The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-12-23


"Hay. you are green!" spoke a harsh
high voice.
jng being Certainly the glrl was about
her own age, Tho sallow. powdered
face; tho unblnklng, staring eyes;
The lines about the mouth, however
made her NJ first sight appear older
Only on closer inspection might one
note the mlll giriish roundncss Of ihe
cheeks. the youthful redneHs OF the
mouth. The yellow hair was brought
forward III n heavy wnye. low over The
forehead. dropping olmost TO the eye
brows. The gold hlllng Of tooth
aaliently displayed, showed between the
rapidly-moving lips.
II don't know what "condensc'
means" said Dorothea hopcicasly.
Put the goods together w thsy'li
take ns little room as they can" snap
ped The girl "Iicrc. like this"
with an impatient yet skillful move
meni She collected number Of small
Or objects In an incredibly small spncc.
Guess you won't bo much good"
she went on censoriously. you don't
look as " you'd got the sand. what's
your namc7"
Mamie Taylor" DorotheR answer
ed imldly
I'm Miss Mccloskcy- Miss Maggie
Mccloskcy." continued The other.
Nov. Miss Taylor why ain't you doin'
somethin'T
"whntgp
Got 10 explain everything 10 your
Miss Mccloskey continued with every
appearance OF anger. "Sow. you just
dust those things and stand ready to
sell whom the people begin TO come.
When the prices bother you. ask me.
Course you don't know how 10 MI out
q eheck7"
She explained In hurried. aggressive
tones, giving every indication OF grow
Ing Indignation.
"wastin' my time thls way" she
complained acrimoniously." as II !
hadn't somethin' better TO do. See.
you don't want to get left. There's
some would take the last blrdseed
from moulting canary. got 10 hus-
Tie myself. Christmas comm an the
money I'D saved for a present for Mr..
Pitman advanced 10 Annie Taggert
for rent. or she'd a. been put In the
street. Course he'll think I've gone
back on him an some other gIrl'll be
gIvin' him somethIn',"
Miss NJ c'loskcy'e hard eyes were
clcuded for a moment.
Love Amt the sure thing Il looks.
II | had what deserve and was the
head OF this departmentr-as II is. what
I'm TO do for a new dress for the Co
lumbia Ball on Christmas Eve dunno.
An Mr.. pittman, he's great dresser
himself anil notice In a minute"
She hurried away. putting vlgor into
a tagging worker; then arranging to
better advantage some article for sale.
Dorothca was left bewildered and al
most breathless Automatically she
moved about. busting and ordering.
Gradually she came to see more clear
ly On every side were toys. Above
her. strung In wreaths. were smaller
trinkets. About her feet. no that she
almost stumbled over them, were piled
the heavier and larger playthings.
Everywhere were Christmas green's
and signs, Merry Christmas"
In scarlet and gold letters showed
among the decorations encouragingly.
CHANGING Mt her companions. she
found mookery In the words Hur-
ried, anxious, nervous. they bent to
their tasks. Dozens OF girls fitted and
None We're old. some were
very young and pretty.
'Myl9 said one, gazing at doll In
gorgeous raiment which displayed an
satisfied. waxen counte-
nance, I'D like to have her myself"
DorotlIea recognized shat, in an
other sphere Of life, the speaker wonld
have been merely schoolgirl,
She was SO small and frail indeed
that when she sank, looking furtively
round, into large toy chair she APP
peared nowise out OF place.
Il don't know how Tn going to get
to-day" she moaned, putting
her hands to her head with the dull
ness OF pain showing In the blue pupils
under the long lashes.
Number hundred and five," snarled
he manager who was passing, "the
house don't pay YOU to take your ease"
The girl stood up with terrified
stare. Dorothea's white teeth closed
sharply Her little foot stamped as
'he stepped forward.
Nov you look out!" warned Miss
Mccloskey with q retaining hand on
Ter shoulder mo use mixin' In other
,eople's business, We got enough to
10 to look out for ourselves"
Still Dorothea saw that with a great
Dir of nnconeern the Vigorous damsel
irew near the smaller and younger
sirl, She observed in her hand the
contour Of marshmallow. with a
Iuick movement the flaccid delicacy
vas transferred.
"What,s the frouhle.n cnrnnaanted |