Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-12-11
The STORY Teller.
HALF A MILLION.
A CONCEITED MANS STORY.

I had been in the dry goods bust
ness 10 years or more, and had drudget
all that while, winter and summer
without a holiday, except Christina
and New Years Day and the Fourtl
of July, when one summer, calculating
my profits, made up my mind that
could afford to enjoy myself for onc'
as other people did-cut the shop out
right for a while, and spend week O.
so in the country. Trade was dull
and was dull, too. So as Dobbins'
aunt-Dobbins is my head clerk-had
house at Shadyslope, and took a board
er or two, and was anxious to ill bel
unoccupied rooms that summer, l gav'
my name to Dobbins to fill up the list
and ran down with my trunk and bae
about the first of July.
I felt that it was an honor 20 Dob
bins's aunt, as we'll as to Dobbins; but
| I made up my mind to be affable, and
not to make them more uncomforta
bic than I could. No matter wha
your position in life, it is very wrong
to put on airs, and I never do it.
"Tell them not to put themselves
out on my account" I said to Dob
bins, "but to treat me just as they dc
the other boarders )" and Dobbins sale
he would.
"Puff, of Puff & Co.," I said, wher
T met the aunt: stdon't disturb your
self on my account. I am quite sim
pie in my habits"
She said she wouldn't, though
could see it was not every day thai
the head of a firm came to Shady
slope. They had three or four othel
people there. A few who taught mu'
sic and composed some, you know
and an artist and doctor and a few
who wrote novels, but nobody of any
Importance.
When sat down to the table thai
night, I put them all at ease at once.
"I distinctly desire it to be under
stood that don't want to disturb any
one," said. $50 on just as you have
been doing. I want relaxation, ano
it will amuse me. Simple pleasures
are very charming when one is weary
with application to more important
matters"
Then bowed. But you can't ex'
pect everything of people not up te
the mark. Two or three laughed
uhv don,t know
1t was very pleasant there. Par
ticularly pleasant. My landlady had
daughter, quite a charming creature
with eyes like bluebells and a voice
like q canary. She used to sing 6
good deal with the music man. The
moment that girl looked at me she
appreciated me.
Before the day was over she was
desperately in love with me, and wher
creature like that gives you bel
heart, how can you look coldly or
her?
Far be it from me to win the affec'
tions of an innocent girl, knowing as
I do that I have position in the
world, and must marry with due con-
sideration of the fact but knowing
what emotions / had awakened in her
bosom, I felt obliged to be kind to her.
We walked together. We rode, we
sung. I felt that it was wrong, but
my feelings carried me away. often
thought to myself: If that girls
father had been in the wholesale line
and had left her we'll of, what bliss
would have been mine. But he was
nothing but a lawyer, and had scarcely
left penny. Excelsior is my motto
Large retail should always aspire to
connection with wholesale. And
Miss Briggs, of Briggs & Bounce
smiles very sweetly when she bows to
your humble servant.
Alas who shall control the hearts
affections Evelina's beauty and her
devotion touched my soul too deeply
On the first of September, when the
trade was growing brisk, began to
feel that it. was better for the peace oi
both our hearts. that l should fly.
should forget the dream in little
while. But she, poor child, feared
that she would never forget me.
"Adieu," I said, as shook hands
with her. "Perhaps we shall never
meet again."
She turned her face away from me
Her emotions overcame her. And
took the next train to the city.
entered again into the turmoil o.
trade. 1t was brisk. But nothing
could make me happy. 1 accused my
self of trifling with the affection of ar
angel. She loved me, thought, and
I have broken her heart-I who secret
ly adore her.
I lost my appetite I grew thin
When I saw fair creatures of her age
bending over the counter, my mind
flew back to her lovelier than all
When Mrs. Briggs daughter smiled
upon me, thought how plain she was
and how adorably beautiful was Eve
lima.
Atlast-it was in October-my head
clerk claimed holiday. II shall
spend it with my aunt and Evelina,
he said. sighed.
"a beautiful girl" said I.
"Yes," said he, blushing at the com
pliment to the family, 1 presume
"The loveliest girl 1 ever knew, and
lucky one, too"