Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-08

F WI ohoA Vi yoh 6CLtih6
married" retorted the spinster archIy.
Seems to me. Eb." she added, IF you
was going to hire help you might have
picked out home talent. There's plenty
in Keystone would like this Job"
yes, I reckon there are. but there's
mighty few that are willing to work ts
hold 1t down." retorted Ebenezer grim
.ly. There wasn't any job till this lady
came and asked for one and l prom
ised to give her a trial"
Calista Steele smiled scornfully. II
shan't be surprised at anything l hear,
Ebenezer-not even the news that
you've married a designing female"
"Impossible!" cried Ebenezer, but
the door had closed on Calista.
After the first morning Ebenezer
DORIS trade increased; people came
in to buy a spool Of thread merely to
note what an astonishing change had
taken place in the store during the
past twelve hours.
Lucie Moore worked like a bee, dig
ging out old boxes Of forgotten stock
and arranging them tastefully in the
windows or on the central counters OF
the store. 1t vas wonderful the things
that Lucie could dispose of at alluring
bargain prices.
Ebenezer Dorr opened a separate ac-
count for the credit of sales from this
forgotten and apparently worthless
stock that cluttered his shelves and
his storeroom.
One day it was a sale Of pea green
hosiery that some INSCRIPTIONS sales
man had unloaded upon him; they
went like hot cakes at sever cents a
pair, and for months thereafter the
ladies Of Keystone flashed around in
green stockings as they accomplished
the prosaic daily tasks.
Another time 1t was laces, again 1t
was mems neckties and shirts. until
there came a day when all the surplus
stock was sold out and the freshly
painted white shelves were neatly ar
ranged with fresh stock carefully Sc
lected by Lucie Moore herself.
Now, all was changed. When n
wanted buttons she went to the but
ton stock" as Lucie called it crisply;
and SO on with other goods. Trade in
creased and Ebenezer found himself
paying a goodly slice of the mortgage
that numbered the store building. He
also doubled Lucie Moore's wages.
One day there entered the store a
very prosperous looking couple, a mid
dle-aged man and young woman,
rather showily dressed. Ebenezer
Dorr was standing lei the door and
they addressed him at once
Il want to see Miss Lucie Moore"
said the man pompously.
Miss Moore!" Ebenezer slightly
raised his voice and then drew away
as Lucie came down the store, her
mild brown yes wide with amaze
ment.
Uncle Philemon" she exclaimed;
land how do you do. Mrs. Beebe?" she
inquired politely.
See here, Lucie." said Mr.. Beebe
hurriedly, 1--WE had the greatest hunt
for you, and only by the merest
chance did l get a clue that you were
here working in a little village store!
Now, this won't do at all! Emma here
has thought matters over and there's
a home with us as long as you like!"
He smiled kindly at Lucie's sensitive
face with the color coming and going.
That's very kind of you, uncle"
said Lucie, slowly, land | thank you
both, but / am very happy-and very
Independent here. l think | better re-
main"
But suppose something happens to
your position-the store may fail-you
might be sick" urged Mr.. Beebe.
Excuse me a moment, please" said
Lucie, and she hurried to Ebenezer
DORIS desk, where his sleek head was
bent we his books just as il he had
not heard every word of the CONVEX
sation near the door.
"Mr. Dorr, tell me what to do"
pleaded Lucie. my uncle and his wife
have asked me to return to them and
make my home there. but my life is
very pleasant and very independent
right here. They suggest that the
store may go out of business and /"
Ebenezer laid his lean hand W.
Lucie's small fingers. I'll tell you
what to do, .Lucie," he said in a new
voice with a deep note In it that
stirred Lucie through and through.
Just marry me and stay right here
you needn't work in the store, and
you can make a home for me in my
lonely house. can't let you go-I
can't" =
Lucie went white and then rose un-
der the fire of his glance and the pas
sion in his voice, This gray store that
had meant bread and butter to her at
first now offered her unexpected hap
piness-rosy clouds seemed to float
about the prosaically laden shelves as
she went back to the door.
I'm sorry. uncle, that I cannot
come,' she said with a radiant smile.
but I've promised to marry MIR. Dorr
and you see my place is right here!"
Miss Calista Steele shifted scornful.
ly when she heard the news. Il pre-.
dicted It," she said sourly; II can al.
ways tell when a mans been nibbling
Mt designing bait, and knew that very
first day Lucie Moore was in the store
that Eb Dorr was in love with her-he
didn't know it himself" g.
Copyright. 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndlcate.) .
in its method and direct in its appli.
cation. Not SO the history of one of
its children, the prima donna. An
exhaustive treatise upon her, natural