The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-11-20
Cupid and the
Cash Carrier
By BENNETT MUS SON
Copyright. 1903. by T. C. Mcclure


Through the great dry goods house
of Chase. Remington, Bentley Co.
ranged the usual throng of shoppers
eager faced women and bewildered
looking men. In the rear of the store
Mr.. william l.. Remington. the sole
survivor OF the original firm, sat at a
roll top desk in his private Office.
Dignified. gray haired and sedate
was Mr.. Remington. and he looked
| thoughtful as he leaned back in his
revolving chair and tapped the edge
| of his desk with a square envelope OF
rough blue paper. The envelope con-
tanned an invitation to a reception to
be given by Mrs. Eleanor Chase, the
widow of one of the former partners
| of the house and a society woman.
AIr. Remington was not q society
| man. and IL was of his son Jack, aged
| twenty-five. that he thought as he fin
| gered the envelope and Of Eleanor
| Chase's daughter Nancy.
He rose, opened a door which led In
to the main part Of the store and,
| threading the maze OF aisles. made his
/ way TO the silk counter. There stood
Jack. who was working his way
through the various departments OF the
business, devoting the charms of his
| personality to the display OF roll Of
silk to one of a crowd Of well dressed
women.
Mr.. Remington looked on approving
ly as his handsome son concluded ne
gotiations with the woman, took bill
from her and. inclosing IL in a little
nickel plated case, placed Ii in the re-
ceptacle OF the cash carrier. He pulled
cord, and the box shot up till II
reached the narrow lines OF metal,
like precision TO the eyrie OF the cash
Ter.
As Jack turned TO another customer
his father waited; then, recognizing
the purchaser OF the silk, he stepped
forward and engaged her in converse.
ton.
Presently the nickel plated case shot
back over the carrier and dropped
with an assertive click into its recepta
Gle. sir. Remington released Il. reliev
ed IL OF its contents and, with a briei
"I'll give Mrs. waldron her change
Jack" which received an answering
nod from the young man. handed the
money to the woman.
But Remington senior did not Civ,
her all that the case contained. HI
withheld small piece OF folded white
| paper. which he regarded idly for {
moment. then opened. Written across
| IL in hastily formed characters wer'
the words:
"It is an age till tomorrow night
dearestr"
; The old gentleman held the pape
nearer TO his eyes and read the mes
sage again. Then he looked at his son
who was talking anlmatedly. Then b.
refolded the paper carefully, placed 1
In his vest pocket and walked slowl,
away. He went TO another part Of tn
, store. from which he could get a view
of the cashiers post. and looked up.
There among the converging wire
Of the cash carrier was a high desk
and over Its top protruded head o
wavy brown hair. and occasionally n
, | its owner reached for the metal case
Mr.. Remington caught sight Of tn
, pretty. refined face OF Gertrude Terry
his cashier.
The old gentleman watched the gir
for awhile, then went to his privat
, office and again seated himself at hi
desk. He drew the piece Of whit
paper from his pocket and looked a
IL thoughtfully. Then he turned hi
| attention to the square. blue envelop
which contained Mrs. Chase's invits
| tion and glanced from one TO the Other
ms though weighing in his mind tn
= value of each.
Perhaps the memory OF his own mai
ried life. spent with n woman OF SC
ciety. WHOSE tastes and Temperament
were nj variance with his own. passe
in mental review. The many night
he had sat at his lonely fireside Will
his wife was utiendin. functions
which he had little inclination to follo'
her may have intruded themselves
his reflections. Whatever his thought
y and they contained no bitterness fc
the woman who was gone-he keI
them to himself
He did not say anything to JAG
when they left the store together e.
cent TO tell him that he had some pr
. vate business to attend TO and migl
/" be late for their o'clock dinner. The
he gave the driver OF his coupe an AZ
/. dress and presently alighted at sma
:, frame house.
His ring was answered by gra
: | haired old man who walked with diff
"a Guilty. He seemed greatly surprised
see Mr.. Remington. When the latt'
a was seated I'm the little parlor he r
n gar,ied the invalid with kindly interes
10 We'll. Max. an sorry that time hi
X not dealt better with you" he said
bt last. Its n long cry back TO our ce
~ lego days. isn't itT'
n Old Max Terry sank painfully into
or chair. THE last time you were In th
he house" lie answered slowly. was
" attend my wifr's funeral No; time h
he not been overgood to me. hut ! dor
n complain"
he II want you 10 tell me OF her." 81
m Remington. and he drew his cashier
ny father on 10 talk OF the mother nj
ly wife.
to The rich old merchant listen
he thougltfully while Max Terry told
Is. years s,ent In perfect companionsh
h years during which his ambition TO
o come great musician had slowly 81
fered collapse, but which bad be