The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-05-01
Cupiid and an
Easter Hat.
By CECILY ALLEN.
Copyrighted. 1893. by Associated
Literary Press.

9 Copyrighted 1903, by Associated &
z Literary Press. <
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Conservative Lake City was treated
to three sensations in one week.
First, James Douglas, from Glasgow,
Scotland, by way Of Chicago, opened
"The Fair" Lake City's first real de-
partment store, with ''red letter" and
special hour" sales, cleaning soda
fountain and all the other features of
up to date shopping life.
Second, among the frock coated floor
walkers installed in this modern shop
ping hive was old man Douglas own
son, Carter, late of Harvard and more
recently returned from a pedestrian
trip through the British isles. And,
what is more, he was CURLY informed
by his paternal parent that he would
be expected to keep the regular hours
and live off the salary drawn by other
eighteen a week foorwalkers Of the
establishment.
And, thirdly, Marjorie Davis, after a
prolonged and most unpleasant hour
with the family lawyer, who had found
that the late Henry Davis had left
nothing but heavily mortgaged home
and some worthless wildcat invest
ments, defied the family council Of
uncles, aunts and cousins who offered
herself and mother the pick Of various
homes.
She would make her own way, she
announced with spirit. And the very
next day all Lake City society was
shocked to hear that Marjorie Davis
was behind the ribbon counter at "The
Fair"
Just the same, after recovering from
the shock, Marjorie's little world flock
ed to her counter, just as shrewd old
James Douglas had figured they would,
and besought the one time popular
debutante to twist and turn ribbon
into bows Of all sorts and conditions.
And while Marjorie's relatives storm
ed and Mrs. Douglas wept the old man
chuckled.
"Fine woman that Davis girl! No
nonsense about her! And as for that
boy of mine, no man ever learned bust
ness methods bending over ledger. l
made my money pleasing the public,
and you don't study the public in a
stuffy rear Office. l can get ten dollar
a week clerks to keep my books. 1
want my boy to be q merchant prince"
A fourth party, altogether invisible,
also took a hand in the game Of COM
merce, and his name was Cupid. He
saw his chance and began to choose
arrows.
All Of these, however, missed the
mark. Young Douglas watched from
the tail of his eye Marjorie's deft, slen-
der white fingers flashing in and out
of the shimmering ribbon, but her
glance seemed glued to her work. A
formal Good morning" or a request
for a credit check or his signature on
a deposit marked the limit of their con-
versations.
For as the other salesgirls openly
angled for the young mans favor Mar
jorie held herself more and more aloof.
She was not ashamed Of her occupa-
ton, but she proposed to maintain her
position as gentlewoman.
And Carter Douglas misunderstood.
He knew her history, and he thought,
not without some bitterness, that she
wanted to make him feel that even in
her poverty he remained outside her
social pale. The Douglas family were
distinctly new" The Davis family
were Of the city's innermost social cir
Gle, hedged in not by wealth, but by
pioneer blood, family estates and war
records.
Such was the situation when Easter
loomed up on the horizon. Marjorie,
bending over wonderful bows for
spring millinery, realized with faint
sense of amusement that this year her
Easter hat was a real problem. OF
course she had only to drop hint be-
fore Aunt Sylvia that she needed one
and a hat would be forthcoming, but
so far her salary and the tiny income
of her mother had suficed to keep
them independent and quite content
This had meant the dyeing Of all her
old time finery, and that was just why
the Easter hat was problem. A YER
liable riot of dyeing to meet the de-
mands Of mourning had exhausted even
a well stocked wardrobe, trunks, hat
boxes and all. She would simply have
to buy complete spring hat.
This meant $40 at least and Marjorie
realized that with her present knowl-
edge of values, to say nothing Of the
store discount, she could duplicate for
$40 any hat for which she had paid
$40 or $25 in the old days. So she
viewed with great satisfaction a roll
of crisp dollar bills, ten in all, which
she had saved for Just such an emer.
gency.
was seized with the grip. The doctors
ordered Calls foot jelly. white grapes
and eggs and sherry.
Four days before Easter and the ter
dollars had dwindled to five. She com
promised on a smart sailor with three
toned ribbon bows to match, She would
buy 1t on the morrow. And the next
day word came to the store that one OF
the cash girls must be operated on a,
once or lose her hearing. Marjorie's
name headed the subscription list.
This afternoon in a frenzy or despair
she bought the three toned ribbons
and the next morning the charwomar
of their little cottage sent word tina
her baby had died and there was no
a cent in the house! Marjorie had jus
closed her purse when the POSTWAR
handed her square envelope address
ed in chirography which she recognized