The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-04-06
gave her notice to leave. The dismissa,
was not unkindly done, but simply As a
matter of necessary business va !"

matter of necessary business.
II am making changes here" he told
her, (Which will oblige me to keen two
regular clerks, who will reside in this
house when l have left it,"
| Like snow shower his words seemad
to cover all her thoughts with curious
darkness, SO that only here and there
could peep forth tiny blade of humor.
Am not, then, regular clerk?''
You are, certainly, but not precisely
IN the way mean l shall be most hap.
Ply TO give you all possible help in the way
of References 10y
how she had thought confidently of sit.
| ting and working in that glass case. with
every day and hour frightened by SEEING
her money turned to good and useful ac-
count, by hearing no more restless pac-
lngs to and fro, by seeing his face glow
origuter with every prosperous year.
These were stupid, idle fancies for anv
business woman to have, and their result
proved them folly
He certainly missed her, the morning
after her final departure, when, in pur
suance of old custom, he threw open the
pigeonhole and found nothing but order
! ly darkness; still it was only as man
might miss the darns in his socks by find
ing holes there instead. In gazing at the
idle typewriter it struck him that Miss
Lowe had foolishly gone without those
| generously worded testimonials which he
was so willing to give; and, knowing
quite by chance that she was still in Dul
verton, he determined o call and put this
little matter right, because she had GER
tainly done her duty in that state of life
to which poverty had called her.
Hester Lowe had two rooms II, ctn;J
little house standing just where town
merged itself into country, and as he was
ushered in by the landlady and his for
mer clerk rose to received him, he
thought at first it was some stranger. She
nad been out paying the last of her small
deots-among others the Sabhatical fowl
which had been tough and tlavorless for
at least three Sundays-and, coming in
damp and dispirited, had changed the of
hclal serge for some soft womanly gar
mem, which here and there rippled into
flills and tiutfuess. The face, too, was
different, being both pale and wistful; for
she was standing, not undismayed, at this
crossroad of her life quite uncertain
which way to 90. Not for a moment
could he reconcile this woman with the
one he had come to see. She was so diff
| ferent, and her surroundings aided and
e'pN'tSh VIC llJhSltus having dUStluLE.N
nothing in common with the little glass
den.
II called to remind you about the testi-
monial. You ought to have it before
leaving BEAVERTON"
"Oh, reference? Thanks. But l
doubt if it is needed
He sat down, and drew pen and ink,
which We're close at hand, toward him.
''You will find it is much needed May
| ask if you have anything in yiew?' He
was writing as he spoke.
''No-notEng in view"
H frowned a little and went scratching
Miss II. Lowe what does II. stand
for? 1t is better with the full name. -
"Hester.'
SO he didI' t even know as much as that
about her: and the scraping pen set her
teeth on edge.
tThere," he said, handing it to her;
twill that do? If not, | will add any
thing you please"
She read the few formal words bearing
witness to her worth and diligence, while
he glanced round the room. marveling
what woman could do with $50 year.
'lr will do excel .ntly," she said.
''Thank YOU
II doubt if it is quite enough, now l
come to think of it. Give it back. l
will add little more
But her grasp frightened on the sheet of
paper
"You have said quite enough. l like
| that word faithful 1t really expresses
everything"
He glanced up into the soft, serious face
above him, and fully realized that t is
was the first time he had really seen her
and the thought struck him that a man
hurt, and in pain would lind comfort in
such a face bending over and soothing
him.
At parting they shook hands.
$50 you KNOW" he said, 81 feel now
that / haven't been half nice enough to
you. 1t must have been terribly dull
work for you. -"
'Not at all. You never bullied mel
should have hated that-and you paid me
punctuauy. What more was necessary"
She didn't mean to be bitter, vet he
went away distinctly remorseful. After
he was gone she laughed quietly and then
wiped her eyes.
ITS really very comical when one
looks at it, she said. And if ever Il per
son turned herself out OF a situation by
her own act and deed ] am that person.
It's really very comicalH
And she wiped her eyes again.