The Portland daily press., 1898-03-18
TContinued.l
COPYRIGHT 1888. 81 TIE AUTHOR.

Continued.
Maxwell n. Belknap, successor to
Lester V. Potts. I'll see to that. Why,
didn't even know the boy had got
back"
Neither did I. The Belknaps have
naturally been SO taken up with the
captain that they haven't been among
us much. I wonder if he'll take Con-
federate money"
She gave one more backward peep
and drew in her head suddenly.
81 declare, Mrs. Clarke is half way
out of her carriage window. -
81 suppose she is taking in confirma-
ton of Betsy's story
s.She is taking in more than confir-
nation. Dear Mrs. Clarke is keen on a
bargain.
ssDear Mrs. Clarke drew herself
back upon the carriage seat at that mo-
ment with sigh. The Potts girls were
riding with her.
to have waited another day. she said
severely. Zone doesn't like to have such
o thing staring one in the face when
one is on the way to the grave.
Julia giggled nervously.
ooh, not il one really were on the
way to the grave to stayl But this is
different, don't you think?'
"Yes, of course it's some different. 1
wonder if he's got any -four in stock.
am so tired of corn bread!"
''I would thank him." said Ollie.
foreibly averting her eyes from the
sprawling letters, mot to call himself
papa's successor. Papa never sold by
the small. He was wholesale commits
sion merchant, as you remember, Mrs.
Clarke"
Mrs. Clarke surreptitiously consulted
her watch as she remembered she
really did not think there would be any
disrespect to poor dear Mrs. Matthews
if Robin Stokes would drive his hearse
a little bit faster. In all probability,
however, he was at that moment sound
asleep on the box. Robin never had
been known to stay awake On the box
seat through anybody's funeral, but as
he drove quite as well with his eyes
shut as with them open nobody ever
demonstrated.
Mrs. Brownell brought up the rear
end of the procession with little Miss
Simms, the dressmaker, sitting by her
SIDE Both women stared until the last
letter of that astonishing sign was
snatched from their line Of vision by a
turn in the road Then Mrs. Brownell
blushed guiltily.
''Thank goodness, we are the very last
in line wouldn't have Miss Melanie
know that read every word Of it for
worlds. A minister's wife has to be SO
particular.
s'Nor Mrs. Clarke either. People are
SO censorious. I do wonder if that boy
really has brought anything late In the
way of dress goods. 1t seems to me a
century since put scissors into new
piece of cloth. !"
And little Miss Simms leaned back in
the carriage with beatiic visions of re-
turning trade dancing before her pale
blue eyes.
II Maxwell Belknap had set his heart
on producing a stunning sensation, he
had every reason to be satisfied with re-
suits. He had only aimed at a telling
adj"
Little Mrs. Matthews was laid ten
DERBY to rest among the jasmines and
roses of Oloverdell cemetery. The fresh
earth above her was hidden from sight
by the floral tributes of those who loved
her.
Miss Melanie climbed back into her
seat behind old Dandy, with very wet
handkerchief orumpled up in her hand.
"Poor, dear thingt Her troubles are
all over, but cannot help thinking how
she would enjoy going to that store with
ns'
Eyes Mrs. Phipps answered in that
sad minor suitable to the occasion,
'I've heard her say over and over she
never would have believed women could
exist SO long without a single place to
shop in"
Miss Melanie turned Dandy's head
toward the new store and gave him to
understand that she expected him to dis
play his mettle.
And for the next few hours Maxwell
8eIknap was as busy explaining the
genesis of his store as he was in trying
20 satisfy the ciamorous demands of wo-
nen sharp set by four years Of a shop
less existence.
CHAPTER XXT