Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-25
.LOTTIE'S
 BARGAIN. By EDNA BLEEKMAN.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated !. Literary Press,

Perhaps 1t was because Wisner was the proprietor of the only dry goods store in Undervale that Lottie Vincent was attracted to him, perhaps because Lottie was an inveterate bargain hunt CT, and propinquity is q powerful aid of Cupid.
 It is a matter open to argument and not worth the arguing. The main point at issue is the fact that Lottie was attracted and that Sidney Wisner repaid that regard with interest.
 Undervale had reached that stage of growth when the general store" had commenced to resolve itself into its va rious component parts, not to be re- united until at some far distant day, when the department store repeated the original shopkeeping on a larger scale and again one could purchase dress goods and salt fish, groceries and harness under one roof.
 It was Wisner who had seen that the time was ripe. and the Boston store was the result. He rented one of the rooms in the new Benson block and with new stock and fixtures gave the place the aspect of city establish ment. Underyale was delighted with the change, none more so than Lottie. She was born bargain fiend, and as her parents were wealthy she had the money to gratify her passion, with the result that from the first she had been Wisner's best customer.
 Even after the business reached point where he was able to put on two clerks he made it point to wait upon her himself.
 Iottie delighted in her personally conducted shopping tours, and from visiting in the store Wisner passed to visits to her home.
 wisner also began to watch his bank account grow. From the first his store had prospered, and he determined that when his profit and loss account show ed fair balance on the proper side he would put his fate to the test.
 Homer Vincent was president of the bank and trust company, and Wisner wanted to be able to make a good knowing when he went to ask for Lot Hes hand, though he could not hope to equal the vince1 fortune.
 He had not long to wait, for the new ytore prospered nightly, and the time soon came when Wisner began to re- hearse the speech he should make to Lottie's father when he should first : have spoken to Lottie.
 It was a simple matter to prepare his speech for the elder Vincent. He raid 1t over until he believed that he must repeat it in his sleep. The trou- ble now was to speak to Lottie.
 He knew that Lottie would not be won by the simple suggestion that they get married. When the Clem. mons Comedy company played their semiannual engagement at the rink Wisner shut up shop and took Lottie to the performance every evening for the week. Lottie's keen appreciation of the romantic leading man dashed his hopes.
 He never could hope to make love like Ralph Rascovar of the Clem, mons company, and that was the mod el Lottie most admired. He had 8 vague idea of taking course in g dramatic school. but he could not spare the time from his business, so he contended himself with studying the methods of the leading men of the tenth rate companies that visited Un' dervale and the more he studied the more hopeless he grew.
 Leading men were tall and slender md had dark, romantic eyes. Wisne1 was short and inclined to plumpness and his eyes were shrewd and gray He could not loll over the back of 8 sofa and look into Lottie's eyes as she raised her timid orbs to his.
 That was all right on the stage, but Hotties gaze was disconcerttngiy kr1nk at times, and, anyhow, he would have to stand on a footstool to gaiI lthe proper height, and he was positive that at the critical moment he would Nan of and spoil it all.
 Lott1e herself was just shade tot grounded in her curves to be called swillowy, and she, too, was below thu ansdium height.
 Taken by the large, it seemed al nmpossible task, and the advent O zach theatrical company seemed to SC u higher standard by which his feeble Ailorts were to be judged.
 Hubert Bennington was the las straw. Lottie came away from the per formance of "Won by Vendetta" de claring that after having seen Bon nington all other lovemaklng woul seem tame and flat by comparison.
 Wisner went home to spend sleep less night with despair for company and not until the dawn broke did ther come ray of hope. The company wa playing not forty miles away on SatuI day.
 He might get Bennington to let hir come over and take some lessons. H went to the store to see that it wa opened, ard then he hurried to the sta tion to catch the company when the should come over from the hotel.
 Bennington was one of the first t arrive on tte station platform, an Wisner made an immediate attacE Around the corner of the depot h poured out the story of his troubles and, to his credit. Bennington did no laugh
 My dear boy" he said kindly, 'i you're the right man and she's tn