The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-12-13

NAS AN0 u POOAAC ~ q PSC
Frank Dempster Sherman.
The firm of Twist & Taffeta was
progressive, consequently considerate.
So, it being July, Will Merrivell got
off at l o'clock on Saturdays. So did
Iona Wray, who was in the mail order
department, and who frequently came
to him in his position as maSager of
the cloth department, to match sam
pies of order goods. On n of these
occasions he discovered that Iona liv-
ed in the same suburb as he did. He
found out, too, hat they generally
went out of the city at the same hour,
on the same train. On learning which
his spirits rose like a toy balloon. To
be sure, Iona was a pretty girl. She
possessed not only beauty, but distinc-
ton. She held her slender young body
so erectly, she spoke so frankly, but
also with such dignified reserve, and
h was SO earnest and so conscien-
tious in doing the work intrusted to
her that Will Merrivell forgot while
in her presence to give the firm his
best duty and attention.
But, then, Merrivell was extremely
susceptible. If he had not been so
susceptible it is quite unlikely that
he would have been confined with a
precious trust. And if he had not
been selected for the honor conferred
upon him he and Iona might never
have proceeded beyond the boundaries
where the courtesies of casual ac-
q%uaintance cease. Indeed she did not
feel sufficiently familiar with him to
lmention the fact of her intention to
an hour later in town than usual
on n particular afternoon, although
ishe had come down to M%errivell that
morning for six yards of lavender
broadcloth, to be sent to a lady living
lin Arizona.
Hot day." remarked Merrivell. ut
will be fine to get away early"
"Delightful!" assented Iona.
But she did not enter the North
western depot at her ordinary hour,
although Will paced up and Town just
without the railing and watched the
great gates until his train had come
and gone. Surely she would be here
before the next train was due to leave.
The thought Of sitting beside her as
the train rushed out of the smoky city
into the beautiful green suburbs was
delightful. He might even get up
courage sufficient to ask to call! And
If permitted to do so. how kind he
would be : to Bobby-if only Bobby
would keep still about their little al
tercation. Bobby had stretched a
string across the sidewalk. Merrivell,
running for the train, had fallen over
lit and skinned his shins. Observing
the culprit, he had promptly grabbed
him and given him chastisement brief
but effective. Confound it! How was
he to know that the little r~ed-headed
wretch was the brother of this charm
ing girl? He would fall over strings
all the way from Melrose to State
street, if only
= Il beg your pardon, madam"
His hat was in his hand. and he
was bowling profoundly to a lady with
whom he had almost collided when he
had turned SO abruptly in his impetu-
Gus walk.
;. <~Do not mention it," cried the lady,
was young and pale and of al
most tragic appearance. She was
handsome, too, but evidently grief
was responsible for the wild express
sion of large black eyes and the pite-
GUS trembling of her lips. She wore
deep mourning. She was apparently
a foreigner. But you will help me,
sir? | am in desperation. Two hours
from now l take a train to the West.
/ came down here to make arrange
ments for leaving. At my hotel l
some important papers. 1 must
return at once and secure them. In
the meantime may l beg of you to un-
dertake the care of my darling Snow
flower? 1t is a precious trust and one
I would not confide to every
stranger. Is this asking too much.
Merrivell the susceptible, MerrIvell
the gallant, bowed still more courte-
ously. 81 am honored," he assured
her, highly honored! Consider me
at your service!"
He felt jubilant. This was an op-
p%ortunity. Now, when Iona Wray
arrived, she would see with what gen
t~leness, with what tenderness he cared
for this child of a stranger. She would
appreciate all the lovely depths of his
sympathy. She would be ~incredulous
of the statements of that red-headed
Bobby. She might even think Bobby
deserved corporal reproval. And,
when she passed through the gates
alone what a lingering glance would
she not send hack to him mhnrn he