The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-04
SHIRLEY'S VACATION.
A Sacrifice That Brought It's Own
Reward.

what amuses you, Shirley" asked
the head boolyl1eeper, as he looked up
from his big ledger and saw smile on
the boys face opposite.
81 just landed fivc-pound bass
said shirley. laughing and blusiing a
little.
"Um abb Did IL pull very hard?.
Fearful said Shirley.
ALTHOUGH the year Shirley Holmes
had been saving the money for his trip.
He was assistant booltkcepcr FOR Brown
Bros. & bridges wholesale house on
West Pearl street, where he had been
since graduating from thecommercinl
college, two years before.
Shirley was an orphan The small
means left him BY his parents had been
exhausted before his education hid
been completed, % that his first years
savings had been used 10 repny money
advanced him BY an uncle ~ complete
his course.
His savings, this year, he was invest.
ing in building stock, with the excep.
ton OF one dollar weekly, which he put
aside for no other purpose than d trip
to the bass streams Of the Allcghanies.
He was very fond 81 fishing, and had
been reckoned an expert as a boy. He
had not taken day of since he left
school, and he felt that q holiday was
his due.
All through the dark white days, as
be pondcred over the long rows Of fig.
ures, he paused now and then to muse
for moment of green mountains,
7bfne skies, clear, rushing W alter, and to
feel in Imagination the ting and swish
OF the trout line and the rapid click
Of the running reel. Then his eyes
would sparkle for a moment and he
was no longer in the dim and dusty lit
tie office.
But only for a moment, for the long
columns Of figures were waiting, and
Shirley had a feeling Of fricndliness for
them, knowing that it was through their
mute assistance that his dream would
be realized.
All through the spring and early SUM
mer lie poadered 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
hid calcglatpd that the flfty-two dol
lars world pay his expenses. lie had
figured ii out over and over, and he
knew tile 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 a farmhouse,
which he calculated at twenty dollars.
lie could get u good rod, reel and line
for ten dollars, and for general items he
allowed as much MORE.
II think that will cover everything, I
he said To himself II shall begin toget
my things together Tomorrow, and in
week will be on the way"
That night, as they closed the books,
the head bookkecpcr said to him:
Shirley, have You been TO see Ever
EFT Harris lately2"
No." said Shirley, guilty. "But ]
win GO tonight. How is hep
mot 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 good deal, and
you know what that leads to-"
Yes said Shirley, feeling as II
pressure were on his own lungs. -
should think So"
Everett Harris had been their ship
He was a tendcr-hearted, |
fellow, whom Shirley had |
always liked for his out-spoken, friend |
~ way He was not very strong, how
ever. and ono day during the winter had |
contracted severe cold, terminating in
pneumonia. This attaMS he had over
come, but IT had left him very weak /
and with disagrecable cough.
His mother, a widow with small /
had found it hard matter TO |
live without her sons assistance, al \
though Evcrett's employer had gener-
ouslF assumed his drug and doctor bills, +
while employees, from time 70 time,
sent or carried such books and delica.-
sies MS he could enjoy.
Shirley had visited Everett very rcgn-
arIS until the last few weeks during
which time the prospects and prepare
ions for his outing had occupied his
evenings almost 70 the exclusion Of
everything else, and what with reading
ip on the different streams and fishing
he had forgotten poor Ever
1T almost entirely. Yes, he would I
20 to see him tonight without fail