The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-08
MET THE HEIRESS.


George I must have an Introduction
This was what Ralph Fitzsimmons said to
himself. Aloud he muttered these words:
MADE an impression on you evidently,
HowardP'
i'm going down to Rossville to be
married to the only girl worth loving in
the world, - said Howard Gray, with low
er's excusable exaggeration, "but Miss
Eleanor is a charming young lady, and
am intimate enough to introduce you, il
you like
"Ah!' said Fitzsimmons, Yelling his
delight, "thank you. Engaged, suppose,
and engaged girls are such bores!'
Heart free, 1 believe" said Howard.
"She's extremely hard to please. Well, I'll
ask her permission, and Wen call on Sat
urday 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 ease.
At present he was merely clerk in a
fancy store on a salary which was certain
~ small one and he had resolved to mar
ry and settle as soon as possible, whenever
he could find any one whose purse was
long enough.
in the way of a 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 she?'' said he to him
self. "Well, all the better for me. L fancy
have a certain way with me that women
find it difficult to resist, and I'm certainly
a very handsome man-remarkably hand
some"
''Won't I go its'' said he to himself as
he munohed his rolls and swallowed his
coffee. 81 was meant for a 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 CURLY:
''Wen, Mr.. Fitzsinmons, are you aware
that you are 10 minutes later"
Perfectly, sir, - said FitZsimmons pert
1y. Fifteen minutes and half. Mulct
me penny, sir. About the amount lost,
believe"
The head of the establishments turned
purple with rage, but as the entrance Of
customers prevented him from "having it
out with the young man. as he desired,
at once, he contented himself with howl
ing, "No. forward" in terrific tones,
and Fitzsinmons, otherwise ''No. 4, - did
forward" to his place, but slowly and
with much dignity, when lady entered
the store, and advancing straight to his
| counter requested to "1oOk 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 color?'' said he without moving
and with his hands in his pc ckets.
''Let me see your stock, - said the lady.
Cant you tell me what you want?"
said EitZsimmons.
ct have told you that wish to look at
your floss silks, - said the lady.
ooh" said Fitszimmons well, there
they are. If they don't do, I can't help it.
can't crafty the whims of females in re-
gard to shades, and I've given up the at
tempt Six and six are 49, and''-
81 shall take none of these Silks said
the lady, rising.
81 beg your pardon, ma am, - cried the
proprietor, advancing. "Has ANYTHING
"Mr. Fitzsinmons called her a female, Z"
said "cash," who, like "Iittle pitchers, ("
had "great ears"
''Mr. Fitzsimmons, Kissed the indig.
nant master of the store, ''you and
! must part. This won't do. You're "a
a.
"You're anotherl" said Fitzsimmons.
completing the sentence over which the
first gentleman had fallen fiat, land I'm
rejoiced to leave this COMPOUNDED retail
hole.''
An hour OF two later he strutted into
gorgeous drawing room in Fifth avenue
in the wake of his friend Howard. Three
people arose to greet them-an old gentle
man, an old and a young lady.
'sMr. Brown, my friend Fitzsimmons.
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 tendrils
Fitzsimmons looked at her He had seen
her before An awful memory flashed
across his brain. He strove to Danish it.
Perhaps she would not recognize him.
Perhaps
industrious this evening, Miss Flea
nor?' said Howard.
eyes" said Eleanor "I'm making a
wedding present, and weddings are like
time and ttde-they wait for no one I'm
behihdhand too"
"Pityr' said Howard.
eyes, said Miss Eleanor "Shopping
for green silks of a certain shade kept me
out all day"
$50 hard to fnd?'' asked Howard.
every, 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..
| Fitzsimmons?" -
Fitzsimmons turned scarlet. The bright
eyes had flashed upon him for once with
meaning in them. The heiress was the
lady in the waterproof, and she recognized
him.
He had lost his situation and his heiress
also merely because he had not been civil
I to person in waterproof cloak. 1t was
a shocking reflection, but perfectly true,
for the visit to the store had been no
chance on Eleanor's part.
She was romantic, and having had a
glowing picture painted of Ralph's charms
desired to see him off his guard for the
first time, and thereby judge him better.
New York News.