Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-08

They drove toward ,ths .eity tsrough
~ beau&ifal osptsmbsr, evening. ana
% thsy went they peAAned Tor Elnora.
The only trouble was not whether
they were generous enough to get what
she needed, but whether she would &C.
cspe what they soe and what her moth.
Or would say. rs IL y
They went to . large dry goods store.
and when q clerk asked what they
wantsd to go neither Of them knew.
% they stepped to one side and held .
whiapared consultation.
"What had ~ better get, Weslsyr'
.Blest Il I know!" exclaimed Wss.
ley. II thought you would manage
that know about some things I'm
going to gst"
At that instant several schoolgirls
came into the store and approached
them.
.4Thersr' exclaimed Wesley breath
Iessly. There. Maggie! Like them!
That's what she needs! Buy like they
have!'
Before she knew It Margaret was
among them.
II beg your pardon, girls, but won't
you wait q minute?" she asked.
! Tie girls stepped with wondering
faces.
"lts your Clothes" explained Mira
Sinton. "You look Just beautiful to
me. You look exactly rs l should have
wanted to zee my girls. They both
died OF diphtheria when they were lit
tie. II they had lived they'd been near
your age now. and I'd want them to
look like you. I know a girl who
would be just as pretty as any OF you
If she had the clothes. but her mother
does not think about her. 80 ! got to
mother her some myself"
"She must be q lucky GIRL" said ono
girl.
"Oh, she loves me-" said Margaret.
''and l love her. want her to look
Just like you do. Please tell me about
your clothes. Arc these the dresses
and hats you wear to school? What
kind Of goods are they and where do
you buy them?'
The girls began to laugh and cluster
around Margaret. Wesley Sinton strobe
down the store with his head high in
pride Of her. but his heart was sore
over the memory Of two little faces
under Brushwood sod. He inquired
his way to the shoe department..
why, every one Of us have on ginG-
ham or linen dresses" they said. land
they are our school clothes"
For few moments there was a
babel Of laughing voices explaining to
the delighted Margaret that school
dresses should be bright and pretty.
but simple and plain and until cold
weather they should wash.
"I'll tell you" said Ellen Brownlee.
''my father owns this store. l know
oil the clerks. III take you to Miss
Hartley. You tell her just how much
you want to spend and what you want
to buy, and she will know how to get
the most for your money"
That's the very thing" agreed Mar
garet. ''But before You 60 tell me
about your hair. Elnora's hair is
bright and wavy. but yours is silky
rs hacked TAX. How do you do it?"
"ElnoraY' asked four, girls In con-
cert.
Eyes; Elnora is the name OF the girl
! want these things for"
| ..Did she come to the high school to-
day. questioned one of them.
"Was she in your classesy" demand
cd Margaret without reply.
| Four girls stood silent and thought
fast. Had there been a strange girl
among them. and had she been over
looked and passed by with indiffer-
ence because she was SO very shabby
If she had appeared as much better
than they "a she had looked worse
would her reception have been the
same?
There was a strange. girl from the
country In the freshman class today"
said Ellen Brownlee. land her name
was Elnora."
'aThat was the GIRL" said Margaret.
care her people SO very poor?" ques-
toned Ellen.
mo, not poor at all. come to think
Of It." answered Margaret. Its II pc
culiar case. Mrs. Constock had a
great trouble. and she let It change
her whole life and make different
woman of her. She used to be lovely.
but all she does now Is droop all day
and walk the edge of the swamp half
the night and neglect Elnora. II you
girls would make life just a little
easier for her 1t would be the finest
thing YOU ever did"
All Of them promised they would.
'Now tell me about your hair" per.
sisted Margaret Sint0n.
So they took her to toilet counter.
and she bought the proper hair soap.
also nail flle and cold cream for use
after windy days. Then they left her
with the experienced clerk. and when
at last Wesley found her she was load
ed with bundles. and the CLINT of 9TH
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