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


ssRsssSS5NEa \ Ss2fxAlD ways Of the
numberless assistants whose life books
thus opened to him SO many of their
pages.
Lately there had come to the place
q 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
descanted 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 mouths he had begun to
watch for her cash-ball with a 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 careful tenderness
that, l may assure you, no one else's
change and bill received. He had
spoken to her half q 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 q fanciful
'Nellie" taking up one-quarter, and
some delicate scent lending subtle
fascination that had made it a real
wrench for the lad to take it from his
vest pocket and proffer it to her.
So great wrench, indeed, that he
profferod his love, too, humbly, but
fervently, and received very Won
dering look from the gray eyes, a
badly concealed smile, "Thank you, "
for the handkerchief, and "No,
thank you," for the love.
He had kissed her, though, and that
was some consolation afterward to his
sore splrit-kissed her right upon the
sweet, scarlet lips which had said
'No" 30 decidedly, and then, bold no
longer, had fed TO the shelter of the
friendly packing cases and beaten a
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 very busy morning
aud he had found hardly a second to
raise his oyes from his work the once
that he had looked down she had been
busy with customer, girl prettily
dressed and golden haired like herself.
That had been at about ten o'clock
before twelve her cash box, with the
notch upon 1t that his penknife had
made, rolled down its line, and he
opened it, as he had opened it twenty
times that morning; but this time it
bore his fate. Besides the bill there
was little twisted note with "John
Walters, private" written upon it,
and the boys very heart leaped at the
sight. Down below customers wealthy
waited for change and anxiously
watched for their own particular ball
While the deus ex machina read again
nj again. with eager eyes, "Please
yill you meet me at lunchtime on the
strand? Do, If you can. 1 am in
ruuble. You said you loved me. u
Then, as he began mechanically to
manipulate the waiting balls, he
ooked down to the accustomed place
II the little duchess. She was pale,
le saw, and her lips tren bled oddly
low aul again. There was u fright.
med look in her gray eyes, and once
n twice he thought he noticed q
parke as of tears.
At lunch time he actually tore
hrough the shop and away down to
he appointed place. She was there,
til pale, still nervous and huttering
."Let us go to the gardens. 1t il
luieter," he said, putting a great
'estraiut upon himself; then, when al
ast they were within the gates, "GoG
bless you for this, Nelliel"
"What?" said the girl, with un
certainty. but not looking at the dark
,uggel face that was all aglow Will
owe for her.
"For telling me about the worry
,skiug me to come. Oh, God bless
you, Nellie, now tell me-"
She sat down ON a seat aud began tC