The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-05-23
Lox,e Behind
The Counter.
(Oricinal.l

making. II man Is bent on telling
a girl he loves her, there Is no earthly
power to stop him. The field Of battle
is not too noisy, nor is the churchyard
too quiet. On land and on sea, at noon,
at twilight, in the ballroom and in the
death chamber lovers have wooed and
will continue to WOO 80 long as the
human race is on the earth.
Johnny Bounce was clerk in de-
partment store In large city. He sold
goods from the mems underwear coun-
ter, which adjoined the department Of
ladies' hosiery. Johnny's place was on
the right Of the underwear, and on the
left of the ladies' hosiery stood Lucy
Crowfutt, a dainty blond, who from
the moment she had taken her place
there and had brought her robins egg
eyes to bear upon him had melted a
way with them straight into the under
wear clerks heart. They had found
opportunity to speak scattered SEN
tences or fragments Of sentences on
bright days when the store was full
Of customers and to chat continuously
on rainy days when the store was de-
serted, hut in this chat there was no
word Of love. Love had been looked,
but not spoken. Nevertheless, after
several weeks of propinquity, the two
young hearts had become welded.
Then came new man at the glove
counter, directly opposite the mems
underwear and ladies' hosiery. he
was Byronic In his appearance, espe-
cially his collar, which, If 1t was not
cut In Byronic collar fashion, was
equally ample. A mass Of raven curls
were tossed up on the top Of his head,
one of them falling down upon his
forehead, nearly touching hook nose.
He had hardly taken his place before
the doorwalker was obliged to admon-
ish him to attend to his customers and
keep his eyes of the little girl at the
counter opposite.
Johnny Bounce was panic stricken.
No woman is insensible to admiration.
and the blue eyed beauty from the mo-
ment the clerk at the glove counter
cast his flashing black eyes upon her
threw up her hands-not in token Of
surrender, but to make sure her hair
was properly adjusted. Johnny saw
the admiring glance and its effect. he
cursed himself for a fool that he had
not secured the prize while there was
no one. at the glove counter except two
commonplace middle aged men and an
old maid. Now 1t might be too late.
Not moment was to be lost.
The morning was beautiful. The
windows were full of spring goods
The wax ladies donned in the habili-
ments of the opening season seemed
to smile more contentedly than usual.
But this has nothing to do with an
artistic setting for this romance, for
within the store was crowded and, the
weather being mild, overheated. John
ny Bounce's cheek glowed not only
with the temperature Of the building.
but with anxiety. He was keeping one
eye on some union suits he was show
ing to q customer, the other on the
flashing eyed man opposite. The Gus
toner, not finding what he wanted,
moved on. A lady to whom Miss
Crowfutt had been showing stockings
moved on at the same time. Johnny
determined to seize the opportunity.
Miss Crowfutt." he began, "do You
know that it seems very short time
since you came into the place beside
me, but It isn't. It's month. That's
long enough for me to find out Sc
cret I've found out Blankets, sir7
Sixth floor. Take the elevator. I've
found out that If don't Wooden
ware? Basement. If don't-I mean
II you don't Mems underwear? Right
here. What size, sir? Thirty-two
waist is too large for twenty-efght
length. Undershirt thirty-four? Think
you'll find thirty-six more satisfac-
tory. No. the goods don't shrink, but
thirty-sfx will be easier. Don't like
the quality? They're all wool, sir. We
haven't a better lise in the house,
Sorry I can't suit you. You'll find
bath robes in the back Of the store,
four aisles that way"
As the man moved of lady ap-
preached Miss Crowfutt's counter, and
it was half an hour before the two
were again free. Then Johnny sidled
up to Lucy. This time he spoke from
the heart.
"I'm nearly crazy"
whats the matter with you? You'll
find lace curtains over on that side,
madam"
c'aThat fellow opposite is rubbering
you.'
"Pshaw! Do you think I'd look at
him? What size, madam? Lisle
thread? We have-very fine articles.
You'll find the advertised goods over
there, sir. That'll At you. Openwork7
We haven't any Of these in openwork."
The customer passed on and was
succeeded by another. This time Miss
Crowfutt made a sale, but the lady
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