Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-16
TWAS EVER THUS.
c. o. L.

He was the clerk Of the cash In q
huge drapery establishment, and when
the rolling balls gave him a moments
leisure. used to look down from his
high perch at the big shop beneath his
feet. and. In his slow. quiet style, study
the 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. grey-eyed girl, who wore her
black dress with such grace. and held
her small head with such dignity, that
he whlmsically 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 dispatohlng them on their jour
neys. And he used to wonder greatly
now any customer could hesitate to
nuy silks and satins when their lustre
and sheen We're displayed by her slim
little fingers and the quality deseanted
on with so persuasive n smile. There
We're handsomer girls In the shop,
sirls with finer figures and better fea-
lures; but TO the boy in his mid-alr
cage there were none with the name
less dainty 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 cashball with
trembling eagerness, to smooth out and
stroke gently the bill her fingers had
written ana to wrap 1t and it's change
up again with careful tenderness
that, | may assure you, no one else 3
change and bill received. He had
spoken to her half dozen times In all:
twice at the door on leaYlrg--wenther
remarks, TO which she had responded
Eraciously; once or twice about bills
that she had come to rectify at the
desk, and once he had had the great
good fortune to lind and return
q handkerchief she had dropped.
such a pretty. ridiculous atom
OF muslin 1t was, with fanci-
| tul Nellie" taking up one-uuar-
/ subtle fascination that had made II a
/ real wrench for the lad to tako II from
his breast pocket aud prefer 1t TO her
| Sc great q wrench, indeed, that he
proffered his love. too, humhly, but fer
venly and received a very wondering
cealed smile. Thank you" for the
handkerchief. and mo, thank you"
| for the love.
He had kissed her. though. and that
was some consolation afterwards 20 his
| sore spirit, kissed her right upon the
| sweet, scarlet lips which had said
mo" so decidedly, and then, bold no
| longer, had fled the shelter OF tho
friendly packing cnses and beaten d
retreat to his desk aloft.
That was nearly n fortnight ago; not
once since had she spoken TO him, and
today he was feeling desperate.
1t had been Il very busy morning,
NJ Nd hsa 1auA IA "A -.
raise his eyes from his work; the once
that he had looked down she had been
busy with a customer girl prettily
dressed and golden-headed like herself
That had been at about 10 o'clock; be-
fore u her cash box, with the notch
upon 1t that his penknlte had made
rolled down Its line, and he opened II
as he had opened IL twenty times that
morning; but this time 1t bore hiR,f
Besides the bill there waS n little
twisted note With 'John Walters, prl'
vate." witten upon It, and the boys
very heart leapod at the sight. Down
below, customers YEARLY waited fol-
change, and anXiously watched foi
their own particular ball while the
deus eX machina read again and again
with eager eyes, PLEASE Will you meet
me at lunch time on the Strand3 Do
II you can. am In trouble, You sale
you loved me-" Then, as he begar
mechanically TO manipulate the walt
ing balls. he looked down TO the &c
customed place OF the little duchess
She was pale, he saw, and her lip
tremblcd oddly now and again. Their,
was a frightened look In her grey eyes
and once or twice he thought h,
noticed sparkle as OF tears.
At lunch time he actually tor
through the shop and away down I,
the appointed place. She was there
still pale, still nervous and huttering.
Let us go to the gardens. IL
duieter," he said, putting a great re
last they were within the gates. "Got
bless you for this, Nellie!'
"What2" said the girl, with unccr
talnty, but not looking Mt the dark
rugged face that was all aglow Will
love for her.
For telling me about the worry
asking me to come. oh, God bless you
Nelnel Now tell me-
She sat down on n seat and began t
i. cry, quietly and mlserably, TIL the bo
was almost beside himself. At last
between the sobs. he learned he
, and her sister had very much wante
10 go to certain ball, and, more tina
that, 10 have new dresses for II, o
soft white Liberty silk, such as sh
: cut of daily for fortunate customer
, But her purse was empty, so In thei
emergency the sisters had hit upon
4 plan, questionable, indeed. but not dis
E honestly meant The sister came
/. the silk counter and purchased thirt
yards of silk, paying i5s. for 1t instea
: OF g l5s.
( THAT was on account; was oni
: taking n little credit like other Gus
l TONER'S" said the little duchess, wit
a naughty movement Of the head. 20
> Saturday l was going to make out
, bill for an imaginary customer an
t send the GO up to the desk to you. Don
A imagine would really wrong the firr
I by a halfpenny"
Y '"oh, no. cried the boy. eagerly; at
= all right"
y "Thats not ALL" The girl began
e cry again. hopelessly, mlserably. :
s had no money 10 get the dresses mad
!. and the next customer paid f2 10s.. an
n --and--I only sent los. up to you
:. wanted to make 1t just IS ! had bo
: rowed. i thought l might borro
Q enough. as / was borrowing-don't To-
r get / would rather have died tina
n hive stolen the 60, MIR. Walters"
5 "Of course, OF course, ] understand
e said the cash clerk. seeing that II wa
9 a worse fix than he had imagined. b,
e longing to take her In his arms an
[ kiss away the tears,
ID And then that horrld Mr.. Greave
: who signed first in hurry. asked Il
J, my book and took II for something ar
= then sent It up to the desk, and Il