The times., 1898-06-04
Surprised the soGa Water Clerk.

from the Detroit Zee FIeSs.
To the soda fountain clerk it was the
one striking incident of the day. Since
o'clock in the morning he had served
homely girls and pretty girls, light girls
and dark girls, but 10 him they had all
been alike-just girls.
So at about $50 in the afternoon it was
with a sigh of relief that ne saw her push
through the screen door and hobble over
to the counter. She was poor. very poor.
The clerk deduced that from her gar
ments, which were so old that they SEEM
ed to have grown on her, for she was old.
too-eighty at least. thought the
clerk Her face was deep lined with the
wrinkles Of care and worry, and her hair.
gray and smoothly drawn back from her
furrowcd brow, was almost concealed by
the coarse, threadbare brown shawl she
wore about her head and held together
at the throat by a long, calloused hand
like a birds claw SThe fingers of that
hand, the clerk noticed. were very long,
and bony, and cracked at the tips like
those of a person who works much in
water.
The old Iady's eyes were blue and kind
ly and they tWinkled brightly as she
Strengthened her bowed shoulders and
looked at the young man there behind the
counter so fresh and cool in his white
coat and long white apron.
She laid one of those thin hands on the
counter and moved her lips as though
about TO speak. The clerk took her TO be
one of those women who now and then
enter the down town stores and ask for
a nickel or a dime. So he said before she
spoke, 81 have no change today"
The little old lady's eyes took on a
t,~i.. riraITI Mt
change thot Oim afther, she said with a
Kilkenny dialect that was delicious.
''Oi wor jis goin t ask yez." she went on.
''av yezd gi' me glass o thot chacklet
study wather."
The clerks heart was touched. The
idea of a poor old lady begging with
pleading eyes and tears in her voice for
one little glass of soda water was so new
70 him that without a word he drew the
drink and placed it before her.
~ guess l can afford TO be charitable, -
said the young man TO himself.
The young lady ate the ice cream that
floated in the glass with relish most
apparent Like every perfect relisher OF
ice cream. she chewed Ii. When she mad
finished with It she drank the liquid re-
naming in the tumbler. Then she wiped
! her lips on a corner of the faded shawl
! and rising from the stool. reached back
| and down into the pocket of her shabby
I skirt.
"Well, how did you like it?" asked the
clerk, as he removed the glass and soz-
! zled It once or twice in the tub of water
1 on the floor that was placed there each
morning for that purpose.
| "Shure an Oh loiked ut well, thot Oi
did," said the old lady. ''Ov OF hadn't
a-knowed Oh wuz a-goin' to, oi wudn't a.
\ asted yez fur ut.
With that she drew her hand from hel
pocket and rendered the clerk a ten-dol-
1 lar bill. He turned white and reached for
/ the corner of the cigar stand to support
| himself He was completely dazed. Hard.
| ~ knowing what he did he took the bill
rang up five cents on the cash register
and gave back to the old lady hei
! change.
Why" he said, az thought you asked
! me to give you the soda water"
"An' thot's wat Oi did, she replied, AZ
| she turned to leave the store, but die
yez tink OF didn't intend t pay yez fol-
| ut. Young mon, nivir be desaved by ap
! pearances agin. Oi hoy tn habit an Oi's
| willin' t spend me good money fur it
| qualification. Good marnin'."
! And the clerk hasn't recovered yet.