West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-09-17
SE1WS
94E1Lll RR
~ o. HENRY.

the other. We often hear
"shop girls" spoken OF. No
soch persoDs exist. There are girls
Who work In shops. They make their
living that way. But why turn their
occupation into an adjectivef Let us
b fair. We do not refer 10 the r,rls
who live on Fifth avenue as "marriage
glrls-"
Lou and Nancy were chums. They
came to the big city to fnd work be-
cause there was not enough to eat at
their homes to 30 around Nancy was
ninsteea. Lou was twenty. Both were
pretty. active country girls who had
no ambition to 20 on the stage.
The Mttie eherub that sits up aloft
guided them to cheap and respectable
boarding house. Both found positions
ana became wage earners. They re-
mained chums. IL n At the end OF six
months that would beg you to step
forward and be introduced to them.
Aeddiesome reader--my lady friends.
Miss Nancy and Miss Lou. While you
are shaking hands please take notice
cautiously-of their attire. Yes. eau
tiously. for they are Is quick TO resent
stare rs q lady In n box ut the horse
show II.
Lou is q plecewoik ironer in hand
laundry. She IL clothed In a badly
hitting purple dress. and her hat plume
u four inches too lcng. but her ermine
mun and scarf cost $25. and Its fellow
beasts Will be ticketed I'm the windows
at &I.eS before the season Is over. Her
cheeks are pink and her light blue
eyes bright. Contentment radiates
from her.
Nancy you would call shop girl-be-
cause you have the habit There IL no
type. but a perverse generation is al
ways seeking n type. SO this IL what
the type should be. She has the high
rated pompadour and the exaggerated
straight front. Her skirt IL shoddy. but
has the correct fare. No furs protect
her against the bitter spring air. but
she wears her short broadcioth Jacket
as tauntiiy as though II were Persian
lamb. On her face and In her eyes, re-
morseless type seeker. IL the typical
shop girl expression. 1t is 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 sce II some day on
Gabriers face when y. comes to blow
MS up. IL Is look that should wither
aud abssh man. but he has been known
to smirk at Il and offer fowers-witb
string tied to tlfem.
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
-tc ssiss you and go nuttering like n
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 dozen
subpoena servers to find her lamb.
Amt you cold, Nancei" said Lou,
Say. what chump you are for work
Ing In that old store for $s a week! I
made $3.50 last week. Of,course iron.
Ing Amt as swei work as selling lace
behind counter, but Il pays. None OF
oo bOhtA1 hukto itne tHuu HlO. Anu
don't know that~it's any less respectful
work either"
You can have st." said Nancy. with
uplifted nose. "I'll take my eight a
week and hall bedroom. I like to be
among nice things and swell people.
And look what n chance I've got! Why.
one Of our glove girls married Pltts-
burg - steeimaker or blacksmith or
something-the other day worth n mil
lion dollars. Ill catch a swell myself
some time. I amt Dragging on my
looks or anything. but I'll take my
chances where there's big prizes Of
fered. What show would girl have
In a lsundryT
Why, that's where I met Dan" said
Lou triumphantly. "He came In for
his Sunday shirt and collars and saw
me at the first board ironing. We all
try to get to work at the first board
Ellie Maginnis was sick that day. and
1 had her place. He said he noticed
my arms nrst, how round and white
they was. I had my sleeves rolled up.
Some nice fellows come into laundries.
You can tell 'etn by their bringing their
clothes In suit cases and turning In the
door sharp and sudden"
How can you wear waist like that
LouT' said Nancy. gazing down at the
offending article with sweet scorn in
her heavy lidded eyes. "It shows fierce
taste"
This waist" cried Lou, with wide
eyed indignation. why, I paid $40
for this waist It's worth S25 A wo-
man left Il 10 be Numbered and never
called for H. The boss sold ~ to me.
It's got yards and yards Of hand en-
broidery on II. Better talk about that
ugly, plain thing you've got on"
This ugly, plain thing" said Nancy
calmly, was copied from one that
Mrs. Van AIstyne Fisher was wearing.
The girls say her bill In the store last
year was $4,000. made mine my.
self. II cost me $50. Ten feet away
you couldn't tell II from hers"
"Oh, we'll" said Lou good naturedly.
III you want TO starve and put on airs.
30 ahead But I'll take my Job and
good wages, and after hours give me
sopething a. fancy and attractive to
weer ss I am able 10 buy"
But just then Dan came. q serious
young man with a ready made neck
tie, who bad escaped the city's brand
of frivolity--sn electrician earning $40
per week. who looked upon Lou with
the SD eyes OF Romeo and thought her
embroidered waist a web In which any
ey should delight TO be caught.
NY friend, Mr. Owens shake hands
with Miss Danforth," said lou.
I'm mighty glad 10 know you, Miss
Danforth." said Dan. with outstretched
hand. I've heard Lou speak Of you
90 often"
Thanks" said Nancy, touching his
fingers with the tips Of her cool ones.