Nevada County picayune., 1891-05-21
HONORABLY DISCHARGED.

had been, died suddenly, leaving her
wealth TO a graceless young scamp of
a nephew.
What was Leo to do! III was the
old, old question of how a delicate,
sensitive girl, taught TO love luxury,
with absolutely no knowledge that
could be turned to practical account,
could fight her way through hard
world. She had had few terms of
music lessons, she could draw a lit
tie, she could write a note of invita-
ton without violating more than two
or three of the rules of Lindley Muir
ray, and she could add up column
of figures without making more than
two or there mistakes. In fact, she
was, so far as attainments are con-
cerned, very much like the average
girl of her class and age.
Teaching was, for her, clearly out
of the question. Stenography and
type-writing, would require months
of study, and she had not the means
for even a week of study. She had
never cut or made dress or trimmed
hat for herself, therefore dress
making and millinery were clearly
out of the question, as a means OF
present support.
SO she did what great many just
such untaught, untried girls are do
ing every week, she went into a store
as clerk. The wages were pitifully
low, but one of her fellow clerks, al
most as poor as herself, shared her
room with her and the two, both ner-
yous and delicite, doing work be-
yond their years, tried to comfort
and care for each other.
Loa was not especially a good
saleswoman. She was painstaking
and anxious to please, but she was
slow, and oddly quiet. She seemed
out of place among the merry,
hearty, not over refined girls about
her. Their light jokes about 'the
bows" made her heartsick. Some
times they turned their jokes upon
her, and then her pale cheeks burned
with quick fire.
"Who is that young lady at the
glove counter" asked Mr.. Loring,
one of the proprietors, of MIR. Max
well, his manager.
Miss Carter. She has no snap
never will make clerk" The man
ager played with his watch chain,
and gave this information with the
air of one whose judgment with re-
gard to the possibilities there are
in young saleswomen is infallible.
"She seems so lady-like and we'll
Bred" said the proprietor, looking a
second time at the slight figure robed
in the cheapest of mourning, "She
may develop. I'd rather see a new
conner bit modest and quiet, than
to see her as free and easy as those
girls yonder," and he nodded toward
a couple of girls who stood behind a
showcase, chewing gum and gossip
ing about last nights ball. "Ill
keep an eye on her.
Two days later, the attention of
Mr.. Maxwell was called TO the defec-
tive quality of case of gloves,
which had been sent in.
They are not well stitched" said
Loa, stammering and hesitating a
! little-for she had never before
brought a complaint to the rather i'm
distinguishing manager. They
will break out after once wearing. |
! thought she hesitated more than
ever-"that YOU would not like to
have me sell them at the usual
price"
Mr.. Maxwell was out of temper
this morning. He had had to chase
street ear for half block, and the
run had not made him more ready
than usual to do justice to those UNI
der his charge. He turned sharply
upon the girl. you've no need to
tell about the articles you sell, )" he
said. If woman hasn't sense
enough to know what kind of gloves
she is buying, she deserves to 90
about with holes in her fingers. Sell
them just As usual.
Il can't do that" and the little
figure was drawn up with unexpect-
ed dignity. ~ can't sell these for
perfect goods, There's no use in my
trying because | can't" She was
biting her lips hard now, to keep
back the tears.
"You could if yon had any tact
about you" Mr., Maxwell was thor
oughly angry now. lyon will learn