Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-03-01
Triumphant.

BNrN VI NhoaAlub u HlLlull CutNhs w ME i |
was awaiting my turn n bright, neatly
dressed Irish girl entered, with baby in
her arms ana Bank of England note
for Is carefully folded in her right hand.
l 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 a word.
The clerk raised his head and sharply
demanded:
"WellT"
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:
Place an can We give me the money
for that?"
whats your name?" inquired the
clerk in the same rough tone as he
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, l meanY
said the clerk, evidently thinking the re-
ply was an evasion.
Come from?" stammered the girl.
"Who should l come from but myself
Bridgetp
Bother" exclaimed the clerk GROSSLY.
"What do you want? Who sent you?
Who are you?"
Bridget" again was the meek reply.
l saw the clerk had q strong tinge OF
"bumblcdom" in him and was anything
but obliging, so l stepped forward and
exclaimed that l 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 l do want. I'm
goin to meet me husban' in CARROLL, an
1 cannot get the note changed in any
shop in the town at all. They telrd me
he'd give me the money here"
ooh" said the clerk bluntly, that's
1t, is it? Well, we don't change notes
for any one but our own customers.
Make room for that gentleman"
'Sure, the notes good, We say, an
can't we give me the money, place"
pleaded the girl.
"Note's good, but we never change
notes, l tell you-except our own.
| There" added the clerk, with, as 1
thought, most unreasonable i'll temper, as
he pushed the girls hand off the counter
there, take your COMPOUNDED 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 l do at allT'
l got change for my check and was
on the point OF following her to tender
her what assistance l could, but she
| paused for 9 moment at the door. and
then she suddenly returned, a. If a 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:
can did ye say We could give me some
of yer own notes for thisE'
Eyes. certainly" said the clerk crust
/ lily. bland it to me-"
Bridget passed the note and immediate
ly received five brand new fl notes OF
the local bank In exchange. Still she
waited and watched anXiously while
the clerk entered the number of the note
in his book and deposited it in the draw
err ! caught her eye and | saw that the
tables were turning, for a triumphantly
wicked light was beaming therefrom.
Up looked the unlucky clerk, as sour
| as vinegar, as If he would say, Nv nat
more can you wantF
"An did We say ye changed yer own
notes?' asked Bridget in a 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
Them demanded Bridget authoritative
ly, adding in a cutting, sarcastic tone,
81 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 bank S
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 LOT
in all.
Bridget let him count-it occupied al
least five minutes-and he showed the
pile over to her. Then, very calmly, said
Bridget:
"Sure, I didn't ask We for silver.
want goold." ,
Bridget was equal to him. The CLERK
looked daggers-silver was not "lega
tender'-people were waiting. With
naughty word, which was clearly audible
he handed her couple of new, bright
sovereigns. Bridget very coolly put then
in her purse.
One or two people were served, bu
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 Bridge
was the worm that had been .trodden on
+ and now she turned" and there was NJ
l mercy in Bridget's heart
, "There, sur-r!' she said, enjoying he
triumph "Take yer COMPOUNDED note
= an give me change"
e The clerk placed before her two NOR
: gold pieces stamped with the image
4 Victoria, the queen, but his face wa
pale with anger, and he averted his eye
7 from the smiling visages of the peopl
z | around ~,
: Bridget pocketed the money. Then
s for the third time and with extreme EN-
i phasis, she again quoted his courteous
S language about the COMPOUNDED notes
e as she thumped the last one down on tn
: counter before him and again demande
. change.-New York News.
n In In Onaa