The Grit-advocate., 1903-11-13

| y
Of the most innocent and winning
smiles you ever saw.
MY dear madam" he said. "you
must have misunderstood me mo-
ment ago. but I'm sure II woman of
your standing in the community would
not be rude to Il gentleman. l assure
you | did not ask you for Il piece of
cold pumpkin-pic. 1t may have sound
ed as though l said that, but believe
me. that was not the idea ut all"
The woman started to say something.
but Carter didn't give her the oppor-
tunity.
Il pray you don't - don't apologize,
madam" he cried. Its all right.
Ladies do frequently think l am ask
ing for cold pie. Perfectly natural mis-
take, l assure you. You will note
that when smile have real coaxing
mouth for pie
Carter gave the woman one Of his
sweetest efforts in the smile line.
But | mustn't bother you by talking
about pic lie continued You un-
dcrstand I'm really here on business
You know there are different kinds of
business. l would prefer to be run
| ming Il New York department store,
and have my customers come 10 me,
but in the stress of present circum-
stances l am obliged to go to my
customers. l do not enjoy transacting
business on the doorstep. for the neigh
bors are very inluisitive i'll all places.
1t is ridiculous what stories the neigh
bOrs will start sometimes. Once l was
kept talking on the doorstep for some
time. and it got reported around the
place that the SO-and-sos We're hard
up financially. for an agent OF Il col
lectins firm had been ut their place.
and a real wranSle occurred on the
doorstep. l very much prefer to do
all my talking in the house" Again
did Carter lavish his radiant smile.
His manner was SO ingratating and
his quiet waggishncss SO won upon
her that she relaxed her hold on the
door. He took off his hat, and saying
by your leave" he went in. AS the
door closed l could hear him start in
on his sewing machine "oration.''
| l walked slowly along, pondering
that in all probability the woman
would annihilatc him as soon as she
got him cOrnered in the Sitting-roOm.
l couldn't understand the gall of IL man
who could do the thing that Carter had
just mareuvered. l looked back once
or TWICE. half expecting Carter to come
flying out through one of the windows.
But whatever the tragedy that was oc-
| wit tSi
no sign.
Carter had told l.a that when he was
safely inside the house was to go and
do likewise. Just follow my hand"
was what he said.
Really. had half mind to jump
the whole business right then and
there. l couldn't picture myself brac-
ing through such an ordeal as Carter
had just faced so valiuntly. I saw a
woman sitting in the window of the
first house on my way l hurried past
that house, as l didn't have the heart
to walk up the Seps. But setting my
teeth, I went to the front door of
the next hOuG, and rang the bell.
l tried to get smile on my face as
| 1 had seen Carter do. l am rather
sOur-visaged. l was twisting my face
around for the proper expression, when
the door was suddenly flung open. and
| there stood the woman of the house.
By the manner in which my face was
working she must have concluded l
had st. Vitus' dance. She looked
frightened. 1 was so embarrassed
that my usually sour countenance
must have seemed demoniac. l had
been thinking of Carter's speech to the
other woman, trying to remember how
funny it had sounded. hoped to bring
up Il smile in that way. Now. in my
excitement, l blurtcd out, ".Ah, good
morning. madam; this is Il lovely after
noon. You may think by my looks
that I want Il sewing machine to eat,
but l assure you | have called merely
to sell you some pie. THAT is
Well. you ought to have seen that
woman look at me. l could tell from
her eye that she thought l lived in Il
padded cell at home. But l kept my
self from falling off the steps, and be-
blundcrcd out the whole story-how l
had been watching Carter down the
street. and how had mixed up what
he had said to the other woman. 1t
tickled her She was a brisk little
woman. with snappy way of speak
ing and she invited me right in, and
wanted me to tell the story over to
some women who were calling. l
made 4 real hit.
Before the laugh died out the woman
contidcd that it was queer l should
come along that day. for she had been
thinking about getting new ma
chine. Oh, didn't | talk TO that woman
| then! If l coud sell Il machine.
wouldn't crow over Carter, the old