The Irish standard., 1904-10-15


his neighbor and rival was in trouble.
But this was only for a moment. An
other instant found him saying:
ALLOW me, madam" He took the key
, from her hands. and after a mighty
| wrench threw open the door.
Thank you, very much, MIR. Lang
ley" smiled the young woman, who had
now recovered her breath, but on whose
face the blush still fingered. 81 don't
believe l ever would have opened it.
Will you not come in? It's too early for
any bushes yet awhile"
Langley stammered an excuse for not
accepting the invitation; then, strange
to say, walked rightin
No wonder trade had left Langley. 1t
was worth the price of several cigars
just to enter the dainty little shop.
Everything was spick and span. There
were flowers blooming on the counter,
and tall rubber plants and ferns setting
| in the corners. Inviting leather-cush-
toned chairs were standing against the
wall which was dotted here and there
with cute little pictures. And there were
curtains. lacy-looking curtains, at the
windows. That was why Langley had
never been able to see inside the place
before. Now that he had seen, it was
no longer mystery to him why his GUS
toners, even some of the most anti
trust ones. had forsaken him. To tell
the truth, Langley did not blame them,
either.
Wont you sit down, Mr.. Langley?"
asked the young woman, after enjoying
his evident establishment for a short
time.
Langley sat down. 1t certainly was a
comfortable chair. And the cigar that
she gave him-he did not know that the
trust made such good cigars. Langley
took three or four long draws; then he
sighed The trust man was right. He
saw his finish.
After that day Langley formed a new
habit, which was to come down early
+: every morning. And it was strange how
often the little used-to-be mililner had
, trouble unlocking her door. OF course,
Langley had to stop and help her. Near
ly every morning she vowed to have a
! new lock put on before night. But for
some unaccountable reason the old lock
remained.
After unlocking the door, Langley
would often sit down in one Of the COM
Portable chairs almost surrounded by
rubber plants and ferns, and smoke q
trust cigar which the young woman had
given him. While he smoked they would
: talk. He couldn't help from telling her
something about his troubles, she was Sc
sympathetic And Langley always
sighed heavily when the time came tc
leave the comfortable chair for his OWE
unattractive shop.
One day, however, Langley stayed q
full hour later than was his custom. And
heforgot to sigh when he left. Instead, he
hummed merrily to himself all the time
he was sweeping and busting out his
store.
Trade was even duller than usual that
day; but Langley didn't seem to mind
one bit He even bowed and smiled gen.
ialy to his old friends whenever he SAN
them going in or coming out the shoy
next door-a thing Langley had never
done before, for he had grown to lool
on all who traded there as his enemies
About three O'Clock that afternoon
when there wasn't soul In the store ex
cept himself, Langley saw Rockway, tn,
trusts agent, coming down the street
He stopped for a moment, with salts
fled smile on his face, before the sho]
next door. Then he came on to Lang
ley's.
Hello" he cried, as he stepped in
noting at the same time that there wal
not a single customer in the store
Business pretty good?"
We'll, 1t might be worse" Langle,
answered, with smile. GLOW are the,
doing next door,"
ooh, fine. That little woman's got TIL
best business head on her shoulders
ever saw. And she's mighty pretty, to,
don't you think SOP"
Very" replied Langley. And hi
smile broadened.
"1'm glad we got her to go into tina
ten-year contract. To tell the truth
that was our last hope. You'd have ha
us but for that. And say, langley" tn
trust man went on, II heard you were 20
ing into new business. What is it thi
time?"
"Matrimony," replied Langley. jerk
ing his head toward the shop next doo1
mo ten-year contract, either. Thi
ones for life"
Well. to Rockway's credit let it be sal
took defeat with good grace an
danced at ,Langley's wedding with a
light step as the bridegroom himself