The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-09-29
GOOD AFTERNOON, MIR. MARSH.

UOOD AFIEkNOON, MIX. MARSH.
shop and listened to the conversation He
had been quite dropped out of family con-
situations lately
After Jennie left Reuben went slowly
away again to his shop. Kathie was bus
fly packing a little later when she heard
the shop door bell ring. The bell rang
whenever the door was opened. Presently
1t rang again. GRANDPA seems to be hav-
ing customers" thought Kathie. She was
surprised a moment later to hear third
ring. Not long after there came a fourth
ring. then fifth.
"Well!" calculated Kathie.
She laid down her work and, opening the
sitting room door on a crack. peeped into
the shop. She could not see the custom
ers, but her grandfather was talking to
them animatedly
who are the people?" thought Kath!e
Yes. sir" Reuben was saying Just
one moment, please, until wait on this
gentleman. Yes. indeed; take it to the
light and examine It, Now, madam, this
is the sample. Here is the very thing;
not a shade Of difference. You'll take
three yards of the wide? Yes yes,
ma am: I'm pretty busy. You see I'm all
alone just now. My granddaughter has
stepped out on an errand. but she'll be
in presently and help wait on my GUS
toners. Oh. indeed, she helps in the shop
considerably. We keep our little business
together Kathie's a good girl. a very
capable girl, and she turned to with
will to work in the shop when she finished
school Yes. ma am, she stood by her old
grandfather. She remembered how he'd
stood by her ever since she was a baby.
She was weakly child. maam. Her
mother and l used to walk the floor half
the night with her sometimes when she
was teething. She used to like to creep
about the shop here when she was little
mite. Yes'm. we've always lived in this
house. You see. am too old to go away
now. An old man is like tree with deep
roots; he can't be tranSplanted easily.
And so we're going to stick to the little
shop still There, ma'am is your parcel.
Now, what can do for you, sir?'
kathie's face was study of scarlet be-
wilderment.
who is grandpa talking tor" she MUIR
INJURED, and overcome with curiosity she
stuck her head quite into the shop.
Save for Reuben it was empty The old
man, standing behind his counter. hold
ing up this article and that, tying up
| packages, opening boxes, chattering away
| entertainingly, was waiting on a shOpful
of purely imaginary customers.
Kathie realized the soul Of the situation
| with a hard pang. The scalding tears
| sprang to her eyes.
Its a tragedy she said.
| With a little sob she softly closed the
| door and ran to her own room. She threw
on her things and hurried out of the
| house by the back way. She had seen
i John Tracy. the young drummer from
whom her grandfather bought goods, on
| the street that morning.
Johns in town, and he'll help me-"
she thought.
| John was readily found at Sam Green's
| After talking with him a few minutes
| kathie hurried back home.
There had been a long lull in the ring
| ing Of the shop bell, but after awhile it
began again-once, twice. three times!
Kathie dropped her work excitedly and
| ran into the shop.
Her grandfather had fallen into a quiet
reverio When the bell rang he looked
! across the counter without changing his
expression. - John Tracy and two other
men had come in, but old Reuben f2n@ied
| them his customers-still the cree tt,~"s u
his recent dream. 1t was not UNI. .oln
| spoke that he reused up.
! Good afternoon, Mr.. Marsh" jena said
brightly I've brought some OF my
| friends around to look at your neckttes.
l expect We'll all want few of them"
"Hey?" said old Reuben. "Ah. yes.
| yes" He turned to the shelves bewil-
dered.
Here they are, grandpa" said Kathie
at his elbow. And see, there come Sal
lie Vane and Nettie Thurston. They want
some wells, 1 know. Oh, see what a lot
| of people are coming"
All that afternoon until dark the shop
bell kept ringing Kathie stood at her
! grandfather's side measuring goods and
showing articles Some of the people that
came in bought goods: some merely ask
| ed to see them
go to Marsh's, anyhow" John told ev-
cry one he met. even if you just look at
something. 1t will encourage the old fell
| low"
| When the shutter was set up at 6
o'clock Kathie threw her strong penitent
arms about Reubens neck.
Grandpa" she cried trades picking
up. We can never leave this, of course.
| Why, we'd always feel that we'd risked a
fortune If we left here now for Nestor.
I'll write Mr.. Fry tonight that we cam
possibly give up our business for the
school There are forty teachers he can
get instead of me-
Reuben's face was like a rudy old ap-
pie when he blew out the shop lamp and
walked into the sitting room for supper.
mo need of you leaving home to teach
Just yet, Kathie, child" he chuckled
cheerfully. "Tll Just pilot this craft for
us both awhile longer"
And I'll Just keep my hand on the rud-
der and do what 1 can to make 1t go
straight" thought Kathie. planning how
she and John should dress up the shop
window the next day.