The Somerset reporter., 1903-11-19
Cupid and the
Cash Carrier
BY BENNETT MUS SON
Copyright, 1903, by T. C. Mcclure
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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
roll top desk in his private office.
Dignifed, 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 society woman
Mr.. Remington was not society
man, and it 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 deyoting the charms of his
personality to the display Of a roll of
silk to one of 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 1t in q little
nickel plated case, placed it in the re-
ceptacle of the cash carrier. He pulled
cord, and the box shot up till 1t
reached the narrow lines of metal,
whence 1t was whisked with business
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. Mr.. Remington released 1t, reliey-
ed it of its contents and, with brief
"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 give
har oil thnf tho contained IIp
withheld a small piece of folded white
paper, which he regarded idly for a
moment then opened. Written across
it in hastily formed characters were
the words:
at is an age till tomorrow night.
dearestl"
The old gentleman held the paper
nearer to his eyes and read the mes
sage again. Then he looked at his son.
who was talking animatedly. Then he
refolded the paper carefully. placed ii
in his vest pocket and walked slowly
away. He went to another part of the
store. from which he could get a view
of the cashiers post. and looked up.
There among the cOnverglng wires
of the cash carrier was a high desk.
and over its top protruded a head of
wavy brown hair, and occasionally as
its owner reached for the metal cases
Mr. Remington caught sight of the
pretty, refined face Of Gertrude Terry.
his cashier.
The old gentleman watched the girl
for awhile. then went to his private
office and again seated himself at his
desk. He drew the piece of white
paper from his pocket and looked at
1t thoughtfuly. Then he turned his
attention to the square. blue envelope
which contained Mrs Chase's invita-
ton and glanced from one to the other.
as though weighing in his mind the
value of each.
Perhaps the memory of his own mar
ried life. spent with woman or So
ciety, whose tastes and temperament
were at variance with his own, passed
In mental review. The many nights
he had sat Mt his lonely Preside while
his wife was attending functions to
which he had little inclination to follow
her may have intruded themselves on
his reflections. Whatever his thoughts
and they contained no bitterness for
the woman who was gone-he kept
them TO himself.
He did not say anything to Jack
when they left the store together eX-
cept to tell him that he had some pri-
yate business to attend to and might
be late for their o'clock dinner. Then
he gave the driver of his coupe an ad-
dress and presently alighted at small
frame house.
His ring was answered by gray
haired old man who walked with diff
Guilty. He seemed greatly surprised to
see Mr.. Remington When the latter
was seated In the little parlor he re-
garded the invalid with kindly interest
"Well, Max, | am sorry that time has
not dealt better with you" he said at
last. ITS long cry back to our col
lege days. isn't it?'
Old Max Terry sank painfully into
chair. THE last time you were in this
house." he answered slowly, was to
attend my wife's funeral. No; time has
not been oyergood to me, but | don't
complain"
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