carry his
affection elsewhere.
Shadrach was a good and honest man,
and he had been faithful TO her in heart
and in deed. Time had clipped the wings
N lxy1r \, u &h.a
mother of his boys; he had quite lived
down that impulsive earlier fancy, and
Emily had become in his regard nothing
more than a friend. 1t was the same with
Emily's feeling for him. Possibly had she
found the least cause for jealousy Joanna
would almost have been better satisfied 1t
was IN the absolute acQuiescence of Emily
and Shadrach in the results she herself
had contrived that her discomfort found
nourishment
Shadrach was not endowed with the
narrow shrewdness necessary for develop
ing retail business in the face of many
competitors. Did customer inquire If
the grocer could really recommend the
wondrous substitute for eggs, which a per-
severlng bagman had forced into his stock.
he would answer that when you did not
put eggs into pudding il was difficult to
taste them there; and when he was asked
II his real mocha coffee" was real mocha.
he would say grimly, "As understood in
small shops"
One summer day when the big brick
house opposite was rejecting the oppres-
sive suns heat into the shop and nobody
was present but husband and wife, Joanna
looked across at Emily's door, where a
carriage had drawn up. Traces of patron
age had been visible in Emily's manner of
late.
'Shadrach, the truth is, YOU are not a
business man." his wife sadly murmured
You were not brought up to shopkeep-
ing; and 1t Is impossible for a man to
make fortune at an occupation he has
jumped into. as you did into this"
Joilltfe agreed with her in this. as in
everything. Not that | care rope's end
ABOUT making fortune" he said, cheer
fully. IL am happy enough, and we can
rub on somehow.
-, She looked again at the great house
through the screen of bottled pickles
Rub on-yes," she said, bitterly "But
see how well oil Emily Lester is. who used
to be so poor. Her boys will go to college,
TO the national school"
Shadrach's thoughts had flown To En-
lily. Nobody" he said, good humoredly.
ever did Emily a better turn than Won
dld, Joanna, when you warned her off me
and put an end TO that little sirnperjnr
nonsense between Us, so as TO leave il in
tet power 10 say aye 10 Lester when he
came along
This almost maddened her. Don't
speak of bygones!" she implored in stern
sadness. But think. for the bows and
my sake, if not for your own, what are we
10 do 10 get richer?''
Well, be said, becoming serious. ito
tell the truth, l have always felt myself
unit for this business, though I've never
hked to say so. | seem 10 want more
room Tor sprawhng. more open space to
strike out IN than here among friends and
neigheors, l could get rich as well as
any man If tried my own way"
Il wish you would What is your
way2"
To go TO sea again
She had been the very one TO keep him
AZ home, hating the semi widowed exi,-
tence OF sailors wives. But her ambition
checked her instincts now, and She said
way2n
Il am sure il lies in no other"
do you want TO go. Shadrach >"
Motor the pleasure OF it, l can tell se.