The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-07-11
envy

The young girl with two long, thick
braids of red hair leaned down from
the bundle counter overhead.
"Well?" she replied crisply.
Have you seen the new floor
walker?"
Nowhere is Mr.. Freer?'
transferred to the upholstery. It's
Il shame, too He certainly is gen.
Tenant" Miss Cabin patted the
bond puffs of her elaborate couture
and sighed audibly. He certainly is
I gentleman" she repeated.
HE is" returned Penny. She
turned back to her labors of wrap
Eng parcels.
You certainly are swift, Penny"
murmured the stout bundle girl.
Its dull day said Penny, yawn-
ing.
Ever since she had run away from
her home in the middle West to be-
come an actress, Penelope had been
on the lookout for people from home.
True she had written back to her
uncle and aunt, telling them that she
was earning her living and when she
said that she was acting" how could
that unsophisticated couple suspect
that the part she was playing was the
very practical one Of bundle counter
girl in department store.
She had given her name as Penny
Mulligan, when in fact she bore the
charming title of Penelope Marston.
Arthur Preston had asked her to
marry him and had been haughtily
dismissed by the stage-struck girl. Il
cannot marry any one, Arthur" she
said, condescendingly. Il have
career before me, you know"
"Pooh!" the practical Arthur had
said-he was real estate agent and
very live and up-to-date in his native
town-"pooh, honey, you can't act!
II will show you!" Penny had said.
wrathfully.
"Penny-Penny Mulligan!" shrillec
Miss Cabin during another lull in the
business of this rainy day.
What is it?" asked Penny languid-
y as she leaned over the railing.
There he isl"
Whom do you mean" Penny was
not interested, but she strove to be
polite.
The new fioorwalker. He's stand
ng there by the perfumery-his back
IS this way. He's lovely looking"
Penny looked and saw tall, mas.
lively built young man CARRIED in the
conventional black of the store stand
ng with his hands loosely clasped
ehind his back He looked-oh, SO
ruch like Arthur Preston. but OF
course that was absurd!
Yes, isn't he?" she managed to say
,a-c,essly in response to Miss Cabins
asst remark.
Later she happened to glance down
ward. and her blue eyes met the calm.
cool gaze of the new tioorwalker HIS
y,cnce passed from her face to that
f the other bundle girl, and then he
'acccd on his leisurely way down the
toe. 1t was Arthur Preston
When she had an opportunity she
asked Miss Cabin the name Of the
reW foorwa,ker.
""'Ae r,ost romantic name you ever
card, Penny! Miss Clark from the
zee tod ne-his name is Claude
ceetcn."
Pe~ny dcrted back to her work.
conscious that Miss Cabin was hoid-
ing an animated conversation with
". Claude Reston.
How dare he come here under an
assumed ncne?" fumed Penny.
She snapped the string viciouslv
and the fat parcel flew out of her
hcnds and fell plump upon the sleek,
lack head CT the new fioorwalker.
Miss Cabin shrieked becomingly as
Ny Rceton gracefully disentangled
himself from the shower.
Amt you afraid you'll get fired,
Penny" gasped TIE fat girl.
Il don't care," fared Penny reck-
essly I'm going to leave anyway,
tonight"
Sc.-e one was coming up the steep
little stair of the bundle counter. A
rU|ed black head, a pair of black
eyes. pair of broad shoulders. a big
hand holding forth the ragged bun
Re Of false hair.
-lt.C, II It 4OpS, ne odid SOOIiN'
Please don't do that again"
Penny was speeChless with indigna-
ion, as she took the package from
i'm and their hands touched. He
disappeared at once, and Penny pro
9ecded to wrap the bundle carefully.
Il required elaborate care, for great
tears We're yelling in her blue eyes.
The tears splashed upon the package
ard she thrust it violently toward the
tube.
To Penny's horror, it leaped over
the rail and descended almost at the
feet of the new tloorwalker!
Gee" giggled the fat girl.
Penny was frozen with mortitica
ton. as once more Mr.. Reston climbed
the stairs and handed the package to
the girl
"I'll be waiting for you at siy