The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-13
MET THE HElRESS.

"An heiressl And handsomei BY
George, l must have an introduction. Z"
This was what Ralph Fitzsimmons said to
himself. Aloud he muttered these words
MADE an impression on you evidently,
Howardp'
"Im going down to Rossyllle to be
married to the only girl worth loving in
the world, " said Howard Gray, with low
er's excusable exnggeration, "but Miss
Eleanor is charming young lady, and l
am intimate enough to introduce you, II
you like"
"Ah" said Fitzsimmons, yelling his
delight, 'thank you. Engaged, suppose,
and engaged girls are such boresr'
Heart free, believe, said Howard.
"She's extremely hard to please. Well, I'll
ask her permission, and wen call on Sat
urdny evening""
To marry an heiress had been Ralph's
dream ever since his whiskers began to
grow. 1t was the easiest way of coming by
fortune of which he had ever heard, and
Ralph detested labor and was fond of case.
At present he was merely clerk in a
fancy store on "a salary which was certain
ly small one, and he had resolved to mar
he could find any one whose purse was
long enough. ..
And now that he was actually thrown
In the way of handsome woman, not
only young and amiable, but good looking
so said Howard, and Howard was a
judge-his joy knew no bounds.
Hard to please, Is shoi'' said he to him
self. "Well, all the better for me. / fancy
l have certain way with me that women
find it difficult to resist, and I'm certainly
very handsome man--remarkably hand
some" ........ ...
won't go its" said he to himself as
he munchad his rolls and swallowed his
coffee. 81 was meant for jolly life, and
I'll live It,"
And turning his hat sideways on his
head he hurried to "the store where his
entrance was greeted by an angry glance
from the proprietor, who advanced, watch
in hand, and inquired ourtly;
"Well, Mr.. Fitzsimmons, arc you aware
that you are 10 minutes late?"
Perfectly, sir" said Fitzsimmons pert
ly. Fifteen minutes and half Mulct
mo penny, sir. About the amount lost,
/ believe" .... ...
The head OF tho establishment turned
purple with rage, but as the entrance Of
out with the young man, as he desired,
at once, he contented himself with howl
ing, "No. forward" In terrific tones,
and FitzsImmons, otherwise mo a." did
forward" to his place, but slowly and
with much dignity, when a lady entered
tho store, and advancing straight TO his
counter requested TO "look at floss silks
for embroidery"
She was tall young lady, Of very indie
pendent manners, dressed plainly. No one
OF any Importance Of course, Fitzsimmons
decided, would shop in such attire
"What oolorf' said he without moving
and with his hands In his pockets.
Let me see your stock, /" said the lndy
Cant you tell me what you wantr'
said FitzslmmOns.
81 have told you that wish to look at
your floss silks, said tho lady.
ooh, said Fitszimmons. "Well, there
thoy are. If they don't do, can't help it,
l can't crafty tho whiln5 of females in re-
gard to shades, and l've given up the at
tompt Six and six are IL, and
81 shall take none OF these silks" said
the lady, rising.
II beg your pardon, ma am, = cried the
proprietor, advancing. "IIas anything
Mr.. Fitzsimmons called her female, +"
pitchers,
had grent cars "
Mr. Fltzsimmons, hissed the indlg
nant master of tho store, ''you and
must Part This won't do You're a-a
a.
"You'ro anotherl" said Fitzsimmons,
completing the sentence over which the
first gentleman had fallen fiat, land Tn
reioiccd to leave this confounded retail
hole"
An hour or two later he struttod into a
gorgeous drawing room in Fifth avenue
in the wake Of his friend Howard Three
people arose to greet theIn--an old gentle
man, an old and q young lady.
Mr.. Brown, my friend Fitssimmons.
Mrs. Brown, Miss Eleanor"
Fitzsimmons smiled and bowed. The
old gentleman began to talk, the old lady
ditto. The young lady sat silent and en-.
broidered, with green floss silk on white
velvet, certain vine leaves and tondrils.
Fitzsimmons looked at her. He had seen
her before. An awful memory flashed
across his brain He sGroYe to Danish ii.
Perhaps she would not recognize him.
Perhaps
industrious this evening, Miss Flea
norf" said Howard.
"Ycs, said Eleanor tIm making %
time and tido-they wait for no one. I'm
behindhand too.
"Pityl" said Howard
Eyes, said Miss Eleanor "Shopping
for green silks Of certain shade Kept me
out all day."
"So hard to flnd2" asked Howard.
"Nery," said Eleanor. "And you know
the people In stores can't find time to
crafty the whims Of females and have
given up the attempt. Haven't they, Mr.
bsSzsimmonsfn
Fitzsimmons turned scarlet The bright
eyes had flashed upon him for once with
meaning In them. The hciress was the
lady in the waterproof, and she recognized
him.
He Ind lost his situation and his hei-css
also merely because he had not been civil
to person in a waterproof cloak 1t was
shocking reflection, but perfectly true,
for the visit to the store had been no
chance on Eleancr's part.
She was romantic, and having had a
glowing picture painted Of Ralphs charms
desired to sec him of his guard for the
first time and thereby judge him better,
New York News