Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-10-10

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were thinking OF marry ing mas o Deneu
an art store. That girl ought to have
had fortune. She Is Just fitted to be
the head of a gentleman's house."
Walter Talbot. who was brushing his
hair before a mirror, struggling to get
the part straight and In place to suit
llm, turned and looked ut his friend
lnquirlngly. He admitted that Miss
Peachblow was IN old flame of his, and
lad 1t not been for her poverty he
might have married her. 1t had not
been necessary that he should be de-
prived of his love on this account, for
he had inherited some means and was
doing very we'll In his profession. He
had gone so far as to become engaged
to her. but on thinking the matter over
had concluded that In this commercial
age there was nothing practical In
mating with poor woman. So he had
broken the engagement. He had not
since met any one. rich or poor. whom
he had cared to marry and had remain
ed bachelor
"Where Is her shop?" he asked, re-
suming his toilet.
The location was given, and Talbot
thought that he would go into the store
and see how his old flame would look
behind the counter. 1t was several
years since he had seen her, and she
might feel embarrassed at meeting
him. AS for Talbot, his equanimity
was not easily disturbed. The next
afternoon on returning from his office
he chose a different route from his
usual one and stopped at a shop which
bore a sign Maria Peachblow" See
ing his former fiancee engaged with
customer, he waited near the door.
Miss Peachblow turned her eyes to-
ward him. She did not start. She did
not blush. She simply cast her eyes
again upon u picture she was trying
to sell.
Talbot was sure she had recognized
him and was surprised that she gave
time In the presence Of a woman he
felt uncomfortable. If she persisted
in treating him as a stranger his visit
would not be pleasant one. He
wished he had not come 1t wouldn't
do for him to back out now, SO he
leaned on a counter and sucked the
head of his walking stick nervously.
The customer, lady. was in no hurry
to choose, and 1t was half an hour aft
er Talbot entered the shop before Miss
Peachblow made a sale, took the lady's
address and promised to send the pic
ture the next day. Then as the Gus
toner went out Miss Peachblow ad-
vanced with that stereotyped look on
her face by which salespeople ask
without the trouble of speaking, "What
can l do for your"
Talbot stood trying to smile, but
forced smile. especially when one Is
badly disgruntled, results In something
not unlike a grimace. Conscious of
this, Talbot flushed. The lady noticed
neither of these conditions. She sim
ply said:
"Will you look at some pcturesT"
yes thank you-if you have
anything that you think will please
me-"
Miss Peachblow turned and led the
way to large portfolios in racks and.
opening them, said:
Here are some fine engravings.
These are water colors l can especially
recommend In this one you will find
some photographs of celebrated pic
tures."
Talbot took hold of one of the port
folios, and his hand trembled. This by
no means tended to restore his equa-
nlmity. He wanted to break through
the invisible mask, shield or whatever
it was that she held between them.
Had he come with any definite purpose
he could easily have stated 1t, but he
had not He had broken his engage
ment through selfish motives, and for
the first time he began to realize how
selfish they were. He had come to the
girl he had Tilted with motives of Idle
curiosity, and he began to feel that he
had been fool to step in where an
angel would have feared to tread.
If Miss Pcachblow had shown any
relish in her revenge the spell by which
Mr.. Talbot was held at arms length
would have been broken. She did not
She treated him as she would have
treated any other customer.
II think this will do said Talbot,
selecting a landscape "and this"
battle piece. I'm hang them together"
"The landscape is soothing, the battle
piece exciting. They will make good
contrast VIII you have them framedfs
Certainly; frame them"
81 will show you some samples"
"Never mind the samples. | would
prefer to leave the framing to your
taste"
But the prices vary. We have
frames at prices from 20 cents to SIS
a foot. l think you had better instruct
me in this"
Put on suitable frame. no matter
what the cost"
VERY well, will do my best and
send them. Let me see. This Is Mon
day. VIII Thursday do?'
"Yes Thursday Any day"