The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-25


 not relax, seemed to be costing her something. She understood that now ever, being familiar with the breaking in process in many kinds of work, ana such fatigue gave her not the least dis oouragement It was rather illogical Tn the graderman who observed all thls, and who saw that her quallty was quite superior to such an incident, to allow himself an agreeable sentiment or compassion, which centered In the red signal of weariness on her cheek IT, through feebleness of spirit, she had needed his sympathy, he would nave felt no such pleasure in giving 1t.
 In two or three days the girl had got hardened to her work, and was already falling into the swing of an expert. Her special observer had noted the eX- ceptional quickness of her requirement. and the decided approval of practical judgment reinforced his sentimental es- teem. It Is often so with young men Of his sagacious turn and successful habit of life. The heaven of sentiment in- vites with steadier allurement when it rests on substantial ground of availa- bility. The heart is indeed entitled to defy the judgment. but it beats no less gayly when such defiance is not called for.
 Such assuring observations hastened the period of conscious acknowledge ment that the brakes were off. Our el- | evated friend flushed little as he confessed to himself that he was 'in the chutes," and that he liked it. It was not his habit. He never handled 1 hrrc @lo+ ,,,l |, not nnyy ] quite free himself from reproach for having dropped the lines. But he l laughed nevertheless, and enjoyed the | joke on himself, along with some other 1 enjoyment.
 His craft, however, did not wholly | forsake him. He did not forthwith be- come the object of general suspicion. 1 The girl herself may have caught look once or twice that seemed to bring him rather forcibly under her serious atten- 1 ton, but he rolled his oranges with as I light q hand as ever, and exchanged 1 about the usual run of chaffing with the 1 men who dumped into his hopper, the manager and all chance corners.
 All the while the fingers of the new 1 packer were dancing under his eye and every orange that was wrapped and slowed away by their delft pressure was brighter by the reflection of his senti- ment, and he felt, every time, as if he 1 himself were being taken possession of l and laid away in the treasury that her strong, sweet life was gathering. l It was getting to be time for astute l diplomacy to sanction some casual ad- vances. It was observed at the noon 1 hour that the graderman addressed a number of remarks to the Missouri girl and that he found several occasions for happening within talking distance. There was no shamefacedness in these approaches. He easily maintained his off-hand, smiling manners, as if he 1 were rather melting to good humored I indulgence toward stranger than fall- ing under the spell of her attraction. No one ever got chance to make Jim
 ridiculous.
 As for the girl, her reception of this nascent acquaintance was in perfect form. Quite without show of embar- rassment, she made no sign or pretence
 of offishness. Why should she not be glad to learn something of the ways of
 this spirited young fellow, who had
 looked at her perhaps rather vigorously,
 but not in a way to call for any other
 defence than she always had about her When things are managed in this
 masterly way. the malice of on-lookers
 is stifled at birth.d It is weakness that invites troublesome comment. The
 strong may lead their affairs through
 the crowd without molestation. The
 smiles that followed this progressive
 pair were rather of approval than of derision. There may have been jokes but the mean and bitter ones are saved