Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-01-26
A STORE
ROMANCE


NAAAhni EiNA@n lAiuSu hiList4i vi Tue
fact that he was not an ambitious man
ne was wont TO say that envy and
di.content are the twin roots of all evil
and that to be satisfied with ones lot
in life is the sum total Of all earthly
philosophy.
William did not put it that way ex.
getty. for he hadn't much more educa-
ton than he had ambition. But that
was what he meant when he would oc-
casionally announce to his fellow clerks
over the bowl Of mush and milk that
formed his MONDAY meal at tao ''quick
lunch" counter, What l can get is
good enough for ME. and don't you for
get it.
And his fellow clerks. mostly imam.
bilious men like himself. would general.
ly reply. with laconic vagueuess Of Us.
sent. That's what"
Williams lot in life was sufficiently
humble.
He sold tin bathtubs in the poorly
lighted basement CT a big department
store six days in the week. His Sundays
he spent in riding a secondhand bicy-
III ~ - fNao AAgf anu AAaGAhA AAG lA1
torial papers or sewing refractory hut
tons and reluctant patches on his cloth.
ing when the weather precluded any
idea Of outdoor amusement.
For William was a bachelor and
looked askance at the fair sex as the
lovely promoters of much of the dis.
content he so stcrnly deprecated and the
gentle meters OF the reckless and wick
ed extravaganza whose existence in the
world be 80 greatly deplored.
So when be caught the hutter Of a
skirt ON any STRAY bicycle be CHANGED to
pass on a lonely road be woull scorcn
sternly ahead and never oncs glance
around TO see IL the fair traveller was
riding for fun or to reduce her waist
measure
From which It may be seen that Mr.
French was very much Of a philosopher
But. alas, even philosophers are not
exempt from the visitirgs of the tender
passion. and IL CHANGED one day that
Cupid. for want OF something better to
do. chose to vieit the basement of that
particular store and plant his dart deep
In the heart of the young man who sold
tin bathtubsl
1t happened this way:
A young woman cane to Gil n vacen-
cy In the graniteware department. next
to Williams own, and he. 50 long in
different and even callous to the charms
Of woman. no sooner saw the new clerk
busy over her saucepans and teakettles
than he was smitten with a desire to
possess her for his own.
Miss Thompson was not beautiful. to
be sure, nor was she at all imposing of
appearance that she should thus capti-
vate the heart of this severe critic at
first sight And she trotted about with
a brisk alertness Of movement quite in
compatible with grace and elegance Of
movement
But she suited William right down
to the ground.
70 begin with, she had soft eyes. of
no particular color perhaps. but come
how when their gaze rested ON William
he felt that here, at last, was one who
could appreciate his true value almost
as keenly as he did himself. Her brown
hair. Of a very ordinary shade. was
parted very neatly over her smooth
brow IN a fashion extremely plain and
unambitious compared with the impos-
ing pompadours worn by the magnificent
young ladies who sold ribbons and neck
ties at the counters up stairs and whose
airs and graces made William so u n
comfortable that he frequently went to
a rival establishment to purchase the
modest "made up" cravat which com
pleted his humble toilet.
Moreover. Miss Thompson's simple
black alpaca gown. with its trinity belt
ed waist and spotless cuffs and collar.
betrayed none Of the wickedly extrava.
CANT ideas William had long considered
the prevalent weakness of the sex.
1t wasn't very long before the two
young people became very friendly.
Stewpans and teakettles being more
IN demand than bathtubs. William
was frequently called upon to assist
Miss Thompson in her department, and
this association with her afforded the
young man moments Of exquisite Joy.
AT other times he would watch her.
busy over her cooking utensils. and
imagine how she would look in a little
kitchen Of her own manipulating sim.
liar implements in the preparation Of
his wi supper
The thought was intoxicating Herr
at last he had found a girl who would
be willing to share his humble lot, BIZ
told himself A plain little thing like
her would probably regard a tiny tire,
room lat such as be had in mind as {
very palace Of luxury. He himself
would seem TO her a sort Of specia
Providence through whose benevolent
Intervention she would realize all thos'
dreams of home and husband most girl
indulge in
This thought ho found even more
agreeable than the other. and he founC
himself assuming a protecting and ever
patronizing air with her at times.
The enamored young man went X