The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-28
A BOW OF RIBBON.


in the week to Ellen Hampson. The little
shop was often full Of customers waiting
to be served OF course, the shop was not
. very large, and was choked full Of things,
principally ready made pinafores, skirts
and shawls, while In the glass case that
stood beside the door woods and bright
colored ribbons were displayed, and on the
counter were laid tapes, pins and needles
and all kinds Of small ware.
Craseby was large manufacturing
town, such as the north abounds In, where
people earned in the factories "good
money" which they were always too
ready to spend. and among the women not
little of each weeks wages found its
way to Miss Hampson In exchange for the
bright ribbons displayed in her glass case
or in cotton blouse of brilliant tint, and
Saturday afternoon was the time when
these important purchases were made.
Friday evening was pay time, and the
money was burning holes in the owners
pockets until the half day holiday gave
them the leisure they required to go and
spend 1t.
Ellen-or Miss Hampson as she was al
ways called-was general fayorite in the
way we regard something we rather pity.
She was 30 quiet and humble in manner,
so ready to please and oblige, and would
take as much trouble in serving penny
customer as one who came for things
many times that amount.
In appearance she was rather gaunt; her
clothes seemed to hang loosely on her, and
her hands we're rough and red with hard
work, There was a patient look in her
brown eyes, and her hair, had she allowed
it, grew loosely and lightly over her tenn
PIES but this was strained tightly back.
Undoubtedly she had the markings Of a
good looking woman, which for lack of be-
ing made the most of were going to seed.
For many years she had supported her
mother, but now she had no one depend
emit upon her, and her loneliness and desc
lation were keenly felt by Ellen. 1t had
never been her way to think Of herself.
Indeed, she would consider 1t u real waste
and almost sinful to have things comfort
able just for herself. While tho mother
lived, her one thought had been for her,
and toward the end the mother had grown
childish and fretful, but this had only
made her moro patient and thoughtful for
italy one of those natures whose greatest
happiness consists in having some one de-
pendent upon her. 1t was very meat to
her hungry, lonely heart, for hidden be-
meath her natural reserve was whole sea
of love simply running to waste. Love
such precious thing to be wasted. Still,
1t would seem, 20 one desired 1t.
How often it lssol Those who have the
greatest love to bessow and arc most wor-
thy are often those whose love is least
sought.
eve good business Ellen would
say, land l Just live in that, and p'r'aps
I'm downright ungrateful to expect more.
But cottons and tapes arc poor company,
and now mothers Como ] never feel as
though 1t matters whether customers are
few or many. 1t was different then Each
tinkle of the bell seemed like luxury for
mother"
But it wasn't often she had time to in
dulge in such wicked thoughts" as she
called them, for business was brisk, and
1t was only during the week at Todd mo-
mcnts' that she could sit down Bit and
then this desolation came and almost
seemed to suffocatc her. And on Sundays
church, for It was SO doubly dreary to
walk out alone when every one except her.
self had u companion, and right down in
tho bottom Of her heart she envied tho
young couples who would stroll by arm in
arm, utterly oblivious to every body or
thing except themselves.
Years ago, when she had been girl of
about II, young George Seaton had want
cd her to keep company with him. But
the mother had declared she was too young,
and now Ellen thought, with a sigh, II
am too old, )" though in reality, she was
not very much tho wrong side Of 30, but,
then, she looked very much older, and it is
supposed woman is as old as she locks.
So, however bright the Sunday were,
Ellen would not be tempted out of her
little parlor to go for walk, for she felt
her loneliness more in going out than
when sitting by herself In the house. 1t
was almost like being a leper, to walk
alone. Doubtless there were many people,
had they known how much pleasure they
could have given, who would gladly have
invited her out walking, but tho general
impression was that Miss Hampson was
rather dull sort of person, who was
happy enough In her own way.
1t had been o warm, sultry day, and to-
ward evening Ellen stood at her door try
ing to get a breath of air, when Dick Darn
ley came along the street. He was good
looking man, with an honest face and
clear blue eyes, and was general favorte.
Craseby was not his native part, for he
hailed from the Midlands. He was car
penter by trade, and had more than once
done some small jobs for Ellen.
In passing he gave her pleasant nod,
and then, turning rather suddenly, no
camo back and followed Ellen, who had
gone in, into the shop, troading cautious
ly, as though he feared to do some dam
ago.
II want some buttons, please, - he said
little awkwardly, placing sixpence on
the counter; "those with holes in Them"
"What size will you be wanting?"
This was evidently poser. At length
he answered, "Middlin big"
you has deal of stuff, " he remarked,
looking around, "but not much in my
line, I'm thinking"
ooh, no. l don't know anything about
mems things"-blushing II suppose
You are buying these buttons for some
oneS I'll change them, you know, II
they're not right"
The man gave little laugh, as II some
thing amused him.
"Im real obliged to you," he said, and
as the parcel was ready, he bade Ellen
civil good evening and went out of the
shop whistling
After that evening Dick Darnley was o
frequent customer, and such strange
Inn h. hf.xy hat
quite puzzled.
"The neighbors must think a deal Of
him" she thought, sending him on their
shopping. Roughly guessing, he must
have bought enough tape to reach right
down to the station at Dinton, united;
and pins and cottons and yard Of pink
ribbon-and how particular he was over