Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-10-20

ORCHIDS
By JANE OSBORNE

Leila was angry and she was 1eal-
GUS for the first time in her cmfwy m
Gus of John West. and angry with
herself for being jealous. John West
had, as every one believed, fallen des-
had found herself entirely captivated
by the strong, sincere man who
| pleaded with her. Yesterday she had
promised to marry him.
Today had opened happily. There
had been letter from John in the
morning mail and letter to write to
him. and there had been a wonderful
bunch Of orchids in the middle of the
morning, and suggestion by tele-
phone that they go to the theater in
the evening. But Leila's unhappin-
ess lurked in the subway. When she
entered the train to go down town to
shop, her heart had leapt at recognit-
ion of Johns broad back ahead of
her. She had started toward him,
but she hesitated as she saw his COM
panion, a very pretty young woman
smiling confidently into his eyes.
Il WONDER" Leila had thought,
why he didn't tell me he was going
to be up town" And she had quiet
ly taken seat near the door. At
first she had not thought of being
jealous. She had simply watched
John and his pretty companion.
They seemed obliyious to every
thing but each other. Crusty old gen.
tlemen looked approvingly at them
over their papers, as crusty old gen
tlemen do look at young and whole
some companionship. A messenger
boy next to Leila snickered as he saw
John protectingly put his arm behind
his companion as the train suddenly
lurched around a turn.
Bride and groom" he whispered,
grinning.
And to cap the climax John had &C
tually stepped on Leila's toes as he
left the train, and had not even
looked at her as he hurriedly raised
his hat and begged her pardon.
1t was too much, thought Leila. A
pretty girl was all right in her place;
it wasn't so very long since John had
thought her the prettiest girl in the
world. 1t was all right for John to
go around in the subway with people
he had never even told her about, if
he wanted to. 1t was all right, even,
for him to put out that splendid,
strong arm of his to protect the wo-
10 i'm q inIt IQ1,tt n
sit almost opposite her, Leila Hill
born, the girl who had the day before
promised to be his wife, openly fiirt-
ing with somebody else, without even
SO much as appearing to notice her,
| was too much. And although Leila
kept sensibly telling herself that she
detesteC jealousy, she finally owned
up to herself that she was madly, fu-
riously jealous of John West
Her thoughts came back to the
lace on the counter.
'I'll take this" she said to the pref
ty little saleswoman-a fair-haired
young girl, whose rosy mouth dropped
unhappily at the corners and whose
blue eyes modify followed the move
ments of Mr.. Thomas Finch, floor
walker in the lace and embroidery
department, as he conversed in a
friendly manner over an exchange
check with a striking brunette at the
opposite counter.
Il said | would take this lace" LIE.
lila repeated sternly.
Il beg your pardon" said the girl.
How much do you want?"
Seven yards said Leila.
The saleswoman, Hester Clark,
pulled off fold after fold of the heavy
| lace, always watching from under her
| long lashes the man and woman at
| the opposite counter. She carelessly
measured off six yards of the lace.
six yards, did you say?" she asked
mechanically, as she made out her
| check.
q did not, l said seven" said Leila,
| ''and six won't be bit of use."
But I've cut it," said Hester.
That's not my fault" said Leila
You'll have to call the fioorwalker
and"
Leila looked at the girl. Her hard
expression softened, as she recogniz-
/ ed the unhappiness in the face before
her. Hester, seeing sympathy, broke
down.
Il can't call Mr.. Finch; just
can't. l don't care If l lose my
place." she said falteringly, Il just
| simply can't call him now He'd
| think l did it purposely"
Leila looked from the tragic little
face to the young man still talking
animatedly across the aisle. She un-
| derstood.
We'll of all things" she said. and
her stiff lips broke into SMILE $50
you're jealous. too. Well, never
mind; just cut another yard. don't
| blame you for making blunders.
suppose I'd have done something stu
/ pider than that"
When Hester, her face filled with
| gratitude, came back with Leila's
| change and tried to thank her, Leila
smilingly stopped hex
Don't you say a single thing" said
Leila And here" she said unpin-
ming the wonderful bunch of orchids
at her belt, impulsiyely; You just
wear these; maybe they'll help you
to get through the day. They just
about kill me-"
Leila hurried away. Somehow she
felt better She wouldn't wear Johns
flowers, anyway, and obviously there
we're other girls in the world as un.
happy as she was. She went to
corner flower stand and bought q
bunch Of American beauty roses, and
pinned them where the orchids had
been.
III just let him think am wear
ing somebody else's flowers. and lei
him see how it feels to be jealous,
she said.
| John and Leila went to the theatel
that ayaning. a. they had planned