Sharp County record., 1908-03-06
her FIRST
CUSTOMER
BY Cynthia Grey. I

We'll, I'm going to, anyway! de
clared Emily Smythe. And what is 6
middle-aged guardian going to do wher
17-year-old girl who knows she has
money and thinks she has ideas
pouts?
Its for Margaret" continued Emily
Margaret was a cripple, the daughter
of a washerwoman. Il think that the
rich should"
"All right, all right" agreed Mr.
Rand He had already heard more
than he wanted to Of Emily's ideas
regarding the obligations of the very
rich.
Mr.. Rand bought the shop Emily
coveted, and in two weeks it boasted
new sign, "E. Smith & Co."
Margaret is the Co.. explained
Emily, "and e. Smith is l."
Mr.. Rand knew that the shop
backed Emily's property, which itself
faced upon one of the most aristocrat'
ic streets of the city, but what he did
not know was that every morning a
gray little figure slipped out of the
back door of the Smythe mansion,
darted into the rear door of Margaret's
mothers plain little cottage and
thence to the shop, where "E Smith"
herself sold cigars and thimbles daily.
ut is such a lark" Emily confided
to Margaret; Il love to study the Gus
TONER'S"
Her first customer was a tall, dark
man with serious eyes and a firm
chin. He came every day, and Emily
studied him. Their conversation
turned usually to the sins Of the very
RICH and because they agreed and be-
cause Emily loved to study the Gus
toners she was deliciously happy for
six months. Then the blow fell.
Mrs. Rand struck the blow, "OfI
course, you must come out this sea
son!"
"Then, of course, I WON'T" declared
the girl. 'I hate society"
"The invitations are addressed
said the older woman blandly. "They
will be mailed tomorrow"
So in two short weeks Emily, look
Ing exquisitely lovely in white muslin
and pink rosebuds, made her bow to,
polite society.
"There, that ends it," she confded
to Miss Wilson as she laid aside her
finery. That's all | want Of the
aristocracy. I'm IS to-day. No more
guardians or guardians wives!"
Miss Wilson smiled. Since the,
girls parents demise Miss Wilson had
managed Emily by letting her think
she was doing exactly she pleased.
SO once more the little shop bright,
ened under the magic Of her presence,
and once again the first customer
found 1t bewitchingly attractive.
81 guess it's wicked to be rich' Of.
fered &c. Smith," as her first Gus
toner leaned over the counter on the
morning after her debut.
ut needn't be-" he smiled into her
troubled eyes, III the rich wouldn't let
themselves grow idle and useless. Just
yesterday he went on, there was a
great fuss over on the avenue because
q Miss Smythe was IS. She'll grow
up as empty.headed as the other wom-
en- are"
"Will she?' faltered the girl.
"Now you,' he continued, you'll,
| wish you'd let me come to see you, Il
have something to tell YOU /
Emily blushed and gave the address
of Margaret's mother, That evening
he called but Miss Wilson was there,
serenely watchful. He came again
and again, and Miss Wilson was al.
ways there, until one evening she al.
lowed Emily to run over ahead of her,
promising to come after her at ten,
o'clock.
As the man entered he cast quick
glance around the little parlor.
"Emily," he criod, EMILY, Emily, dear,
! love you!" He did not see the light
shining In the blue eyes, "But, dear,
] have deceived you. am not Frank
Barber the bookkeeper down town, as
you have thought me, am Frank
Reginald Barber, son Of Newton
Phelps.Barber,"
The girl gave little gasp, tho
Phelps-Barbers were richer than she
was.
II have been doing settlement work
down here. You see, am not one Of
the useless rich, DO you think that
YOU can learn to love me, dear, q lit.
to?'
She went into tho arms that were
open to her and nestled against the
mans heart "rm 30 glad you're rich
dearest, for"
"Yes, my darllngp"
For now you won't mind because
am that empty.headed Emily Smythe
will your"
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An Interesting Question.