The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-03-20

lines about his mouth and the crows
feet about the eyes told of life thai
had been none too easy, and yet ther,
was that subtle air of prosperity about
him. too, that In turn told its tale.
Outside in the street the sun beat
down on the white sidewalk with a
glare that reflected even into the care.
fully shaded shop. Behind the count
ers the young women stood or sat In
small groups. They looked cool and
pretty in their light summer frocks.
On the counters were toys, heaps piled
on heaps, 1t seemed to the man, al
though the arrangement was orderly
enough.
For a moment he stood in the door
way. After the glare of the street the
shop seemed almost darkness. Grad
ually the forms. of the young women
were outlined to his sight, and then he
saw dimly the things on the counters.
An officious and oDsequious young
man came forward rubbing his hands.
Within a minute the man was in
charge of q cool-looking young wom-
an, with pretty smile and a gracious
manner. Almost before he knew 1t
the man was talking with her and ex-
planning things that needed no expla-
nation.
81 want to get q er-er-er, toy,
you know" he said
"Yes. SIR" said the young woman.
"Here is very pretty doll. How
would that do?" and she brought out
a wonderful creation with eyes that
opened and shut, and long blonde
curls. 1t was dressed in a pale blue
silk gown. How do you like that?'
asked the young woman, holding the
doll up for inspection. Then she
pressed hidden spring.
Mamma. mamma, papa, papaw
said the doll.
Great Scott! what's thaty' almost
shouted the man.
81 was making the doll talk" replied
the girl.
DO they make dolls that talk?'
asked the man.
"Why," said the girl, with plying
smile, "they did that ten years ago"
did they?" said the man; "well,
you See. it's a good many years since
ffe seen any toys"
"Shall I send 1t homer? asked the
young woman.
mo-" said the man, 81 don't think
that would do at all. suppose you
think I'm pretty old man to be buy
ing toys" he continued, irrelevantly,
"but you see, I've been so busy trying
to get rich that l never had time to
think of getting married till about two
years ago Been out West all the
time he continued, half sadly, "and,
somehow, ! didn't see many things like
that out there"
"Here Is Something else that you
might like, sir" interposed the young
woman, MS she brought out a wonder
full locomotive and train of cars. She
pressed spring and the engine bell
rang, the whistle blew, and off the
train started on the circular track.
"Is that what they call toy" asked
the man.
THAT is certainly toy" replied the
girl, with laugh.
II wish / could remember some OF
the things l had to play with when l
was boy" mused the man; II don't
suppose you could get Noah's ark,
could your" he continued doubtfully.
'Tll see, sir" said the young wom-
an, "bnt they're awfully old-fash.
ioned"
"Mebbe SO; mebbe So" said the man
absently.
The young woman walked to the
rear of the shop and soon returned
with the toy in question.
Yes, there 1t was. The Noah's ark
1t hadn't changed a bit in all the years
that had fled. The same old gabled
roof, one side of which opened like the
lid of box. The same square win
dows, the same narrow ledge around
the bottom, and the picture of the
dove, bearing the branch of olive
painted on the side
Slowly the man opened the box ant
began to take out the little figures
His hands actually trembled with de
light. The wonderfully made greer
trees, standing on the little brown
bits of wood that are meant to repre-
sent mother earth. The quaint figure.
of men and women; the soldiers will
their little wooden staffs. And theI
the animals. Where has their like eve
been seen before?
He spread them out before him ant
looked at and beyond them, and tn,
shop and the glare Of the sldewall
without vanished from his vision
Green fields stretched before him, ant
deep in their hollows nestled the littl,
white house with the bright greer
blinds and the red chimney.
In front of the house was a narrow
little walk bordered on each side will
sweet peas In bloom. How the!
smelli He could even smell them her,
| In the shop. Then he looked up. Th'
girl was wearing bunch OF thos'
wonderful blossoms In her belt. 81
| H 4 \i|t