The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-12-03
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By o. HENRY.


copyright, 1906, by the S. s. Mcclure Col
~ F course there are two sides to
81 IA the question. Let us look at
4 - the other. We often hear
''shop girls" spoken of No
such persons exist. There are girls
who work in shops. They make their
living that way. But why turn their
occupation into an adjective? Let us
be fair. We do not refer to the girls
who live on Fifth avenue as marriage
girls"
Lou and Nancy were chums. They
came to the big city to find work be-
cause there was not enough to eat at
their homes to go around Nancy was
nineteen, Lou was twenty. Both were
pretty, active country girls who had
no ambition to go on the stage.
The little cherub that sits up aloft
guided them to a cheap and respectable
boarding house. Both found positions
and became wage earners They re-
manned chums. 1t is at the end of six
months that would beg you to step
forward and be introduced to them
Meddlesome reader--my lady friends.
Miss Nancy and Miss Lou While you
are shaking hands please take notice
caGtiously-of their attire. Yes. eau
tionsly. for they are as quick to resent
stare as lady in box at the horse
show is.
T nj nv1Y iy,
laundry. She is clothed in a badly
fitting purple dress. and her hat plume
is four inches too long. but her ermine
muff and scarf cost $25, and its fellow
beasts will be ticketed in the windows
at sos 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 is no
type. but perverse generation is al
ways seeking 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 broadcIoth jacket
as jauntily as though it We're Persian
lamb. On her face and in her eyes. re-
morseless type seeker. is the typical
shop girl expression. 1t 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 lis left will see it some day on
Gabriels face when he comes to blow
us up. 1t is look that should wither
and abash man, but he has been known
to smirk at it and offer fiowers-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 fluttering like a
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.
"An't you cold, Nance?" said Lou.
''Say, what chump you are for work
ing in that old store for So week!
made $1S 80 last week OF course iron
ing amt as swell work as selling lace
behind 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 a
| week and hall bedroom. like to be
| among nice things and swell people.
| And look what chance Pve got! Why,
one of our glove girls married Pitts
| burg steelmaker or blacksmith OF
something-th other day worth a mil
| lion dollars. I'll catch a swell myself
some time | 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 laundry?'
! "Why. that's where met Dan." said
Lou triumphantly. He came In FOL
! his Sunday shirt and collars and saw
me at the first board ironing. We al
try to get to work at the first board
Ella Maginpis was sick that day. ant
/ had her place. He said he noticed
my 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 theil
| clothes in suit cases and turning in tht
door sharp and sudden"
How can you wear waist like that
Lou?" said Nancy. gazing down at th'
/ offending article with sweet scorn II
her heavy lidded eyes. 1T shows fierc'
taste"
This waist" cried Lou. with Wild
eyed indignation. "Why. l paid $1l
for this waist. It's worth $25 A wo
man left it to be Numbered and neve
called for it. The boss sold 1t to me
| It's got yards and yards of hand EN-
broidery on it. Better talk about tha
ugly, plain thing you've got on
.This ugly. plain thing. said Nanc,
/ calmly. was copied from one tha
| Mrs. Van Alstyne Fisher was wearing
The girls say her bill in the store las
4 year was $4,000. made mine my
self. Ii cost me $50. Ten feet ava,
you couldn't tell it from hers.
"Oh, weil.'' said Lou good natureuly
"if yon want to starye and put on airs
go ahead But I'll take my Job an
pnnd wages and after hours give ID