The Washington herald., 1910-08-08


general preoccupation when. one morn
ing, just as Dendy had returned from
the camp. Elsie called to make a pur
chase for her mother The old man.
sitting upon a packingcase. in a corner
OF the store. had not noticed her en-
trance he was writing earnestly, SPELL
ing out difficult words aloud TO me. and
evidently al a loss for something 10 say
20 his correspondent AS the shadow of
his visitor fell across his writing block.
Dendy looked Up, his blue eyes lighting
with establishment. while he pushed back.
| in evident confusion. a shock OF brown
hair from his forehead.
Busy. Mr. Dendy?'' Elsie inquired, as
he approached her.
Not so that you cannot be attended.
miss" said DENLY AS he talked Dendy
held his pad in such a manner that
Elsie noticed the Informed and crooked
letters.
Is there nothing can do TO help you.
Mr.. Dendy?" she asked. glancing at the
struggling characters.
"Oh. I'm just a-writing. miss" said he.
Letters are troublesome things. Mr..
Dendy"
oh. il amt letter. miss" said Den
dy 7 am just a-writing."
Elsie picked up her purchase and. as
she made her way out of the store,
Dendy followed her 70 the door watch
ing her walk across TO the station AS
she disappeared within the doors. Dendy
/ frowned. and glancing anxiously al the
result Of his work on the pad, modify
/ retraced his steps
This was the first OF many visits that
Elsie paid 70 the store. DENLY was
! seldom idle when she came. while the
assistance which she rendered helped 10
/ put in order the accounts and to make
up the ledgers. besides importing a
/ brighter and more dominant note 10 the
daily work. As the weeks passed Dendy
began 20 look for Elsie's coming. but
/ the girl, on her part was all uncon-
! scious Of the romance Of which she was
( the center. Moreover. DENLY was undecid-
/ cd timid, and strangely sensitive. He was
/ beginning to realize what the presence Of
/ the daughter OF the stationmaster meant
7 20 him. Yet. even 10 himself. he had not
/ yet quite admitted that he. a man OF
/ nifty. taciturn, moody. and prematurely
( aged, was IN love Hitherto ne had found
/ pleasure In the freshness Of her compan-
ionship but now that she was helping
him the void in his life had forced itself
upon his notice Dendy now became IN
usually subdued. and when. upon oc-
casion. Elsie did not appear in the store.
he readily provided himself with excuses
10 cross TO her house
Before the shearing season began Den
dy made a Journey TO Thornton. Josiah
was busy with a special line OF goods.
the advertisements Of which were en-
beliished with Autographs OF local per-
sonases. DENLY, applying this idea 10
I Bats Corner introduced 10 the mining
and railway camps the Belle Of Bats
Corner Brand Of Biscuits Henceforth
Elsie became known 10 the locality as
I the Lady on the Tin Box Dendy. proud
OF his ALTERATION. maintained in prom
inent position in his parlor an empty
biscuit Tin. and. as q sign OF the direc-
/ ton IN which he was drifting. the evil
/ dence afforded by this ornament was not
: uninterestins. In the end the box proved
j his undoing. since through its instru-
mentality Elise received an Inklins OF
the hopeless fashion in which the afec-
tons Of her old friend were involved.
One day Dendy became ul. and Elsie.
moved 10 sympathy. studied his wants
with the skill OF a trained nurse Com
I ing TO the store in time 10 prepare
breakfast for her patient. she left him
only when he had been made coufor-
table for the night During the dav.
while Dendy slept Elsie tidied. and in
busting the ornaments on one occasion
the lid slipped from the famous box. IN
l IL were the unaddresSed letters through
whose hating periods coursed an old
mans pass -. She read through them
idly and quite unwiIlinsly at first. until
the sudden understanding Of their true
meaning forced itself upon her From
that time IT was impossible for her 10 be
blind TO the existence Of Dendy's love.
and if it was then that she obtained her
frst acquaintance with it. 1t was only by
the exercise Of caution that she avoided
his recognition If her knowledge
! DENLY, all Unconscious Of Elsie's dis
covery. got slowly better but in the pro-
cess Of convalescence still required care
III attention. At last he was restored to
health, and in taking over active control
of the store showed anxiety 10 bring
about the settlement Of mis- love affair
He called upon Elsie but she was in
Thornton. and the old man had 70 possess
HIS soul in patience. TO one in love this
is in no sense pleasant task-to Dendy
it was impossible. For many days Dendy
haunted the Welch house, spending long
hours in conversation with the station
master and his wife. ElsieE however.
had disclosed to her mother her knowl-
edge OF Dendy's passion, and Mrs.
WEIGH, always womanly and sympathetic.
was now more than usually gentle with
him. Indeed. he plucked up heart and
waited with quiet patience for the girls
return. When she did come she was
( no longer able TO avoid Dendy's declara-
( ton. The mere expression OF his love
brought to the old man a feeling OF
perfect contentment, for DENLY found It
gave him both strength and happiness.
Elsie listened. only able 10 appease the
sufferings Of her friend by kindly words
More. save the strong sympathy OF a
sweet nature. was beyond her. since her
Z trOth was already plighted. and for
some weeks it had remained for some
one to break the news to Dendy. For
the girl herself the task was manifestly
impossible
/ Unhappily. Dendy learned the news for
| for himself through a chance visit 10
Thornton. and his action under the
weight Of this setback afforded a singular
revelation Sf his character. After an
interview with Josiah. Dendy made a call
upon the young man. No one knew quite
the true history of this visit. but II is