Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-12-05

an, ana Sne WAS studying man, tne an
imal both as to his habits and eligibili
ty. Some day she would bring down
the game that she wanted, but she
promised herself it would be what
seemed to her the biggest and the best.
and nothing smaller.
Thus she kept her lamp trimmed and
burning to receive the bridegroom
when he should come.
But another lesson she learned, per-
haps unconsciouSly. Her standard of
values began to shift and change.
Sometimes the dollar mark grew blur
red in her minds eye and shaped IT.
self into letters that spelled such words
as truth and honor" and now and
then just Kindness" Let US make a
likeness of one who hunts the moose
or elk in some mighty wood He sees
Il little dell, messy and embowered,
where a rill trickles babblng to him
of rest and comfort. At these times
the spear of Nimrod himself grows
blunt.
SO Nancy wondered sometimes if
Persian lamb was always quoted at its
market value by the hearts that it Gov
cred.
One Thursday evening Nancy left
the store and turned across Sixth ave
nue. westward to the laundry. She
was expected to go with Lou and Dan
to a musical comedy.
Dan was just coming out of the
laundry when she arrived. There waa
queer strained look on his face.
81 thought would drop around to
see If they had heard from her" he
said.
Heard from who?" asked Nancy.
"lsn't Lou there?"
81 thought you knew" said Dan.
"She hasn't been here or at the house
where she lived since Monday. She
moved all her things from there, She
told one of the girls In the laundry
she might be going to Europe"
Hasn't anybody seen her any
where?' asked Nancy.
Dan looked at her, with his jaws set
grimly and steely gIeam in his steady
gray eyes.
"Thcy told me in the laundry" he
said harshly, that they saw her pass
yesterday-in an automobile. With one
Of the milionaires, l suppose, that you
and Lou We're forever busying your
brains about"
For the first time Nancy quailed be
fore man. She laid her hand, that
trembled slightly, on Dams sleeve.
! "You've 10 right to say such a thing
to me, Dan-as if had anything to do
with itr'
/ II didn't mean it that way" said
Dan, softening. He fumbled in his
vest pocket.
"Tve got the tickets for the show to-
night" he said, with gallant show of
lightncss. "If YOU
Nancy admired pluck whenever she
saw it.
"Ill go with you, Dan" she said.
Three months went by before Nancy
saw Lou again.
At twilight one evening the shop
girl was hurrying home along the bor-
der of n little quiet park. She heard
her name called and wheeled about in
time to catch Lou rushing into her
arms.
After the first embrace they drew
their heads back as serpents do, ready
to attack or to charm, with a Thousand
questions trembling on their swift
tongues. And then Nancy noticed that
prosperity had descended upon Lou,
manfesting itself in costly furS, fash
ing gems and creations of the tailor's
art.
nrinI In,,
and affcctionately. 81 see you are still
working in that store and as shabby
as ever. And how about that big catch
you were going to make? Nothing do
ing yet, | suppose"
And then Lou looked and saw that
something better than prosperity had
descended upon Nancy something that
shone brighter than gems in her eyes
and rcdder than a rose in her cheeks
and that danced like electricity anxious
to be looseI from the tip of her tongue.
Yes, I'm still in the store" said
Nancy, but I'm going to leave it next
week. I've made my catch-the big
gest catch in the world. You won't
mind now, Lou, will you? I'm going
to be married to Dan-to Dan! He's
my Dan now. Why, Lou!"
Around the corner of the park
strolled one of those new crop, smooth
faced young policemen that are max
Ing the force more endurable-at least
to the eye. He saw woman with an
expensive fur coat and diamond ringed
hands crouching down against the iron
fence of the park sobbing turbulently,
while a slender plainly dressed work
ing girl leaned close, trying to console
her But the GibsOnian cop. being of
the new order, passed on, pretending
not to notice, for he was wise enough
to know that these matters are beyond
help, so far as the power he repre-
sents is concerned, though he rap the
pavement with his night stick till the
sound goes up to the farthermost stars.
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