Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-11-28
LOTTIE'S
BARGAIN.
BY EDNA BLEEKMAN.


the proprietor OF the only dry goods
store In Undervale that Lotto Vincent
was attracted to him. perhaps because
I.ottie was an inyeteratc bargain hunt
er. and propinquity is II powerful aid
of cupid.
II is matter open to argument and
not worth the arguing The main
point ut issue Is the fact that Luttie
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 It's va
rious component parts. not to be re-
united until at some FAR distant day.
when the department store repeated
the original shopkeeping ON larger
scale and again one could purchase
dress goods and salt tsh, groceries and
harness under one roof.
1t was Wisner who had seen that the
time was ripe. aud the Boston store
was the result He rented one OF the
rooms I'm the new Benson block and
with new stock and fixtures gave the
place the aspect Of n city establish
ment. Undervale was delighted with
the change. none more So than Lottle.
She was born bargain tiend. aud rs
her parents were wealthy she had the
money to crafty her passion, with the
result that from the first she had been
Wlsner's best customer.
Even after the business reached a
point where he was able to put on two
clerks he made IL point to wait upon
her himself
Lottle delighted In her personally
conducted shopping tours. and from
visiting IN the store Wisner passed 70
visits TO her home,
Wlsner also began 10 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 OH 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 bc able 10 make good
showing when he went to ask FOR Lot
ties hand. though he could not hope
to equal the Vincent fortune.
He had not long 70 wait. for the new
store prospcred nightly and the time
soon came when Wlsner began 10 re-
hearse the speech he should make to
Lotties father when he should first
have spoken TO Lottie.
II was simple matter 10 prepare
his speech for the elder Vincent He
said II over until he believed that he
must repeat IL in his sleep The trou-
BILE now was 10 speak To Iottle
He knew that Lottie would not be
won by the simple suggestion that
they get married When the Glen.
mons Comedy company played their
semlannual engagement al the rink
Wisner shut up shop and took Lottle
to the performance every evening Tor
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 elem
mons company. and that was the mod
el Lottie most admired He had a
vague idea Of taking a course In II
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 Tn
dervale, and the more he studied the
more hopeless he grew
Leading men were tall and slender
and had dark. romantic eyes. Wisner
was short and inclined To plumpness
and his eyes were shrewd and gray
He could not loll over the back Of
sofa and look into Lottie's eyes as she
raised her tinid orbs to his.
That was all right on the stage but
Lottles gaze was disconcertingly
frank at times. and. anyhow he would
have to stand on footstool To gain
the proper height. and he was positive
that at the critical moment he would
fall Off and spoil It all
Lottie herself was just shade too
rounded IN her curves 10 be called
willowy. and she. too. was below the
medium height
Taken by the large. 1t seemed an
impossible task. and the advent Of
each theatrical company seemed to set
a higher standard by which his feeble
efforts were 20 be judged.
Hubert Bennington was the last
straw Lottie came away from the per
formance Of won by Vendetta" de-
claring that after having seen Bon
nington all other loyemaking would
seem tame and Hat by comparison.
Wisner went home TO spend sleep
less night with despair for company.
and not until the dawn broke did there
come a ray OF hope. The company was
playing not forty miles away on Satur.
day
He might get Bennington to let him
come over and take some lessons. lie
went 10 the store 70 see that II was
opened. and then he hurried 10 the sta
ton to catch the company when they
1hould come over from the hotel