Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-05-05
A Poor Courtship. But

grassland trees. 1t is spring every,
where except here"
'Out there" was the glimpse of light
that came to her, far down the crowd
ed shop-just the little light that crept
In under the awnings, and over the
heads Of the shoppers, to the cashier
in her box.
II know how canary feels, now!"
she went on, to herself
She was not idle as she soliloquized,
for her hands were busy making
change for the cash boys. Below her
platform, shoppers pulled about the
goods and harassed the assistants who,
In turn, hectored the boys and girls.
Above the conversation, the rustic
and clatter, came sharp cries Of
"Ca-ash!"
Margie was slender little girl, with
pale cheeks that hardly ever saw the
sun-so pale that they accentuated
the brightness of her dark blue eyes
and the brown hair that Nature had
roughened becomingly.
For the rest, her mouth would have
been kissable, had there been anyone
to attend to the matter; and her round
chin was softly dimpled.
But no one ever stopped to think
that she was good to the eye, that is,
except the dapper young shop walker
OF that department, and him she had
snubbed into secret enmity-for she
was only part of a machine, whirl-
fng, noisy beehive, with never drone
inside its walls.
They were not people; they were
employees, and they worked under a
mastery rule that made the great bus
mess success, but stole the individu-
atty of the workers.
II can't stand it another year." she
said despairingly. 81 wasn't made for
darkness. 1t isn't the work, for / ex-
pect to work; it's the whitening
heart and soul. I'll go to work in
somebody's garden; Tll-I'll wheel
barrow-anything to be outdoors!"
She sighed again, and glanced con-
her, that seemed to make the atmos-
phere more smothering as she contin-
ued her duties.
She knew little about sunshine. She
lodged with her only brother. who liv-
ed so far from the Emporium that she
could not walk, but must reach her
work by means of the omnibus. Lunch
con was served the employees in
basement room where lights burnt all
day; evening, found her riding home
to the top room, where she slept.
All her stray glances were directed
down the tunnel-like aisle toward the
light, so she did not see young man
who stood near by, looking about In a
half confused way. until she turned
and caught his eye. His cheeks were
tanned. his eyes blue, and he looked
kind and honest, so she smiled. He
stepped forward and spoke over the
heads Of the cash boys.
81 want to get black gown for my
Mother-something thin, with violets
on it, to look like the country. Can
you tell me where 10 go?"
Eyes, sir" she answered, go down
the next aisle to the right-the end
counter. There are lawns and mus
Inns there with violets that you can al
most SMELL"
Thank you, Miss" said he, partly
turning. Then, facing her again:
THAT'S about the only kind of flowers
you who serve in shops get a chance
to see, l expect"
Eyes, SIR" she answered, smiling
again, land it isn't living to shut our
selves away from the spring like this"
II know it," he replied with rather
shy sympathy. 81 couldn't stand this
myself. I'm from the country-keep
e farm. Give me pasture with cat
tie in it, and grass just covered with
blue spider wort, pink sensitive roses,
larkspur. 1t beats CITY,"
"Oh-h-h!" gasped Margie at the
thought of so much sweetness. Think
Ct flowers free for every one to pick,
and"
"Ca-ash!" called an impatient boy,
and just then the shop-walker discov-
erred the young man at the desk and
stepping up to him touched him on
che shoulder:
Against the rules, SIR" Then, to
Margie, Miss Harrison, you should
know better than this"
Margie colored as she explained:
"This gentleman wants to see fgur-
ed black lawns and"
when another customer asks such
a question, refer him to me-" answered
the shop-walker.
With look of friendly regret, and
. protestation that he, himself, was to
blame for the breach of rules, the
young man suffered himself to be di-
rected to the other end of the shop.
The next morning the spirit of I'M
rest burnt again in the girls heart,
and again she repined. But a won
derful thing happened. The tanned
young countryman made his way
down the shop towards her desk bear
ing beautiful burden which he push
ed through the window without a
word, but with a sympathetic. broth
erIv smila IN his face and then turp