Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-18
ROMANCE OF A STORE.

of pain conquered, suffering over
come-patient, delicate, refined.
Her dress and attitude told the story
of invalidism. Opposite to her,
standing up and leaning upon the
mantle. piece, a girl of twenty-one
or twenty-five, tall, straight and
strong, with a face of some beauty,
great resolution, and sweet womanly
grace.
Rhoda Lewis was the young lady,
and her mother the gentle invalid.
"Where are you going, dear?
The shop-bell did not ring" said
Mrs. Lewis, as Rhoda moved toward
the door.
ITO put up the shutters. 1t is
nine o'clock"
"They are so heavy" the invalid
sighed.
"And | am so strong" the girl
answered with a smile.
Yet as she lifted the heavy shut
ter in her delicate little hands she
was not sorry to have it taken from
her into strong masculine grasp
that quickly adjusted it, put up the
iron bar, shot the paddock bolt into
place, locked it, and gave her the
key. Not a word spoken all this
time; but as her cousin, Frank Lewis,
turned toward her, Rhoda said de-
murely:
THANK you"
Quite as formally, yet with a
touch of sarcasm in his voice that
had not been in hers, he replied:
"You are very welcome"
She stood twisting the key in her
fingers, till he said:
"WellP"
If he intended the word for a
question there was no answer.
Rhoda let her hands fall and looked
straight before her.
Amt you going to ask me imp"
Frank inquired.
mo"
Father has been here to-day?"
"Yes."
"Got his rentp"
"Yes."
'Yes-yes.' Can't you speak,
Rhodap"
mot now. Some insults are ex-
tremely hard to bear; your fathers
was one of them"
She slipped in at the store door
as she spoke, and fastened it quick
| ly. She was in total darkness,
having closed the door of the inner
room as she left it. For a moment
she stood leaning heavily upon the
counter, trembling violently, with
the quick breathing that tells of
suppressed tears. Only for mo-
ment; then she went to her mother,
her sweet face all love and cheerful
ness. Whatever her heartache was
it was quite evidently not to be adj
ded to her mothers burdens.
Frank, left SO unceremoniously,
gave vent to his chagrin in low
whistle, thrust his hands deep into
his overcoat pocket and strobe
homeward. 1t was a cherries, win
dy evening, and chilled, angered and
miserable, the young man tossed
aside hat and coat in the hall Of his
fathers pretentious house, and en-
tered the parlor. A grand room,
richly furnished, in sharp contrast
to the shabby little back parlor
where Frank had intended to pass
the next hour.
Mr.. Lewis was seated beside an
open CRATE, reading the evening pa
per. He did not look up as his son
drew up a chair near him and said:
Father, what have you been say
ing to-day to Rhodap"
81 gave her to understand that I
did not want penniless daughter
in-law."
Father
"You may as we'll understand the
same. | will not encourage such
nonsense any longer. You are
old enough now to drop flirtations
and think seriously of marriage"
II won't stand it, cried Frank
holly.
wont stand whatp"
"Any interference between Rhoda
and me. ] mean to win Rhoda for
my wife; and ! meant it when she
wore long braids and short dresses;
when she lived in house as grand
AS this, poor little girl"