The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-07-02
EDA'S FORTUNE.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Something about the line uf love
oh, It's ali right, my pretty dear
said Zaita Bhandee, the Hindoo
soothsayer. Ger real name was
Bridget kearnv, and her birthplace
County Cork, in the green little isle
of Erin,) Its long and its deep. and
he'll love you long and truly, my
dear. A dark nan, with black eye
brows and checks like roses--ah,
rme good luck he'll have in getting
you, sweet lady!
What nonsense! laughed Eda
EIkins, coioling like sweet pea
bloom.
She vas only Philadelphia shop
girl, out on days excursion " tn
some of her mates, but rs she
emerged from the fortune teier's
teri she caught herself wondering
,gho the dark man, with black eye
brows and cheeks ike roses, could
possibly be.
1t Sounds ike Mr.. Berlin, The rev
floor walker, don't it7 said Julia
| Kesley, ore G! the ribbon counter
girls.
Don't be silly! said Eda impat-
iently. M. Berlin has never spoken
word to me heycnd the com
monest politeness, and hardly t at.
| Julia tossed her head.
Well, said she, | suppose there
are more dark men in the world lit2n
one. You can take you choice of
them, Miss high and Mighty.
/ Il was hard 10 60 back 70 the
store the next day and resume the
! tediou, toutine OF everyday work
alter bright 9limp5es Of true love and
sunshine; but it is the fate OF wom
ankind, and Eda was compelled to
submit.
She was novice at her work,
and there wese humiIistions innumer-
able in her path. She was deal
900 pretty to suit Misc Minister, who
was superintendent Of the hosiery
! department, and a deal too young to
satisfy old Hopkins, the cashier,
who held that 10 woman under
thirty bad any idea Ct making
change in the correct manner.
Poor, pretty Eda! no wonder the
wheels rolled heavily.
1t was only the second day after
this that AIr. Berlin found Eda cry
ing softly. in dark corner OF the
reserve department, surrounded by
a wilderness Of pasteboard boxes and
paper parcels.
Why, what IS the matter, Miss
Elkius? said he kindly.
Miss Minister sent me up for six |
boxes of X and halt, sobbed Eda,
and-and must be very stupid, or |
| can't tell one box from another.
And its so dark here, and M head |
does ache so!
Mr.. Berlin put down his stock
. book, and came 10 her assistance.
Here, said he, smiling, don't cry |
SO. This isn't national tragedy. /
I'll show YOU where the X and a
halt boxes are. But this isn't your
business. Miss Minister should have
sent cash bay.
Eda dashed away the tears.
Il don't think Miss Minister
lkes NE, Galtercd she.
Not like you. That's strange!
He spoke from the top OF little
stepadder with a kindly glance
backward over his shoulder. The
words welc simple, but their mean
ing carried cheer and encourage
meut 10 Eda's dcsponding heart.
She went down stairs in a far hap
pier mood.
Mr. Berlin followed her after fey
moments, and spoke quietly to Miss
Minister.
The reserve rooms are scarcely |
the place for our young ladies', Miss i
Minister, said he. Hereafter, il you
need anything from there, let me
know, and viii send a cash boy or
one OF the p rters.
Miss Minister acquiesced; but she
was not exactly pleased, and glared !
at Eda more uncompromisingly than |
ever.
There, she said, some two hours
afterward, | knew how it would be if !
you girls had your lunch upstairs
A great grease spot on the glove
counter and six pairs Of Suede tans
ruined. Yes, ruined!
Eda grew pink-then pale.
| haven't been near the glove
counter, said she. / did eat my
lunch up here, because there are
rats and black beetles down in the
packing basement: but 1 ate it under