The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-10-02

'$aSS. .ysSSSA \ SEblD ways of the
numberless assistants whose life books
thus opened to him SO many Of their
pages.
Lately there had come to the place
slight, gray-eyed girl, who wore her
black dress with such grace and held
her small head with such dignity that
he whimsically had named her to him
self "The Little Duchess" He liked
TO look down and catch CLINT OF her
hairs sunshine when his brain was
dulled with calculating change and
his fingers ached with shutting cash
balls and despatching them on their
journeys. And he used to wonder
greatly how any customer could hesi-
tate to buy silks and satins when their
lustre and sheen were displayed by
her slim little fingers and the quality
6escanted on with so persuasive o
smile. There were handsomer girls
in the shop, girls with finer figures
and better features; but to the boy in
his mid-air cage there were none with
the nameless charms that made the
little duchess so lovable.
For, of course, he did love her. In
less than two months he had begun to
watch for her cash-ball with tremb-
ling eagerness, to smooth out and
stroke gently the bill her fingers had
written and to wrap it and its change
up again with a careful tenderness
that, may assure you, no one else's
change and bill received. He had
spoken to her half a dozen times in
all; twice at the door on leaving
weather remarks, to which she had re-
sponded graciously; once or twice
about bills that she had come to REQ
tify at the desk, and once he had had
the great good fortune to find and
return handkerchief she had
dropped. Such pretty, ridiculous
atom of muslin it was, with fanciful
"Nellie" taking up one-quarter, and
some delicate scent lending subtle
fascination that had made it rea
wrench for the lad to take it from hi
vest pocket and proffer it to her.
SO great a wrench, indeed, that he
profferod his love, too, humbly, but
fervently, and received a very won
dering look from the gray eyes, {
badly concealed smile, "rhank you,
for the handkerchief, and ''No
thank you," for the love.
He had kissed her, though, and tina
was some consolation afterward to hi
sore splrit-kissed her right upon tn
sweet. scarlet lips which had sail
"No" so decidedly, and then, bold NJ
longer, had fled to the shelter of th'
friendly packing cases and beaten
retreat to his desk aloft.
That was nearly fortnight ago
not once since had she spoken to him
and to-day he was feeling desperate.
1t had been a very busy morning
and he had found hardly a second t
raise his oyes from his work the one
that he had looked down she had beel
busy with customer, a girl prettil
dressed and golden-haired like herself
That had been at about ten o'clock
before twelve her cash box, with tn
notch upon it that his penknife ha
made, rolled down its line, and h
opened it, as he had opened it twent
times that morning; but this time
bore his. fate. Besides the bill ther
was a little twisted note with "Joh
Walters, private" written upon il
and the boys very heart leaped at th
sight. Down below customers wealth
waited for change and anxiousl
watched for their own particular ba
While the deus ex machina read agai
MI again, with eager eyes, "Pleas
will you meet me at lunchtime on til
strand? Do. if you can. 1 am /
rouble. You said you loved me.
Then, as he began mechanically I
manipulate the waiting balls, i
ooked down to the accustomed plaC
II the little duchess. She was pal,
le saw, and her lips tren bled oddl
low aud again. There was a frigh
med look in her gray eyes, and one
lr twice he thought he noticed
parkle as of tears.
At lunch time he actually tol
through the shop and away down
he appointed place. She was ther
TIL pale, still nervous and hutterln
'"Let us go to the gardens. 1t
, luieter," he said, putting gre
'estraint upon himself; then, when
ast they were within the gates, 'GC
bless you for this, Nelliel"
! "What?" said the girl, with u
I certainty. but not looking at the dar
q ,uggel face that was all aglow wi
owe for her.
"For telling me about the worry
! lsking mo 20 come. Oh. God BILE
? you, Nolle, now tell me-"
She sat down on d seat and began