The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-21
Triumphant.

One morning, while on my travels
through the north of England, entered
one OF the two banking houses in the
quite little town of Penrith for the pur-
pose Of cashing small check. While I
was awaiting my turn a bright, neatly
dressed Irish girl entered, with baby in
her arms and Bank Of England note
for IS carefully folded in her right hand.
1 made way for her to pass, and she
went straight up to the counter and laid
the note before the telling clerk, but
without uttering word.
The clerk raised his head and sharply
demanded:
"WellYs
The girl seemed rather abashed at this
offhand interrogation, as if she thought
he knew perfectly well what she wanted,
but, after moments hesitation, said:
"Plaze an can We give me the money
for that?"
whats your name?" inquired the
closely scrutinized the note, for at that
time great many well executed counter
feits were floating about
Bridget" replied the girl.
"Who do you come from, mean?'
said the clerk, evidently thinking the re-
ply was an evasion.
Come from?" stammered the girl.
'Who should come from but myself
Bridget?"
"Botherw exclaimed the clerk Grossly.
what do you want? Who sent you?
Who IRE your
Bridget" again was the meek reply.
l saw the clerk had strong tinge Of
"bumbledom' in him and was anything
but obliging. so stepped forward and
exclaimed that supposed she wished to
have the note changed and suggested
that, as it was evidently good, he might
as well accede to her modest request.
The girl looked at me gratefully and ex-
claimed in her broad Irish brogue:
"Sure, an that's what do want. I'm
goin to meet me husban' in CARROLL, an
cannot get the note changed in any
shop in the town at all. They telPd me
he'd give me the money here"
"Oh," said the clerk bluntly, that's
it, is it? Well, we don't change notes
for any one but our own customers.
Make room for that gentleman"
"Sure, the notes good, ye say, an
can't We give me the money, PLACER
pleaded the girl.
Notes good, but we never change
notes, tell you-except our own.
There" added the clerk, with, as I
thought, most unreasonable i'll temper, as
he pushed the girls hand off the counter
There, take your confounded note and
make way for some one else!'
Bridget seemed bitterly disappointed,
and, looking at the baby, asked pitifully
of that unconscious innocent:
"Och, sure, an what'll do at all?'
l got change for my check and was
on the point Of following her to tender
her what assistance / could, but she
paused for moment at the door, and
then she suddenly returned, as if bright
thought had suggested itself to her mind.
When the other customers were gone,
she again arrested the attention of the
clerk and asked in modest, quiet way:
IAN did We say We could give me some
of yer own notes for this? 2"
Eyes, certainly" said the clerk crust
lily. "Hand it to me"
Bridget passed the note and immediate
ly received five brand new FL notes of
the local bank in exc...-nge. Still she
waited and watched anxiously while
the clerk entered the number of the note
in his book and deposited it in the draw
er. caught her eye, and saw that the
wicked light was beaming therefrom.
Up looked the unlucky clerk, as sour
as vinegar, as if he would say, "What
more can you want?
IAN did We say ye changed yer own
notesw asked Bridget in firm tone.
"Of course" replied the clerk sharply,
opening his eyes as if he began to COM
prehend that after all the simple Irish
lass might be ''too many" for him, while
two or three gentlemen who had come in
looked on and smiled.
'Then will We give me change. for
themW demanded Bridget authoritative
~, adding in cutting, sarcastic tone.
II think they're good"
"There," she said viciously, quoting his
own words as she threw down two of
the precious documents before him.
there! Take your COMPOUNDED notes!
The clerk was fairly vanquished. He
did not dare refuse to cash the banks
own paper, so with slow fingers and an
cry heart he counted out f2 worth of
change, all in silver-threepenny and
fourpenny pieces, think, probably $50
in all.
Bridget let him count-it occupied at
least five minutes-and he showed the
pile over to her. Then, very calmly, said
Bridget:
"sure. l didn't ask ye for silver. I
want goold.'
Bridget was equal to him. The clerk
looked daggers-silver was not illegal
tender" people were waiting. With a
naughty word, which was clearly audible,
he handed her couple of new, bright
sovereigns Bridget very coolly put them
in her purse.
One or two people were served, but
Bridget remained. She waited her turn.
Very deliberately pulling out two more of
the notes, she thumped them down be-
fore the unfortunate man, for Bridget
was the worm that had been trodden on,
! and now she turned" and there was no
mercy in Bridget's heart.
There, sur-r!'' she said, enjoying her
triumph. "Take yer confounded notes
an give me changev'
The clerk placed before her two more
gold pieces stamped with the image of
Victoria, the queen, but his face was
pale with anger, and he averted his eyes
from the, smiling visages of the people
around
4 Bridget pocketed the money. Then,
NJ. L. (.