Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-28


the store-a forelady and a cashier
had few swell gentlemen friends
with whom they now and then dined
Once they included Nancy In an IN
yitation. The dinner took place In
spectacular cafe whose tables are en-
gagged for New Years eve year In ad
vance. There were two gentlemen
friends" one without any hair on hi
head-high living ungrew it. and WI
can prove 1.-THE other young maj
whose worth and sophistication he i'm
pressed upon you in two convincing
ways-he swore that all the wine wal
corked and he wore diamond cuff but
tons This young man perceived IRE
sistible excellencies In Nancy. Hi
taste ran to shop girls. and here wa!
one that added the voice and manner!
Of his high social world to the frankel
charms Of her own caste. So on thu
following day he appeared in the store
and made her serious proposal o.
marriage over a box Of hemstitched
grass bleached Irish linens. Nancy
declined. A brown pompadour ten fee
away had been using her eyes ant
ears. When the rejected suitor hat
gone she heaped carboys Of upbraid
ings and horror upon Nancy's head.
what a terrible little fool you are
That fellows a millionaire he's 6
nephew Of old Van skittles himself
And he was talking on the level too
Have you gone crazy, Nance"
Have II" said Nancy. II didn',
take him, did I? He isn't millionaire
so hard that you could notice it. any
how. His family only allows him $40.
600 q year to spend. The A9ldhead
ed fellow was guying him about 1t the
other night at supper"
The brown pompadour came nearer
and narrowed her eyes.
"Say, what do you want?" she In
| Quired in voice hoarse for lack OF
chewing gum. "Ain't that enough FOL
you? Do you want to be Mormon
and marry Rockefeller and Gladstone
Dowie and the king Of Spain and the
whole bunch? Amt $4,000 year
good enough for you?"
Nancy flushed little under the leve
gaze Of the black. shallow eyes.
at wasn't altogether the money. Car
rie," she explained His friend caught
him In a rank lie the other night al
| dinner. 1t was about some girl he said
he hadn't been to the theater with
Well, | can't stand a liar. Put every
thing together don't like him. and
that settles it. When sell out it's moi
going to be on any bargain day. I've
got to have something that sits up in a
chair like man. anyhow. Yes, I'm
looking out for q catch, but it's got tc
be able to do something more than
make a noise like toy bank"
"The physiopathic ward for yours"
said the brown pompadoV. walking
away.
These high ideas, If not ideals. Nancy
continued to cultivate on SS per week
She biyouacked on the trail Of the
great unknown Catch" eating her dry
bread and Tightening her belt day by
day. On her face was the faint sol
dierly, sweet grim smile Of the preor.
dained man hunter. The store was her
forest, and many times she raised her
rife at game that seemed broad antler'
ed and big, but always some deep un'
erring lnstinct-perhaps Of the hunt
ress perhaps Of the woman-made her
hold her fire and take up the trail
again.
Lou fourished in the laundry Out
Of her $3.50 per week she paid So for
her room and board The rest went
mainly for clothes. Her opportunities
for bettering her taste and manners
were few compared with Nancy's. In
the steaming laundry there was moth
ing but work, work and her thoughts
of the evening pleasures to come
Many costly and snowy fabrics passed
under her iron. and 1t may be that her
growing fondness for dress was thus
transmitted to her through the con
ducting metal.
When the days work was over Dan
awaited her outside, her faithful shad'
ow in whatever light she stood.
Sometimes he cast an honest and
troubled glance at LOUIS clothes that
increased in conspicuity rather than
| in style, but this was no dislOyalty
he deprecated the attention they called
| to her in the streets.
And Lou was no less faithful to her
chum. There was law that Nancy
should 20 with them on whatsoever
outings they might take. Dan bore
the extra burden heartily and in good
cheer. 1t might be said that Lou fur
nished the color. Nancy the tone and
Dan the weight Of the distraction seek
| ing trio The escort, in his neat but
obviously ready made suit. his ready
made tie and unfailing, genial. ready
made wit, never startled or clashed
He was Of that good kind that you are
likely to forget while they are present
but remember distinctly after they are
gone.
To Nancy's superior taste the flavor
Of these ready made pleasures was
sometimes little bitter, but she was
young, and youth is a gourmand when
1t cannot be gourmet.
"Dan Is always wanting me to marry
him right away" Lou told her once
But why should I? I'm independent
I can do as I please with the money
| | earn, and he never would agree fol
me to keep on working afterward
And, say, Nance. what do you want t
stick to that old store for. and hall
starve and half dress yourself?
could get you place in the laundry
right now IL you'd come. 1t seems tt
me that you could afford to be little
less stuck up II you could make
good deal more money"
81 don't think I'm stuck up. LOU
said Nancy. but I'd rather live OF
half rations and stay where ! am.
suppose I've got the habit. It's thu
chance that want. don't expect II
be always behind counter. In
learning something new every day
I'm right up against refined and ricl
people all the time, even II do onl!
wait on them, and I'm not missing any
pointers that see passing around"
Caught your millionaire yet?'' asked
Lou, with her teasing laugh.
81 haven't selected one yet" an
swercd Nancy. 1--WE been looking
them over"
Goodness, the idea Of picking owe
'em! Don't you ever let one get b!
you. Nance-even II he's few dollar