The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-18
A BOLT OF
WHITE RIBBON.


and not supposed to have any tender spot
in my heart or one drop of sympathetic
blood in my whole makeup, but this little
occurrence has sort of stirred me up and
set me to wondering. l was working my
way from the front of the store back |;
had passed the glove department and was
digging the odd bits of paper and dis
carded blocks from behind the ribbon
counter, when one pasteboard form went
rolling to one side. / reached for it again
but it did not seem inclined to join the
rubbish and odds and ends that went fly
ing merrily over the smooth floor before
my broom. I bent to pick it up, and as
lifted it from the floor l could swear /
heard sob come from its pasteboard
depths as near human as anything I ever
heard in my life.
Hello, here" 1 exclaimed, "what does
this mean7"
Again that faint sob greeted my ears.
well. I declare" I remarked, "you
seem to feel mighty bad about something"
.'You would, too, if you knew her as
did," came in whisper.
''This grows interesting" says to my
self. then aloud:
"Knew who?"
"Why, Mae"
.sWell, who is Mae, and why should you
weep over her?" questioned /.
"That would call for the whole story"
replies the form.
'sWell, I'm ready for it." l answer,
leaning my broom handle on the side of
the glass case holding the sash ribbons,
and seating myself on one of the revolving
stools provided for the comfort of the Gus
toners.
"Well, you see l was bolt of No. 7
peco edge white ribbon, and / came in
case of holiday stock last fall When I
arrived found Mae already here-sales-
lady at the ribbon counter. She was a
slender, brown-eyed, brown-haired girl,
nothing strikingly pretty about her. only
we who grew to know her so well thought
her beautiful. Perhaps it was the tender
touch of her hands as she busted us and
moved us about, or the look of admiration
in the brown eyes as they rested on our
varied shades, as we stood along in row,
that drew us to her. at any rate, be the
cause what it may, we loved her. Well,
when the holiday rush came on they had
to have more help, and one morning the
foreman came up with ayoung gentleman
and said: Take your place behind this
show case and assist in the ribbon sale"
"He did so and that was the beginning
of it. Or rather. should lay it to an ac-
cident that happened during the forenoon.
Miss Mae had been busting off shelf,
had stacked up pile of us ribbons, and in
reaching for something he turned unex-
pectedly and knocked us endways. They
both threw out their hands to save us
from falling on to the dusty floor and we,
slipping past them, their hands met Both
looked surprised and both their faces got
red That really was the beginning of
it. He was nice, bright, manipulating
fellow and seemed to take an interest
In the business, for he was con Iinually
Strengthening us up and helping Miss
Mae dust the shelves and make things
look attractive. They liked each other
pretty well from the start, / should
judge from the looks they gave each
other. He was very thoughtful for her
comfort, for when an aggravating old
customer came along he was always
on the watch to take them off
her hands. Yes. he was thought
full, for he even went so
far as to rig up sort
of high seat for her to rest upon, which
was against the rules, and both of them
would have been found missing if the fore
man had seen the seat. You ought to see
the anxious looks that came over their
faces if either one Of them was little late,
and the mute questioning of their eyes
was almost comical TO behold.
well, il went on for a long time in this
vague way. They both looked their love,
but neither said word till one day Mae
took it into her head to transfer some OF
us ribbons to the show case, and as she
held me in her hand and attempted to put
me in the case. he, without looking, for he
was waiting on particularly crusty Gus
toner. pushed the slide along and caught
her finger, giving IL pinch severe enough
to break the tender flesh.
"'Oh,' she exclaimed, causing him 70
look up and see the hurt he had given her.
1t took but an instant for him TO release
the poor finger and il fell from his
grasp. But not quite quick enough 20
fail TO see the passionate kiss he pressed
on the poor little finger. i thought she
would never co. he said, in tender tone
as the crusty patron disappeared. Let
me look at that poor finger again. he
asked.
1T is nothing she said, softly hiding
il beneath her black shop apron. Really
it does not hurt a bit, as he looked an
believing.
"'But let me see,' he persisted, and
gently pulled the hand to view. She held
me in her grasp. She had Just been roll
ling me up and strengthening out my gen.
orally disordered condition caused by my
tumble.
w ny, MAC, ne exclaimed, upon hel
hand and myself coming to the tight, ii
is worse than | had thought--here is
blood
And sure enough he was right, for there
was bright spot of blood on my white
silk self. She blushed and murmured
something about making mountains out
OF mole hills, but all the same when ht
had torn piece from his SNOWY
handkerchief and wound il neatly
about the finger, there was something be
sides thanks in her eyes. The task com
pleted, what was my surprise TO find the
tender fellow cutting at me, and moment
after two inches of my length with the
bright red spot upon it, was snugly restins
In his notebook in his vest pocket Thai
sort of seemed to settle matters with them
for there was any amount of tender look.
and hand pressures given after that.
congratulated both them and myself for
said 10 myself, here is going TO be !
wedding, and, what is better, | am sure
am going To be part of 1t, for they sort OF
set me up at one side and never looked
in my direction If any one inquired
for white ribbon. In fact, | rememb Del
once when q pert young miss pointed a
me and asked 10 look at my silky white,
ness that Mae said:
There is not enough in that piece, but
here is another bolt exactly like il.
"Afterward she lifted me stealthily from
my resting place and pressing 4 soft, quick
kiss upon me, said: No, my dear; YOU
shall trim the dress of his bride and
then. with happy but guilty blush. she
put me back. l think he had the same
thought, for one day when the down
pour of rain interfered somewha.
with trade, he lifted me down as
he stood leaning against the case