"No, no, grandmother, the man--man--manager at the ten-cent store," sobbed
the girl; "he kissed me! Oh!" and she shuddered as if the memory was the
most terrible thing that ever came to her.

"Fer the land sakes! Is that all?" said the woman with much relief and a
degree of satisfaction. "Why, that's nothing. You ought to be proud. Many
a girl would go boasting round about that. What are you crying for? He
didn't hurt you, did he? Why, Lizzie seems to think he's fine. I tell you
Lizzie wouldn't cry if he was to kiss her, I'm sure. She'd just laugh, and
ask him fer a holiday. Here, sit up, child, and wash your face, and go
back to your work. You've evidently struck the manager on the right side,
and you're bound to get a rise in your wages. Every girl he takes a notion
to gets up and does well. Perhaps you'll get money enough to go to school.
Goodness knows what you want to go for. I s'pose it's in the blood, though
Bess used to say your pa wa'n't any great at study. But, if you've struck
the manager the right way, no telling what he might do. He might even want
to marry you."

"Grandmother!"

Mrs. Brady was favored with the flashing of the Bailey eyes. She viewed it
in astonishment not unmixed with admiration.

"Well, you certainly have got spirit," she ejaculated. "I don't wonder he
liked you. I didn't know you was so pretty, Bessie; you look like your
mother when she was eighteen; you really do. I never saw the resemblance
before. I believe you'll get on all right. Don't you be afraid. I wish you
had your chance if you're so anxious to go to school. I shouldn't wonder
ef you'd turn out to be something and marry rich. Well, I must be getting
back to me tub. Land sakes, but you did give me a turn. I thought Lizzie