Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-09-04

%ssE2xsl b O II ID y,
cloaked, noaded and umbrellaed.
Not very promising beginning for
poor Mildred Ersklne-for this was
her first day in business.
Business! And Mildred Erskine
had been millionaire's daughter
once.
"Imustn't think of these things now, p"
said Mildred to herself, as she crossed
the threshold of Messrs. Tape &
Sparkle's great Clancy Emporium, "
as it was phrased, in glittering gilt
letters above the shop door, "I'm a
working girl now, glad enough of the
chance to earn my daily bread"
And with throbbing heart she hung
her coarse straw bonnet and black
shawl in the dark little room, which
was devoted to the twenty other girls
who stood behind the counter of Tape
& Sparkle.
A little ferret-eyed man, with a
bristly head of hair and complexion
that looked as if he had been out in a
rain of freckles, stepped forward as
she emerged.
"You are to take charge of the cut
glass and Parian marble counter, Miss
Erslline," he said, briskly rubbing his
hands. eff you need any information
come to me for it. beg your
pardon" as she sank gale and trem-
bling into chair; "but that is against
our rules"
"What is against your rules, Mr..
Lacy?"
Sitting down. Don't look bust
ness-like. Amt the proper thing in
an establishment like ours"
'But there are no customers in at
present."
Cant help that" said Mr.. Lacy,
feeling his stubbly red beard. obs
ciplino must be kept up, Miss Frs
kline"
And so Mildred, wearied with her
long walk to the shop, and faint with
a vague feeling of dread and uncer-
tainty, stood leaning against the
counter, inwardly wondering how the
other girls could giggle and laugh so
under their breath when Mr.. Lacy's s
back was turned, and Mr.. Sparkle, a
pompous bald-headed man, who sat in
private office at the back of the store,
was engaged in his accounts.
Involuntarily she shrank back, col
oring scarlet, as a gay party alighting
from a close carriage at the door swept
into the store.
''Have you alabaster vases?"
The careless, insolent tone, the de-
fant hauteur of the young girls man,
ner stung Mildred to the quick. Surely,
in the halcyon days of her prosperity
she never had addressed sister WON
an like that.
II am not sure" she falteringly
answered. 81 will inquire"
"Pshaw" cried out the girl, turn.
ing to her companions. "Lets go tc
some one who understands her bust
ness"
"Stopl" said deep, calm voice
how Mildred started as it fell on heI
ear. "Here are alabaster vases. Will
you tell me the price of this one?"
Yes, it was Gerald Avenel-the man
she had waltzed with at Saratoga years
ago-the man who had stood with hel
on the moon-lighted beach at Long
Branch, when she was a jeweled
heiress-the cynosure of all eyes. He
did not know her now-she was glaG
of that; but, somehow, it cut her tc
the heart thus to realize how changed
she was.
But, as he lifted his eyes to her face
sudden dream of recognition flashed
into them.
"AIss Erskine. Am I mistaker
OF"
"You are not mistaken, Mr.. Avene!,
said Mildred, with forced calmness
The price of these vases is seven dol
lars"
"They told me you had gone tc
Europe as EgoVefness to an Englisl
family" he calculated.
Il did co." said Mildred, "but they
preferred French governess, and
returned by the next steamer. Can
show you anything more?"
As she sat down the vase with tremb
ling hands the girl who had first spokei
turned away.
81 don't like these things" sh,
cried, impatiently. "Horrid stiff de
signs, only fit for restaurant"
She caught up her gloves as sh
spoke, and in the same second deli
cate little Parian tatuette-Apollo
with bent bow and Grecian face
crashed to the marble floor.
Mr., Lacy advanced, with face pur