J. J. Bell

“ Fergus left the shop with his twenty pounds in his pocket, and, meeting an old friend on the street, said:
"Look here, my boy, if you're going in to see Miss Quigley, mind your eyesight!"
"Why? Has she knocked over a jar of snuff?"
"No; but she's got on new clothes and a new and gorgeous bonnet!"
"High time!"
"Yes, it is high time she had a chance. She has had a little money left her, it appears, and trade is improving daily. But, go in, if only to see the bonnet. It's great!"
And she did not marry William, although he journeyed North and begged her to do so. ”

“ How Miss Adelaide Quigley—she was modest A. Quigley on her signboard—came to be a tobacconist had been explained by several of her older customers in several ways; but the real reason was known only to herself, and she was a woman who could keep a secret. After all, most women can keep secrets—about themselves. ”

“ But, apparently, it was not a success, for on an evening early in April Miss Quigley was discovered in tears by Mr. Fergus, who had dropped in for an extra cheroot and a chat.
"Business has been so bad," sighed Miss Quigley, when pressed to explain her trouble. "I'm sure I don't know what I shall do. Everyone wants their money, and the rent is due next month." ”

“ It has been already suggested that Miss Quigley wore an old bonnet, and now it may be added that never, since she opened the shop for the first time nine years before, had she been seen in any other bonnet. During that period the bonnet may have undergone minor structural alterations, but at the time to which I now refer it was a rusty wreck from whence now and then a black bead would drop, as if unable to hang on any longer. Still, there were left beads sufficient to make a faint sound when she bowed over the counter to greet or to speed a customer. ”

“ Miss Quigley smiled sadly. "I suppose time does fly—for some people. Thank you for this beautiful calendar."
"Ye're welcome, ye're welcome!... Eh, did ye notice if I took the len' o' a match, ma'am?"
"I did not, Mr. McHardy. But help yourself."
"Thank ye kindly. Mornin'!" And the greengrocer departed.
Miss Quigley spread the calendar for 1882 on the counter, and with pen and ink drew a heavy circle round the "13" in the square devoted to the days of April. ”

“ Fergus further benefited her by speaking quietly to a number of his friends who, although they could not or would not lend money, did the next best thing in relieving her of a large portion of her stock for cash.
"Oh, yes, I'm sure I'll manage now," she replied to the kindly inquiries of these customers, who noticed a new light in her eyes and a general briskness in her manner and methods, and said to one another: "It's worth while doing something to help a decent woman like her."
On the forenoon of the thirteenth of April Miss Quigley received a telegram:
Free at last! Waiting for you. ”

“ And she, who had expected to find a jail-worn, sad-faced, weary man, whose nigh broken heart it would be her joy to salve and heal, found her lover of ten years ago—found him grown stronger, handsomer than she could have dreamed. ”

“ Mr. Hamilton—you remember him?—he always had faith in me—Mr. Hamilton is going to take me into his business, to travel abroad for him, on a very good salary. So, of course, I couldn't touch a penny of your money now.... ”

“ Presently she rose and went to a wall-press on the other side of the fire-place, took a thin black booklet from it and returned to her seat.
"It's silly of me," she said to herself, as she opened the booklet—her bank-book. "I can't make it more by looking at it.... And it isn't enough—not nearly enough. And how—oh, dear "God! how am I to make it enough in less than four months? How?" Miss Quigley wept silently for the next few minutes. Then she got up, put the book back in the press, sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"I must have a cup of tea," she murmured.
III
"Certainly, madam!" ”

“ Fergus, who went early into town, never failed to call and purchase a threepenny Manila cheroot, one half of which he consumed while proceeding to his office, the other half while returning home. Mr. Fergus maintained that a threepenny Manila cheroot was economical and respectable, whereas a fourpenny Havana cigar was extravagant, if not positively dissipated. Between fifteen and twenty minutes past eight every second morning old Mr. ”