Feliciana sentinel., 1892-07-16
SHIRLEY'S VACATION.
A Sacrifice ThatsBrouehtg Its Own.
sir = Reward p xsxsx AZ,

"What amuses you, Shirlcy?" asked
the head booklSccpcr, as he looked up
from his big ledger and saw n smile on
the boys face opposite.
II just landed a five-pound bass
said Shirley, laughing and blushing a
little.
"UmAah. Did 1t pnl, very hard?"
"Fcarful!' said Shirley. s
All through the year Shirley Holmes
bad been saving the money for his trip.
He was assistant bookkccper 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 wears
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 cxcep-
ton of ono dollar weekly, which, he put
aside for no other purpose than Il trip
to the bass streams of the Allcghanics
He was very fond of fishing. and had
been rcckoncd an expert as 4 boy. lie
lad not taken n day Oft since he left
school. ana he felt that Il holiday was
his due.
All through the darlt winte days. as
he pondcrcd over the long rows of fig
nrcs, he paused now and then to muse
for a moment of green mountains,
blue skies, clear, rushin:, w atcr. and to
feet in imagination the tug and swish
Of the trout line and the rapid click
of the running reel Then his eyes
n mo NrNt ND hN
was no longer in the dim and dusty 1t-
tie office.
But only fora moment, for the long
columns of figures were waiting. and
Shirley had a feeling of fricndlincss for
them, knowing that it was through their
mute assistance that his dream would
be realized.
All through the spring and carly sum-
mer he pondcrcd 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 tho fifty-two dol
logs would pay his expenses. He had
fgured 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 n farmhouse,
which he calculated at twenty dollars.
He could get a good rod, reel and line
for ten dollars. and for general items he
allowed as much more.
~ think that will cover everything"
he said to himself, II shall begin to get
my things together tomorrow, and in a
week l will be on the way"
That night, as they closed the books,
the head bool<lSeepcr said to him:
SHIRLEY. have YOU been to see Ever
EFT Harris latcly?'
NO" said Shirley, guiltily. But I
will go Tonight How is hc?''
Not very well, poor fellow! He
doesn't improve much. I'm afraid. The
city now is SO hot, YOU know; and the
doctor says the dust and smoke are bad
for him. He coughs a good deal, and
you know what that leads to-
Yes" said Shirley, feeling as if
pressure were on his own lungs. II
should think So
r- Everett Harris had been their ship
ping clerk. He was a tenderhearted,
good-natured fellow, whom Shirley had
always liked for his out-spollen, friend
ly way. He was not very strong, hoyv-
ever. and one day during the winter had
contracted severe cold, terminating in
come, but it had left him very weak
and with disagreeable cough.
His mother, a widow with a 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 with reading
up efs-thc difrercn; streams and fishing
apparatus, he had forgotten poor Ever
EFT almost entirely. Yes, Inc would
60 to scs him tonight without fail. 3