The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-09-06
Miss LONELINESS"

At first every passer-by in Park row
glanced cuTIously at the ssrikiugly pretty
newsgirl who flashed eomet-like into
the by no means celestial orbit Of the
newspaper center of the metropolis.
= Many guesses were hazarded as to her
nationality. She was English, Scotch,
Irish, French, German and Italian, ae-
cording 10 the multitude of guessers who
saw her daily.
Even the sphinx, however, could not
be more retieent about its private Affairs
than WAS this newsgirl. Many young
man purchased papers just for the chance
it seemed TO offer of starting a converse
ton with by far the prettiest newsgirl
that the Oldest frequenter Of Park row
could remember.
So the guessers were disappointed IN
their efforts to get exact information.
They were even unable to strike up the
most innOceLt kind Of Irritation. The
newspaper-vending beauty attended
strictly to business.
That she was not in the least popular
with the hundreds of ragged, baTefoOted
and hatless little street Bobemians, who
also made the row a headquarters for
the sale OF newspapers, was quite to be
expected. Miss LONELINESS" as she
soon became 10 be generally styled, sold
as many papers as any six ofthe pushing,
scrambling urchins.
One young man, who passed regularly
along Park row every morning and after
noon, finally decided to lay deliberate
siege to the heart of Miss LOyeliness."
Clement Barker was assistant cashier
in one of the big banks on lower Broad
way. Having little private income in
addition TO his salary, he was more COM
fortably situated in life than are the
msjarity of men who spend their time
in working !or others.
One dag as he stood at his desk count
ing a thick package Of bank notes, he
reflected in this strain:
'She's beautiful-no man can deny
that. She's really as refined in her
bearing and conduct as any queen Of
society could be. Shes pure as an angel
or else I have spent y years Of my life
behind bank counter without haYing
learned even the rudiments Of character
reading. I'm goingto know this little
gipsy, if it's possible thing, and then l
can decide whether she would be 3 wife
worth the wOOing'
Clement Barker always acted promptly
upon a decision. Being, moreover, a
young man ofgreat tact and knowledge
Of how to do things, he soon managed 10
get on terms Of passing intimacy.
This went on until Barker finally saun-
tered into Parkrow every night at ,. n,
preparatory to enjoying the pleasure Of
a walk with Miss Loyeliness" on her
way home. She always insisted, how
ever, that he should leave her at a certain
street corner, and not attempt to find
out where she lived. This Barker readi-
ly promised, and, being honorable. he
kept his promise.
One night he 50 far lost his head as 10
propose marriage 1t was queer thing
t. do on the street, but he never saw her
elsewhere. To his great joy she accepted
him, though she did it in very matter
Of fact way, for which their environment
at the time was probably responsible.
Now said Clement, you must tell
me your name. have never heard it."
Il am known at home as Leonora--." d"
The surname which followed caused
Barker to stare. Il vas the name OF .
famOEs author, whose works were on
sale at all bookstores, and whose name
was Just then on eyerybody's lips.
Pm blue-stccking, you SEE" she
went on, with a saucy smile.
~But Leonora, my dear, why in the
world do you sell papers in the row ?'
Because my new novel requires
material that could be gathered only in
that way. Bat have done with news
paper selling. shall now 20 vigorously
TO work upon my novel. hope to
finish Il soon"
Can you finish it very soon, dear-say,
/ before we are married 2''