The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-12-30
AT SANTINE.S
WITH CUPID
By MIRIAM MORRIS
Copyright. 1904. by A. S. Richardson
Copyright. 1904. by A. S. Richardson

VIII come OF your starting in the bust
ness as a common employee. Your ia
ther should take you in as a member
of the firm"
That was what she had said when,
fresh from the trip abroad, which had
followed his last year at college, Tom
Hardey had started in his fathers
publishing house as q clerk in the stock
room. Mr.. Hardey had two objects in
view in making Tom start at the bot
tom of the ladder. He wanted him to
know the business, and he wanted him
to know the people with whom he was
to work for the first few years. and
over whom he would be placed in the
years to come. AS for Tom himself,
he didn't give rap where he started.
While he didn't inherit all Of his IA
theirs sociological theories, he did take
a mighty pride in the business his ia
Their had built up, and he meant to do
his part in keeping the family name to
the fore in the business world. But he
had also keen sense of humor, and
that was why he chuckled when he
pictured the dismay of his mother on
learning that he had been requested to
act on the committee selected to buy
wedding present for the bookkeeper.
One of the stenogTaphers had asked
Tom to act on the committee She was
watching him now in some anxiety.
Certainly. I'll be very glad to help
buy present for the old chap. Who
else is on the committeeT'
"Just Miss Pemberton. Having a
number would only make it more con-
fusing."
1T certainly would. And where will
! find Miss Pemberton"
I'm the circulation department. I
thought every one knew Miss Pember-
ton. She's such perfect lady. If you
don't mind going to the circulation
room, will introduce you"
She was carrying Il little box filed
with bills and coins, the result of the
collection, and Tom followed her to
the other side of the building.
Miss Pemberton, this is Mr. Har-
dey, and he's been kind enough to say
he will help you buy the present"
y slender figure clad in gray turned
from. the desk and a pair of gray eyes
exactly the shade Of the dress were
raised to meet his. Tom murmured
something about the kindness being
on tie other side. He had been pic
turing Il struggle over the present.
This perfect lady" he imagined,
wouldR select something in plush al
buns with celluloid decorations or q
silver piece with impossible colored
glass lining. Now he was wondering
whether in all the shops they could
find anything which was delicate
enough TO please her taste. While this
was gauOping through his mind a well
modulated voice remarked:
Your father has suggested that we
take an hour or two off in the morning
before the shops are crowded. If con-
venient, III meet you at McGrath e
Murray's at o o'clock tomorrow"
I'm sure that's the very best ar
rangement." He would have said the
same had she suggested their making
a trip to Alaska to buy orchids.
she returned to her work, and he
sauntered back to his own department,
wishing that she would be clever
enough to wear gray furs with that
gray dress. lie felt oddly pleased the
next morning on entering the jewelry
store to find himself following in the
wake of fluttering gray fox boa.
They looked at siverware, hollow
and fiat. They gravely discussed the
virtues Of candelabra and pudding
dishes. Then she turned to him sud-
denly.
II suppose we are expected to buy
something in silver, but 1 really think
the bride and groom deserve better
treatment" Her eyes were twinklng.
II have known so many people to get
wedding gifts of silver that cost more
than the rugs on their floors. They
would really very much rather have
had rugs"
"All right" said Tom promptly, 1--WE
will get rugs"
"No, no." said the girl, laughing. 81
was not speaking literally, but the girl
he is to marry seems sensible, and sire
says they are going to have a living
room instead of parlor. l think she
means to make the home comfortable
first and fancy afterward Let's get
them something perfectly restful for
that living room."
"Just the thing" assented Tom.
"Where shall we go?"
"To Santine's. They have such real
things, and l think his little tride
would simply hate limitations"
Tom wanted to shake hands with
himself 1t was just what girl with
gray eyes and gray frock should say.
To Santlne's they went They wan
dered from the Turkish room, with its
heavy hangings, its queer, foreign
rmells and its dim lights, to the Japa-
nese room, with its gay colors, its
iacquers and its soft, lustrous silks,
and wound up in the room where the
mission furniture was on exhibition.
They sat down in n quiet corner to
discuss the matter. Tom leaned back
luxuriously in great armchair, and
Miss Pemberton sat severely upright
I'm n short, stubby rocker.
II don't think we could improve on
one of those low touches finished with
nail heads" she said.
Tom glanced toward 1t approvingly.
"Then we will have little rocker