The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-03
The EVENING STORY
From the Doctors window.


The old doctor had Just told the girl
that she would not ba blind. For
months she had been afraid. Night
after night, she had KEEP. q candle and
matches by the bedside that, when
she walked in the dark, she might
make a light, and know that the black
ness about her was not caused by loss
of sight.
It was a great relief The strain of
the months of anxiety had told upon
her and she looked white and frafl as
she leaned back in the big chair by
the window, and waited for the doc
tor to come from the other room.
In front of her was big window
which faced the street. Across the
way was the Office where she had toll
ed for five years Rows of figures on
white pages had brought her eyes to
their present condition The doctor
had said she must give up her work
and seek something less exacting.
But I cannot do anything else,
Frances had told him.
How about housework2" he asked
gruffly.
FRANCES gasped. But am lady.
He shook his head. *sHeusework is
better than blindness was his gruff
decision, land it won't hurt you to
have more active labor"
The color famed up into her cheeks
as she thought of it. She felt that she
could not, and would not, submit to
such ignominy. There must be some
way out of 1t all.
At the corner was a grocery store.
Frances eyes took in idly the effect of
the untidy window. In this neighbor-
hood there was a general air of
spruceness with which the rundown
aspect of the corner shop accorded
badly. Frances wondered why the
man in charge did not fix things up.
He came to the door presently, a
aalI, light-haired fellow. in butchers
apron. He dumped a lot of fresh veg
stables in unsightly piles on the side
walk, and went in. And at that mo-
ment Frances had an inspiration.
The doctor come back WITH the med
icine and an added warning Keep
out of doors as much as possible and
don't bend over a desk"
Frances nodded. There was a faint
flush on her cheeks and ner eyes look
ed brighter. ''I'l find some way out
of it, she said.
out in the sunlight Frances hesi-
tated. then she darted across the street
and into the grocery store. She pre-
scented her case to the youn.F man and
he looked at her in a startled fashion.
''Say it over again. he said.
She outlined her plan. She wanted
to come early in the morning and fix
up the store. The windows and the
display in front were not inviting. She
was sure that they -epelled rather
than attracted custom.
He ran his fingers through his hair
in a dazed manner Something's the
matter" he stamm cred, 7 do not seem
to get the people"
Frances looked around the little
place. 1t was fairly clean, but there
seemed to be no attempt to secure
trade.
Let me try tomorrow morning.
she said, land see what can do
He agreed, still with an air of
amazement.
Frances appeared early. It was a
warm sunshiny morning and she was
all in white linen. Her FURNISHED hair
shone under her straight sailor hat
She looked cool and comfortable. and
her employer smiled at her. you
cannot work in that outfit, can your
he demanded.
Frances nodded brightly She had
a parcel in her hand, which she open
ed. Within was an enveloping ging-
ham apron. She put 1t on and smiled
up at him. Now I am ready" she
said.
For an hour she worked over. the
window, then she spent half-hour on
the display outside. People passing on
their way to work stopped to admire.
The red of ripe straw berries. the pale
green lettuce, the scarlet OF tomatoes,
the soft brown of new potatoes, these
signs. There was not a stray leaf to
break the beauty of it. Everything
was sparkling and shining, apples rub
bed to their highest brilliance, onions
snow-white, bereft of their outer skin.
Inside the store the same transforma-
ton had taken place. hence when
housekeepers entered for the morning
marketing. there was temptations in
all directions. Paper frills adorned
the meats that came out of the big re-
frigerator. the glass. in the case which
contained bread and pies sparkled like
diamonds, sauces and pickles In at
tractive bottles were arranged in
groups along the counter, and most
impressive Of all, was the young lady
in white linen.
The proprietor had begged her to
stay. Everything looks so NICE" he
said, that I am out of place. You
keep In the front Of the store, and I'll
cut the meats, and tomorrow I'll have
q lot of new aprons"
Frances, charmed with the general
effect waited on customers with the
air of conqueror. She had not
dreamed of her talents in this line.
She was gracious tactful compelling.
Women came to look, and stayed to
buy.
At the end of the day her employer
wvag radiant His name was RovE-