The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-08-15

after the 'frr, dsy. the cid csady masei
got in the habit OF smiling and noddins
m acknew l~dsment Of ber insercs,
He was good customer for fruit.
partly 10 be used In his trade and
partly for his own consumption. 80
on the .econd day when he picked az
q basket and came oni on the Sidewalk
hsrcbcaded and In his shirt sleeves
several OF the pu~h cart men stepped
forward with eager anticipation But
he waved them back brisqoeiy. lie
had seen a good deal through the win
dow IN spite Of his seeming absorption
IN bis work.
NO, no." he satd irnscihiy. ''ycH
hands are not clean enough 10 handle
fruit win by from the girl"
The third day he began TO watch the
girl anxiously. He. too. had noticed
her exhaustion. During the day he
was out twice and bought fruit from
her. a =
The fourth morning long line "
girls went into the shop one sfics an
other, remaining few moments and
then came ON. For the most part they
were IN clad. unattractive girls, and
not one Of them bought anything. u
was evident they were seeking work
and Just ms evident. after the hrst
twenty or more had gone In and come
out, that the cgndy maker was becom-
Ing irrltated. Toward the end be only
gave nm applicant single glance. and
more than once bis mo" was plainly
heard by the girl at her push cart on
the corner.
At length late In the afternoon he
came out bareheaded and In his shirt
sleeves, an usual, but without hfs bas-
ket. He went straight to the girl.
Are you going to run this push
cart all the timeT he asked.
The Girl looked surprised.
II don't know" she nswered doubt
fully.
because II you're not" he went on,
Il want to hire you TO work In my
shop. You saw all those girls strag-
Cling In with soiled dresses and untidy
hair and sour faces and pert man
ners. Bah! They'd make pretty
shopgirls, wouldn't theyf want u
lady, a nice looking, neat. capable
girl who can look pleasant and at the
same time be ladylike. They all came
In answer to an advertisement and
not one In the whole lot suited me-"
The girl swayed slightly. but stead
led herself quickly by leaning against
tho cart, holding TO II by both hands.
Perhaps wouldn't suit either she
haxarded. forcing smile to her face.
Eyes, you would" he answered. But
his tone was not quite 30 positive.
"rve been watching you through the
window for three days. You're neat
and particular about yourself. That
shows. And you're neat about other
things from the way you look after
your cart and fruit. And you're at
trnctive to customers and make your
self look pleasant even when you feel
the other way. That's what you're
doing now. You're not sickly, are
your" his new found anxiety at last
finding expression In words.
mo; I've always been very strong
and healthy" she answered. "Only
."sf s6eSSusshs You lAiitiA Ba Strong, WIN
some relief in his voice. from the way
you handled the cart the first day you
came. was watching. But yesterday
and today you've seemed little sick
". Ny work will he lots easier than
having a cart like this and nicer and !
think will pay you better. But OF course
I'll need a girl who's spry and can
keep up. She'll have to help me make
chocolates and fancy candles and put
them In boxes and look after custom
err. I'm too busy to wash my hands
every time customer comes In, and
Il hurts trade. could do twice the
business II had good help. Tn turn
ing away trade every day" He waited
a moment, as though debating some
thing. then added cordially: Anyway,
I'm willing to try you few weeks
even II you should be sickly. You're
Just the appearing girl ! want. and J
know you're spunky."
"well, don't know yet the girl
began tremulously. Then her face sud
denly changed. She was looking be-
yond him, rFathcr" she cried re-
proachfully.
A frail little man with white hair
was approaching them, walking slowly
with the aid Of a cane. Ne looked anx-
ious.
"Giuseppina, he cried. Il could not
wait any longer' have been worry
ing all day, and at last had to set up
and dress and come and see. You
looked 80 bad last night, and you did
not want me to notice. pretended to
be asleep, but ] watched. and ]
watched the night before. The two
arst days was too sick to think. but
since then you have not eaten a thing.
You spent your money for wines and
medicines tor me, and
The girl had been trying to interrupt
him with warning glances, with ex-
prcssivc motions Of her hands. Now
she cried Father again with such
shamed distress in her voice that for
the first time the old man noticed and
understood. He drew himself up with
sudden unconscious dignity.
1T was only that my daughter In
sists on buying me costly wines and
medicines like the very rich people
have he said. addressing the candy
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