Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-28

SHOW Is.
Lou is a piecework ironer in a hand
laundry She Is clothed in badly
fitting purple dress, and her hat plume
Is four inches too long, but her ermine
muff and scarf cost S25. and its fellow
beasts will be ticketed in the windows
Mt S7.9S before the season Is over. Her
cheeks are pink and her light blue
eyes bright. Contentment radiates
from her
Nancy you would call a shop girl-be-
cause you have the habit. There Is no
type, but perverse generation is al
ways seeking a type. So this is what
the type should be. She has the high
rated pompadour and the exaggerated
straight front. Her skirt is shoddy. but
has the correct fare. No furs protect
her against the bitter spring air, but
she wears her short broadcloth jacket
as jauntily as though it were Persian
lamb. On her face and In her eyes. re-
morseless type seeker, is the typical
shop girl expression. II Is a look OF
silent but contemptuous revolt against
cheated womanhood, Of sad prophecy
of the vengeance to come. When she
laughs her loudest the look Is still
there. The same look can be seen In
the eyes of Russian peasants, and
those of us left will see it some day on
Gabriels face when he comes to blow
US up. Ii Is look that should wither
and abash man, but he has been known
to smirk at ii and offer flowers-with
a string tied to them.
Now lift your hat and come away
while you receive LOUIS CHEEKY "See
you again" and the sardonic. sweet
smile of Nancy that seems somehow
to miss you and go fiuttering like
white moth up over the housetops to
the stars.
The two waited on the corner for
Dan. Dan was LOUIS steady company.
Faithful? Well. he was on hand when
Mary would have had to hire a dozen
subpoena servers to find her lamb.
Amt you cold. Nance?" said Lou.
Say, what chump you are for work
ing In that old store for SS week!
made $3.50 last week. or course iron
ing ain't as swell work as selling lace
behind a counter. but it pays. None OF
us ironers makes less than $40. And !
don't know that it's any less respectful
work either"
"You can have it," said Nancy, with
uplifted nose. "I'll take my eight
week and hall bedroom. like to be
among nice things and swell people.
And look what chance I've got! why,
one of our glove girls married Pitts
burg SHOEMAKER or blacksmith or
something-the other day worth a mil
lion dollars. I'll catch swell myself
some time amt Dragging on my
looks or anything. but I'll take my
chances where there's big prizes Of
lered. What show would a girl have
in laundry:'
why. that's where | met Dan." said
Lou triumphantly "He came in for
his Sunday shirt and collars and saw
re ut the first board ironing. We all
Nv 70 yet to work ut the first board.
Ella Maginnis was sick that day. and
had her place. He said he noticed
INV arms first. how round and white
they was had my sleeves rolled up.
Some nice fellows come into laundries.
You can tell 'em by their bringing their
clothes in suit cases and turning in the
door sharp and sudden"
How can you wear waist like that,
Lou?" said Nancy. gazing down at the
offending article with sweet scOrn In
her heavy lidded eyes. 1T shows fierce
taste"
This waist?" cried Lou, with wide
eyed indignation. "Why. l paid Sl6
for this waist. It's worth $25. A wo-
man left 1t to be laundered and never
called for it. The boss sold 1t to me.
It's got yards and yards Of hand en-
broidery on it. Better talk about that
ugly. plain thing you've got on
This ugly. plain thing" said Nancy
calmly. twas copied from one that
Mrs. Van Alstyne Fisher was wearing.
The girls say her bill in the store last
year was $4,000. made mine my
self. 1t cost me $1.50. Ten feet away
you couldn't tell it from hers"
"Oh. WELL" said Lou good naturedly.
If you want to starve and put on airs.
60 ahead. But I'll take my job and
good wages, and after hours give me
something as fancy and attractive to
wear as am able to buy"
But just then Dan came, serious
young man with ready made neck
lie. who had escaped the city's brand
If frivollty-an electrician earning $50
Der week, who looked upon Lou with
he sad eyes Of Romeo and thought her
embroidered waist web in which any
" should delight to be caught.
"lIy friend, Mr. Owens-shake hands
with Miss Danforth," said Lou.
"I'm mighty glad to know you. Miss
Danforth." said Dan, with outstretched
hand. "I've heard Lou speak OF you
so often"
Thanks" said Nancy. touching his
fingers with the tips Of her cool ones.
"I've heard her mention you-a few
times"
Lou giggled.
did you get that handshake from
Mrs. Van Alstyne Fisher. NanceY she
lsked.
III / did you can feel safe In copy
hg It." said Nancy.
"Oh, couldn't use 1t at all. It's too
stylish for me- It's intended to set on
diamond rings that high shake Is.
Wait till l get few and then Ill try
It."
Learn It first" said Nancy wisely.
and you'll be more likely to get the
ings."
Now, to settle this argument" said
Dan, with bis ready. cheerful smile,
let me make a proposition. As can't
lake both Of you up to Tinany's and