Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-05-25
A PEART GIRL.

1T should like" she said, "to sec some corksorews. '
 This brought out all the young mans best qualities. He was suave in his reply deferential in his smile and quick with bis fingers As he unwrapped parcels and let loose different breeds of corkscrew, one after another, he inquired if she had a preference for any special kind.
 Yes, " she said, the oorksorews want to sec are patent corksorews-those with dodge or tRiok or catch or lever to make the cork come out easily"
 Certainly, miss Quite so, :" said the young man intelligently. 1T have several neat little inventions of tho kind mostly American. Surprising what number of these things come over from America. Now, this one, you will observe, is simplie- iuy Itself. No pulling, no violence re- quired. Screw into the cork so, turn the handle so, and the cork comes out. We sell great many of these.
 May l see another oneP'
 Certainly, miss, said the young man. "Now, this is q very clover little thing, on the lover prineiple-no pulling or violence required. You just'-
 May try it2'
 She was by no means bad looking girl and, though it was stretching point, the assistant drove an old cork into an empty bottle aLl allowed her to draw 1t out again.
 Yes, , the girl said, that is charm ing. I like that much the best. What price is it?''
 ''This is a little dearer-two and four. We'll say two and three, as I sec very slight spook of rust on the handle, which, however, will easily clean off. U
 He began to wrap it up in paper briskly.
 The girl looked at him with sad, won- dering eyes.
 'Why arc you wrapping 1t upllke that2'' she asked.
 ''Well miss, supposed that you'd soon- CT carry it wrapped up. If you like to take it as it is and slip 1t into your pocket, of course'-
 II don't think I ought to do that said the girl. You sec, it's not my eorkserew. 1 don't think you ought to suggest that should steal your employers goods.
 ''I was under the impression that you were buying that corksorew.
 "Why?' asked the girl 1T never said anything about buying. What does girl of my age want with corksorews? I don't drink "
 Herel'' said the young man, with the intense calm of the exasperated. "You may think it very funny thing to come in here, turn over the stock, spoil it by handling and waste my time, but let me tell you that people who don't come in here as customers come in here as tres passers and by the law7-
 She did not look quite so frightened as he had hoped.
 tg 4 law, and it doesn't affect me- because, you see, l came in as customer. It doesn't follow because I don't want to buy cork screws that don't want to buy anything else. You're so nasty. That is how you get wrong. ''
 "Is there " said the young man, "any- thing which you want to buy-not want to see, mind; want to buy2"
 Yes, ,' said the girl "there is. But must I buy it without seeing it2 It doesn't t seem to me to be the usual way of doing business, but dare say you know best. "
 The young man sighed.
 "You can sec any article which you are intending to buy.
 fWell, you should have said that be- 1 fore You contradict yourself, you know. I want packet of that blue gray Silurian note paper with envelopes to match and some chocolate nougat
 You'd better get out of tho shop, said the man. "You know perfectly we'll that this is an ironmonger's not etationer's"
 "You really are much too nasty, said the girl. "I'n only following your own directions, and you can't buy chocolate nougat at a stationer's. There's a card in l that window which says, If you don't see ! Tl inside and ask for it. l didn't see any Silurian note paper in that window, so kindly stepped inside and''-
 twill you go2" said the young man, los ing his self control
 Mot immediately. If I've been misled, it's your fault, for putting notices in the window which you don't mean. Why do 1 you do 1t? You shouldn't. There are other things I want as well. I want a penny box of tin taeks.
 twill you goY'
 "Yes. But think you ought to serve me first, without being impolite about it. "
 She turned round to the proprietor, who at that moment appeared behind the counter.
 Do you think" she, said, ''you could persuade this young man to sell me a i penny box of tin tacksp I want them, and l I have got the penny. Whenever 1 ask him for them he roars out, Will you gof' /"
 She comes in hereT- the young man began.
 "Well, he con see that for himself, said the girl But don't want to talk about it any more If in a big ironmonger's shop like this two grown men can't sell penny's worth of tin tacks I'd better try somewhere else. Good morning."
 So she spent a penny on a tram ride in- stead and laughed the whole of the way, to the amazement and disgust of the con- 1 S1,,oko- vd bo, foIIoVxy y,oSaoY,f,orc Barry