Year: 1868

From the Springfield Register.]
About a year since very pretty cir
arrived in this city from the East, and
secured position, which she considered
highly eligible, in one of our most fash.
ionable millinery and dress making es
Establishments. After short residence
here, she took charge of an infant class
in Sunday school, sung in a church
choir, and in every way conducted her
self as nice young lady should.


Her beauty attracted the attention Of
a clerk in one of the largest business
houses in the city, and he became her
acknowledged suitor He was permitted
to escort her to church, and pay her
car fare when they went out to see
the baseball matches last Summer.
In the meantime a journey man sad
dler also paid his addresses, but with
how much success did not clearly ap-
pear at the time. AS the cool weather
came on last Fall, the clerk urged
the mistress of his affections to name an
early day for their nuptials. She de-
ferred a final answer on the plea of maid
en- reluctance as long as possible, put
when he became more pressing, she
spoke like woman of sense.


She said she had been educated in
her fathers family, and had been nur
tured with all the care which affluent
parents could bestow. She had been
deprived by death of both her pa
rents, and she was somehow or other
left destitute. She said she loved the
clerk, and would marry him as soon as
she had established the fact that she
was able to maintain herself independ-
emily by her own exertions, but having
been SO far in position which was not
one of responsibility, she felt she would
be unworthy her generous lover if she
came to him from the chair of sewing
girl. In short, she would not marry
him till she had milliner shop of her
own. The clerk was struck with find
ing philosophy where be had ouly expec-
ted sentiment, and took his leave with
the ceremonies proper for accepted
lovers.


The next day he again appeared to his
"bird," his "star," his ''darling." He
was dressed with that neatness to which
men are never born, but which, if acquir-
ed at all, is only obtained by careful
study and a long attendance at the
counter of fashionable dry goods store.
His hyperion locks, of a pronounced
auburn shade, fairly shone with ambros-
ial oils of the most fashionable varieties.
His clothes-but who can describe those
Incompatible garments-they were of
the finest texture and latest cut. He
addressed his beloved in the tones he
had found effectual in the sale of dress
goods and domestics, and before his
discourse had become heightened sweet
ness, delicate blush which played
upon the cheek of the maiden, assured
him that his proposition met with a
favorable response. He said he had
$500 in the bank, which he would lend
to her; with the money she should buy
such goods as she wanted and open a
milliner's shop, after which her inde
pendent soul painted Besides, his po-
sition in the store where he was employ
ed was such that he could obtain credit
for reasonable amount of goods. He
said he would like to let her have the
money and arrange for the goods, upon
the condition only that as soon as the
shop was opened their nuptials should
be celebrated with the solemnities of
e-church.


The maiden's face frightened at the
mention of the money She smiled
when her lover spoke of the confidence
with which he spoke of obtaining credit
She blushed when he spoke of marriage,
and she laid her hand on his manly
shoulder when be mentioned her favor
ite preacher. She accepted his propo-
sition. The next day he brought her
the money; the next, he introduced her
to the head of the firm as his fancee,
and the next, and for many days, he liv-
ed in clover, for the blooming girl ap-
peared at his counter every day accom-
panied by troops of giggling shop girls,
big of waterfall, profuse of curls, exten-
sive of hoop, and loud of perfume.
She bought lots of goods, etc. Every
evening the clerk called to see her, and,
at last, Monday, January goth was
fixed as the day on which the torch of
Hymen should replace the roses of
Cupid.


As the time set for the marriage ap-
preached the young lady applied herself
diligently to the store where she was
engaged, and hinted to her lover that
if she had a sewing machine her
task would be soon disposed of, and she
could have more time to enjoy his de-
lightful company. What ardent lover
could resist hint enforced by such fat
terry ? Our clerk could not, aud so on
last Saturday evening an express wagon
stopped in front of the store where the
young lady was engaged, and the active
driver fastened to deposite a sewing
machine on the side walk. The ardent
lover was there as soon as the express
man, and entering the store, inquired for
the girl of his heart. The fair creatures
within gave him no satisfactory reply,
but the proprietress handed him note,
which informed him with chilling
brevity that the darling of his heart,
having adorned herself with robes
purchased on his credit, and having
takan tho rnnneu he had lent her had