The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-08-16

ed bachelor.
"Where is her shop?" he asked, re-
Stunning 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 shop which
bore a sign Maria Peachblow.' See
ing his former fiancee engaged With Il
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 picture she was trying
to sell.
Talbot was sure she had recognized
him and was surprised that she gave
no evidence of the fact. For the first
time in the presence Of woman he
in treating him as 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 counter and sucked the
head of his walking stick nervously
The customer, lady. was in no hurry
to choose, and it 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 adj
vanced with that stereotyped look on
her face by which salespeople ask
without the trouble of speaking, What
can l do for you?"
Talbot stood trying to smile, but a
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 pictures"
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 can especially
recommend. In this one you will find
some photographs of celebrated pic
lures"
Talbot took hold of one of the port
folios, and his hand trembled. This by
no means tended to restore his equa-
nimity. 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 it, 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 We're. 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 Peachblow 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.
81 think this will do" said Talbot.
selecting landscape, land this" a
battle piece. "I'll hang them together"
"The landscape is soothing, the buttle
piece exciting. They will make good
contrast. Will you have them framed?"
"Certainly; frame them"
Il 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 So
foot. think you had better instruct
me in this"
PUT on suitable frame, no matter
what the cost"
Very we'll, will do my best and
send them. Let me see. This is Mon
day. Will Thursday dot"
eyes, Thursday. Any day"
Meanwhile Miss Peachblow was look.
ing for an order book and, finding one,
took up a pencil.
address. please"
walter b. Talbot, 1876 Orchard awe
nue."
'.T-a-l or T-o-l?''
"T-a-l"
Bot or b-u-t?"
bot"
'Thank you very much'
''Send the bill with the goods"
The lady, with slight bend of the
head, turned away to wait on another
customer who had entered, and Talbot
departed.
Six months later Talbot shot himself
for love of Miss Peachblow.
ELLSWORTH EMERSON.