The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-08-13
SHIRLEY'S VACATION.
"A Sacrifice That Brought It's Own
Reward.

the head bookkeeper. as he looked up
from his big ledger and saw smile on
the boys face opposite.
Ell just landed five-pound bass"
said Shirley, laughing and blushing
little.
"Um-ah! Did it pull very hard?"
Fearful said Shirley.
All through the year Shirley Holmes
had been saving the money for his trip.
He was assistant bookkeeper for Brown
Bros. & Bridges wholesale house on
West Pearl street, where he had been
since graduating from the commercial
college, two years before.
Shirley was an orphan. The small
means left him by his parents had been
exhausted before his education had
been completed, so that his first years
savings had been used to repay money
advanced him by an uncle to complete
his course.
His savings, this year, he was invest
ing in building stock, with the excep-
ton of one dollar weekly, which he put
aside for no other purpose than trip
to the bass streams of the Alleghanies.
He was very fond of fishing, and had
been reckoned an expert as boy. He
had not taken day off since he left
school, and he felt that a holiday was
his due.
ALI through the dark winte days, as
he pondered over the long rows of fig
ures, he paused now and then to muse
for q moment of green mountains,
blue skies, clear, rushing W alter, and to
feel in Imagination the tug and swish
of the trout line and the rapid click
of the running reel Then his eyes
would sparkle for moment and he
was no longer in the dim and dusty lit
tie Office.
But only for moment, for the long
columns OF figures were waiting, and
Shirley had feeling of friendliness for
them, knowing that it was through their
mute assistance that his dream would
be realized.
All through the spring and early sum-
mer he pondered over the big books
and thought of the cool mountains. He
had asked for his vacation in August,
and his request had been granted. He
had calculated that the ilfty-two dol
lars would pay his expenses. He had
figured it out over and over, and he
knew the items by heart.
There were excursion rates to the
mountains. and his round-trip ticket
would cost him twelve dollars. Then
there was his board at farmhouse,
Which he calculated at twenty dollars.
vlfe could get good rod, reel and line
for ten dollars, and for general items he
allowed as much more.
II think that will cover everything"
he said to himself. II shall begin to get
ny things together tomorrow, and in q
Sex I will be on the way"
ss',That plight, as they closed the books,
9! sh;4l Iepos you been to see Ever
=. .N Sa ~ uisI7. saiispy, "But
will go to-nlA st '-Sw is he{
mot very poor fellow! He
doesn't improy, y I'm afraid. The
city now is so hotsyou know; and the
doctor says the dust and smoke are bad
for him He coughs good deal, and
Won know what that leads to. I"
..Yes,n said Shirley, feeling as If a
pressure were on n1S oWn lungs.
should think So"
Everett Harris had been their ship
pinr.clerk. He was tender-hearted,
rood-natured fellow, whom Shirley had
always liked for his out-spoken, friend
ly way. He was not very strong, how
ever. and one day during the winter had
contracted severe cold, terminating in
pneumonia. This attack he had over
come, but it had left him very weak
and with disagreeable cough.
His mother, a widow with small
pension, had found it \ hard matter to
live without her sons assistance, al
though Everett's employer had gener-
ously assumed his drug and doctor bills.
while employees, from time to time,
sent or carried such books and delica-
cies as he could enjoy.
Shirley had visited Everett very regu-
larly until the last few weeks. during
which time the prospects and prepara-
tions for his outing had occupied his
evenings almost to the exclusion of
everything else, and what withdrawing
ip ON the different streams and fishing
apparatus, he had forgotten poor Ever
EFT almost entirely. Yes, he would
20 to see him tonight without fail.