The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-29

Spose you go 10 carton AZ my manager
for a year. and after that. why, my dea,
lad. you shall have a little share in the busi
ness.
The little shop at Carlton took more put
ting in order than Mr.. Anderson had fore
seen. He went up and down in his dogcart
evidently well pleased with his task: anc
when he drove Claude up in August and
showed him over the trim little place. hi
happiness was complete.
Its been rare fun looking after the work
men. and stocking the shop he said. glee-
fully; a II no fear of money runnin' short,
Ms there was when ms an mother ftrst set
UP. Does it please you. dear lad?'
Claude smiled into the kind. wistful face.
and his eyes ,Illed with tears. If he could
have torn the mask from his soul. John
Anderson would have started from him
nghast at the emotions which filled II.
Work was honorable-alI work was honor
able. TO stand behind a counter and do
ones duty there, II that were ones place,
was as grand a thing to do as to sway q
Parliament or command a feet. Claude rec
ognized that, and he honored the brave.
Woodworking man who watched him 10
anxiously."
But was his own place behind the counter:
Assuredly II was not. But where was it,
What was his rightful place. and would he
ever find ii? Would he ever be free to try
to find It? He must put away that thought
while those kind, smiling. eager eyes were
upon him.. There was need just then for .
kind Of heroism which seemed 70 have no
greatness in It.
Its splendid, Mr.. Anderson he said
heartily. You've done the thing well. and
no mistake. 1 hope II hope you won't lose
by putting me in as manager. III do my
best to make things go; but -"
The proud mouth trembieo. His employer
patted his shoulder.
"Of course you Wilt" he interrupted. And
how dye like your little officer The mother
has had a finger in the pie. as you see. Md
there's days up here when business IL b
slack. an you can bury yourself in yer
books. That II suit chr
Claude nodded.
You're both too good to me-" was all he
said: but he resolved to bury out Of sight
his vain longings. and to do his duty to John
Anderson at Carlton.
And when are you goin' to town to see
after that bicycle?" asked the older man,
with q broad smile. which showed his In
tense happiness in showering benefits on his
young protege. And it's to be a good one.
mind-no secondhand or second-rate AFFAIR.
Pay a good price. and get a good article
that's my motto. Mollie says a good ma
chimes the first thing she'll ask me to get
for her when she comes home; and she shall
ave 1t. b.ess her! And yours must match II,
my lad. or she'll turn up her pretty nose at
1t. She knows whut's what. does my Mollie,
the darling! l can't think how we've done
without her SO long. Claude: but the mother
and me. we said she shouldn't go short in
the matter of dedication. like we'd had to
do. Eddfcation's thought a lot OF nowadays;
and or Mouie she'll be able to old her
'ead up with the best O. them
Claude looked at him with admiration,
though then. as always. the uncultured
speech Jared upon HIM.
II wonder II God ever made q more selfish
man than your he said.
'"Tut. tut. lad; God gives to me with both
hands. and I'd be a mean creature II I didn't
pass some Of his bounty on. Well. then.
we'll drive over to Morley Market to-mor-
row after that there bike. and Monday well
down the shutters. Eh?"
Autumn and winter passed slowly. Claude
put his prlde-a pride for which there
seemed no right Of existence-in his pocket.
and waited on the miners wives in Carlton. |
On the whole. he found life more endurable |
than in the larger establishment at Heath |
and he had many opportunities OF
making acquaintances afresh with his best
,riends-his books.
He was angry with himself for feeling It
! relief to be away from the garrulous
and fussy kindness of his employer. |
md he dld penance for his small-minded-
less by a more affectionate devotion when
offered.
With the earliest days Of spring Mollis
ame home-a very ladylike. refined ana
cultured Mollie, who brought q new at
nosphere into the unpretentious home, n
" no means looked as II her foot was on
Ter native heath" /;
She was as brave in her way a. Claude
vas In his, and. except to him, who would
lot fail to understand, she showed nothing
( the disappointment her home coming was
o her. From seventeen to nineteen u
ong period in the history OF youth, and
ew impressions had partly erased old ones. !
dollie found herself having to take up the
Id life where she had laid 1t down-ths old
Re which had not changed, and which
bowed no signs OF changing, while she her
elf was changed. altogether. l.
They did 1t for the best" she said; but
well. perhaps / had better have stayed At
ONE. or. at any rate. have come home in
he holidays. Do you think I shall grow
gain into harmony with my surroundings,
I hate to feel that anything In my
ONE jars upon me. And they are so good
nd l~oving-the dear ones! And love and
oodness are far more than culture. are they
/,
''YesI" he said passionately. IF were NOT
ire Of thai were not fit to cumber the
!
Mollie looked at him wistfully.
You feel like that. too7 And you have
been greater than your surroundings
on a higher level than the rest OF
$. Sometimes. when 1 look at you, I think ]
have somehow slipped from q higher I
to -"
t.Hush!" he said peremptorily, his face
= with thoughts he could not express to
ieA Hush! You do not know. The very !
iamH I bear is not my own"
"irts a very pretty one."' she said. smil-
NTH you find your own. az you will
some dy. My mother told me that your
noener Sed before she could speak It How Z
siao sne would have been to know how
many wanad to be kind to her babyi Poor 4
nothery"
Claude setais teeth together. and spoke !
40 word ShChad hna~S p