The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-14

moment. No, the holly boxes, cord
and ribbons are at the next counter.
Postal cards across the aisle. Half
dozen bells? Thirty cents, please"
All the worldliness of rich New
York, all the sordidness of the metro
polls vas passing in a Kaleidoscope
crowd before the eyes of Tessie but
anything, too tired even to watch the
clock on the gallery end of the aisle.
Hello, Tessie".
1t was Maize, who had worked with
Tessie last year at the handkerchief
counter but had been laid off in the
slack season during the summer.
Tessie had not seen her since then.
She remembered Maize as a plump
faced girl who had lost a good deal of
her freshness in the store but none of
her w%ilfulness. Was this the same
Maize? True, there was color now
on her checks, but it was not the
color of the crisp night air. Her
black eyes sparkled, but there was a
look of holiness in them hat grated on
the sensitive nature of Tessie. Yet
there was no denying that Maize was
pretty. Even her cheap fur coat and
rakish hat did not wholly spoil it.
Hello, Tess. They told me that you
were at this counter. l thought I'd
stop and see you. l came in to get
some Christmas cards. l always send
little cards to the fellers who are SO
, good to me, on holidays. 1t jollies
'em along, and I'm careful not to send
'em anywhere it'll cause trouble.
She laughed, the laugh of d girl OF
the world. But it sent a shudder
through Tessie. Still. the coat was fun
and the hat d rakish.
Yes, l got lots of f~eIIers, nice fell
lers", added Maize. I'VE go tt
dances and balls and suppers anc
oh, I'm havin' a grand time. / got q
swell date tonight.
Maize was talking at Tessie but no
to her. Tessie noticed it and followed
her rowing eye.
Over by the picture post cards wa
q well dressed young fellow with Z
face hat showed a knowledge of tn
world somewhat beyond his years
Tired as she was, Tessie saw that tn
young fellow nae caught Mazie's eye.
A querulous customer interrupted
She wanted to see some garlands anC
wreaths but Tessie, absorbed in watch
ing Mazte, had not heard her.
In an unlucky instant the ioorwalke,
called out, Here no gossiping, now
Wait on this lady.
The harshness, of the fioorwalkel
brought a flush to Tessie's pale cheeks
as she mechanically showed now u
fold and unfold the long garlands
Again and again she had to reach III
to the shelves with her leaden arms
for other kinds to satisfy the queru'
lous customer. Nothing seemed ex'
actly to suit. While the querulous Gus
toner fused and talked, she waited OF
another. Still the querulous customer
took her exasperating time to decide
on a Is cent purchase.
so long, Tess rasped Maize. "DC
you know what Id do to him?" She
nodded at the back of the t1oorwalker
81 know a Teller who could frisk hin
good and plenty for that, If he done /
TO me. Say, l wouldn't go through
another of these Christmas rushes a
SIS dollars per, not if it was the las
act"
Maize laughed at the thought of the
paltry sum and Tessie returned to hel
work of meeting this last paroxysn
of Christmas shopping. The queru.
lous customer was one and half 9
dozen crowded into her place, grabbing
unreasonable, insistent.
In the renewed rush Tessie caught