Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-20
A FINANCIAL FAILURE The Story of a New Eng
 land Wooing.
BY SARAH ORNE JEwETT. lCopyright, 1890 All Rights Reserved

Mir. PCndcll was very busy that morn \ ing, and when the door was opened he \ nodded to Jonas, who had been busy | paying md receiving all the morning. | As the young man rose he saw the | safo horse of his dreams fastened to 0 | post in front of the window. There was an old high-baclSed sleigh now, | with two good buffalo robes andplenty ,f bright straw. Jonas recognized the \ quality of the straw and thnt a most
 uninterosting-looking man held the \ reins. But the bank door was opened, and when Jonas turned there stood his pretty girl. He blushed and sho
 hlushcd, and they stood looking at each
 other, but Jonas business habits stood him in good stead. IIc reached for the
 bank book, which was timidly proffcred, but he dropped 1t twice and struck his head on the edge of the counter in try | ing to pick it up. Mir. Pcndell looked up impatiently, and that made things | worse. The bank book was issued nine | teen years before and the only amount ! credited was sum placed to the owners
 credit when she was baby by the old l aunt for whom shc was named. h. tcrcst had been added from time to | time so that the hundred dollars was now a comfortable little sum. Love | pushed a small roll of bills under the
 grating. ''I want to put this in, to>," she said, and Jonas dipped his pen and
 made an entry of the date and counted the money afterward and set down the amount.
 There's some back interest due you,
 but Mir. Downs isn't here to-day" sad Jonas.
 Father said could leave the book
 and call for it some other time. I shall
 have more to put in next month. I'm keeping school"
 They blushed again. Hathaway had returned by an earlier train than was expected, and just then entered the bank, but nobody noticed him, thougl Hathaway was quick to see the blushes.
 Wont it put you out if leave it?" Not at all" said Jonas, with truly a grand air. Its our business; much snow down your way?"
 "A good deal," answered the pretty girl, still blushing, and then they almost looked each other in the face again,
 but were happily. saved the embarrass-
 ment.
 10 dll! the Rlrl1 WlJn touching deference, and Jonas said that
 it was all; but they both felt as if they | wished there were something more, and Love tiptoed out to the empty world of | the sidewalk.
 You'd better go out an unite her | horse," suggested Hathaway, affection
 ately; but by means of this jeer Jonas l gained one look after the fair deposit or, and reassured himself of her good
 looks, and that Jacob Bean, the elderly hired man, was not to be feared as a rival
 That was old Mir. Highlands girl
 that was here just before snow came" ," Jonas told his chief, with great interest, | for MT. Pendell had spoken warmly of the farmer.
 "Comc, step round, Jonas, and get on with your work" urged the cashier. 'Scems to me it's one of your numb days l and we've got to drive work. It's bad time to spare Downs." Even this re- bulIc did not destroy the junior clerks sense of pleasure. He laid the clean bank book on Downs desk, with Q lin gering touch. He wished that the proper place for it was on his own desk. Bank books had seemed alike uninteresting until that moment.
 As for Love IIayland, she had forgot ten two of her mothers commissions this time instead of one and was jog ging home specchless with delight. There was stormy weather late that winter, and the roads were drifted, then there came long season of rain and thaw, while Loves book lay un- claimed in the safe. At last she ap- peared one Saturday morning in March, when the sun was shining like May and the crows were thick and the road nearly bare of ice and snow all the way | to town. It was the first day that
 seemed like spring and winter clothes
 were already too heavy. Spring was in
 the air and spring was in Love Hay lands look as she rode in the old chaise
 at her fathers side and waited while he tied the horse to a stone post in front of the bank. Then they went in to- \ gcthcr; the girl had no Idea of letting | anyone else do her business there.
 Jonas had seen them drive up and
 was in a hutter of anticipation. He had the bravery to elbow Hathaway
 aside from the counter. Mir. Pendell and | Joel IIayland were exchanging their | uotlttA lItShtlly JuhSS Allu COLl IS-
 Joel had sold some of his young stock
 and had come to town with the money
 Mir. Pendell retreated presently to his
 high desk to make up an account ot
 some sort, but active business still went
 on between Love and Jonas. It took ( | good while to credit her with that
 twenty dollars for her months schoo
 keeping, and to display and explain tho
 unexpected amount of interest due hel
 in arrears. Then there was moment
 of silence except for the scratching O:
 Hathaway's pen.
 "Was you ever to Oak Hill?" Love
 asked Jonas sweetly, in the hearing oi
 all present.
 Joel IIayland turned with sudder
 alarm and took a good look at tho
 junior clerk before he had time to
 speak. 'I expect you're old Jonas Dy
 CTS nephew by your looks. heard yor
 were in the bank some time ago. Favor your uncle some, I see. Yes, call in i
 you're over our way. Faint so pleas
 ant now as it will be later on, but the