The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-29
HER PROMOTION.

talking over tho drug counter. to Miss
Choatc, tho profumory girl. Gradually it
begun to DO whispered about that Mr..
Ormsbco was taking a most abnormal in
tercst In drugs, and indeed there seemed
somo show Of reason for this statomcnt,
Tor no was certainly pausing at that pnr-
ticular counter oftener than necessity
seemed to demand 1t must have boon
drugs because it was out Of oil reason that
Mr. Ormsbc0 should DO suspected of IN
absorbing interest in tho perfumery girl,
for he had never been known to take an
absorbing interest In anything but busi-
ness. Miss Choato WINS as tall within two
inches rs Mr.. Ormsbee himself and had q
remarkably ilno figure, but her faco was
not handsome-not strictly speaking. To
DO suro, thcro was something about hor
which invariably made people turn and
look again, but it could not well DO called
beauty. 1t was rather .dignified repose
OF carringc--an aristocrntic bearing TINT
stamped her rs not being altogether Of
common clay. And this was tho light In
which Miss Choato was gonorally regard
ed 1t was known that she was tho daugh-
ter and orphan of Clergyman; that she
supported hor mother and young brother
with her wages ut Ormsbeo's, and it was
supposed that her advantages had been
rather better than tho average, for thcro
was hint of elegance in her manners not
usually discovcrable i'll clerks.
For instance, sho used tho word "mad-
am" instead of "lady," TINT worldwide
sign of tho pleboian, and sho never took
any part In tho cheap conversation carried
on behind the counter. Tho shallow ones
thought her disngroeably proud Those
who took pains to study her knew TINT she
was only dignifled and reserved. Sho had
boon for ho1
as cash girl, been raised to an assistant
at tho drug counter and finally given full
charge of TINT stock
She had won golden opinions right and
loft and had gone on In tho even tenor of
her way until young Frod Ormsbcc
nephew and heir apparent Of tho proprie-
tor had begun paying her marked alton
ton. This did not please Miss Choato in
tho least, and She limited in polite terms
moro than onco that no was at liberty to
go about his business. Now, Mr.. Orms-
bee, tho elder, held this young mnn in
tender esteem, having superintendent his
rearing from tho earliest days of calfhood.
He had never withheld anything in reason
from his brothor's child, and when That
child mado known to his devoted relative
tho consuming passion whercwith no was
being consumed for tho elegance and nc
oomplishments of Miss Choate, tho per
fumcry girl, tho cldor Ormsbco said kindly:
III SEQ what 1 can do for you, my boy.
A poor clerk who repulses tho advances of
prospective millionaire must DO worth
winning" 1t was after that that the pro-
prietor began to take an unusual interest
In his drug department; to stop there fro
quently and engage Miss Choato in con-
vorsation; to consult hor opinion with re-
gard to tho relative merits of different
brands OF olive oils, soaps, complexion
pnstes, etc. Miss Choatc was an engaging
talkcr and displayed II technical knowledge
OF her stock gratifying to u business man
accustomed to careless clerks
MIR. Ormsbcc had long considered her
invaluable rs salcswoman and respected
hor for her dignity, but it took just this
circumstance of his nephcw's infatuation
for the pcrfumcry girl to fully open tho
eyes of tho elder Ormsbco to the surpass-
Ing attractions of Miss Choatc, tho young
woman, for it was not to BIO suspected for
O moment that tho limited brain power OF
FREQ OrmsDce had comprehcndcd in it's
length, breadth and thickness tho excel
lenco of Miss Choates character. tt wos
not character that Fred Ormsbco mado n
speciality of, but form-stylo-and he had
never, he thought, bcheld anything in
that line that quito equalcd Miss Choate's.
Perhaps Mt first no had not been perfect
clos clerk, but 1t took only fow delicate
ly wordcd snubs from her to convince him
that there was nothing in the wide world
SO eminontly desirable rs Miss Choato's
favor; hence his appeal to his uncle, who
had always procured for him every coveted
thing and could beyond n shadow of doubt
supply him with Miss Choate.
MIR. Ormsbee, ST., stood there in front
or tho drug counter attcntively listening
to what Miss Choate was saving nbout
olive oils, and presently some question
arose as to perfumerics, nccessitating Mr..
Ormsbee's presence behind tho counter in
stead OF in front. This, by the way, was
thrco months or moro after tho services of
tho uncle Ind been enlisted in behalf of
tho nephew, and Mr. OrInsbce had been
making almost daily visits to tho drug
counter.
There Is no reason why this porfumery
should sell better than tho other" Miss
Choato was saying, "only that it has a
fashionable name. Tho other is n finer
scent, but the fnddists have started q rush
for this, and customers haven't discrimipa-
ton enough to see. Oh Mr.. Ormsbee.
what have dono!"
Sho had made quick movement in the
earnestncss Of her speech and smashed the
cut glass bottle of perfumery she held,
uCiuSlNQ HlIll WIN inc contents and badly
cutting her hand.
Three dollars out of my wages" was
her first thought, and then she saw tho nc
cidcnt was oven more disastrous than that
for tho blood was flowing over her dress in
bright stream.
"Heavens!" exclaimed Mr.. Ormsbce.
and ho whipped out his handkerchief. Ho
bound mp tho cut Us deity and tenderly rs
woman could, and percciving Miss
Choate's paleDess went himself md GOT