The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-05-02
Mary McCann's Assistant.

Although it had two bullying windows,
that peered out like a pair OF short
sighted eyes from under the faded flap
of the awning, the little shop was rather
dark within. 1t was very little shop
indeed, tucked in between two large
buildings, yet because it CHANGED to have
that particular location good many
persons entered it in the course of the
day. .,
1t was kept by pale, big-eyed little
woman. who said little, but tried to make
up for her lack of words by sociable
smile. She was very timid little Wo-
man, who never should have tried to
keep shop at all, and would not have had
to if her husband had not lost both his
legs and his job of braking at the same
time in railroad accident.
Marean had fallen into the habit OF
slipping in there every morning on his
way to his office for paper or magazine.
Marean was young lawyer struggling
into a practice. He had grit and vim
and humor; he liked his fellow-man bet
ter than he liked himself and gave him
the best of his knowledge.
But he did not intend to be poor; he
intended to succeed and win his share of
fortune by his wits. Hitherto he had
not found time nor felt in position to
consider marriage, but now he had be-
gun to look for the right woman. He
had very clear idea of the kind of Wo-
man he wanted, but he was certain she
was not to be found among his acquant-
ances The sisters and daughters OF his
colleagues, given as they were to the
spending of much money and frivolous
habits generally, would not, he knew,
make good wives for men who were
bound for some years to go carefully.
Marean did not talk about his ideas
concerning marriage to his friends; he
did not talk about anything that lay
closest to his heart CLOSE mouthed,"
thew called him, but rafting good
fellow" which last is the highest COM
pliment that can be paid from man to
man.
Marean was plain man, yet his face
was more attractive than many hand-
some one. His eyes were clear, his color
good, his teeth perfect. When he look
ed at you, you trusted hl.h, when ne
smiled at you, you all but loved him.
A heavy rain caught him one morning
on his way to his office. AS he CHANGED
to be near the little news store, he hur-
ried in with the two-fold purpose OF get
ting his paper and being sheltered until
the storm should lessen. The bell above
the door tangled pleasantly as he enter
ed At the farther end of the store
woman sat at the desk writing. She ap-
parently finished sentence before she
rose and came toward him. Then he saw
that she was not the woman ne had ex-
pected to find there. The pale little pro-
prietress had been replaced by girl mid
way of the twenties, tall girl with very
direct eyes, good color and smooth
brown nalr. She wore dark skirt and
a simple shirt waist. faultlessly launder-
ed.
GOOD morning!' she said. Her voice
was cheerful, as well suited to the rainy
dark spring morning as robins.
Marean selected paper, paid for it
and made remark about the weather.
After that the girl was always tending
shop when Marean stopped for his morn
ing paper. Always she wore the dark
skirt and apparently the same exquisite
ly laundered waist; always her voice was
cheerful, her smile bright. Marean be-
gan to notice things about her. Clearly
she was an unusual type, most unlike
the ordinary shop girl: One morning ne
asked her what had become OF the NC
Cams that they were no longer IN the
oIoIe.
Danny's sick upstairs, she explain
ed, land Mary is taking care of him.
You did not, perhaps, know that they
live in rooms above? Oh, it is not real
illness, though it makes Danny just as
helpless. You see he has always had
trouble with his legs since they We're
amputated, and they have been especially
bad lately. | think ne has tried 10 walk
too much, So at last he has mad to take
OH his artlflclal limbs and go to ped. he
is dlseontented and restless and won
let Mary leave him.. 80 that is no"
come to be here tending the store.
In course OF time Marean 1ound out
that her name was Viola Heath and
That she came from little country
town, that she liked the city ve'y Well
put dld not know much ABOUT IL, except
ing the chufches. ohe Went TO new
one every Sunday Tor Varlety' nave
sundays OH, she sad
Can you take an evening or also
and go with me to the musical show to-
morrow night?'' Marean asked. He was
speaking after thoughtful consideration:
He had never seen girl that interested
him so much as did this one, and he be
lleved he knew her we'll enough to ask
her to go with him. She thought a mo-
ment, but he could see that she was
pleased.