Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-02-22

shoes were 80 bad Tears OF vera.
ton nlled her eyes.
what else did you get?" she asked
that noon nj lunch She was deter
mined TO keep posted
wen ! got the dandiest pair OF
earrings from Jim and some candy
und bareite from the other girls,
and lin took me to see Lost. Though
Won. My. II was grand" which In
formation hardened Names heart
past all relenting.
That afternoon she watched wear
lily tin she was Just about discour
aged What was that? crowd
around the WALTZ Name waited In
rever OF impatlence TO get the news
Now. Amt that awful?" whispered
the girl next to her. That woman's
no lady. She says Bessie gave her
50 too little change, and the poor
things got to have II took out OF her
salary"
Names heart gave thrill OF trl-
umph Now would she get iaven'
der hat? Perhaps she would even
have to wear shoes like her own.
That night she couldn't rest com
fortably. II made her nervous SUP
posing-but at the memory OF JimS
birthday GIFT she shut her lips In
straight line and went to sleep.
In the morning she watched rather
anxiousiy for Bessie who's rather 10
her relief. appeared punctually. with
pompadour and Jewels in their usual
form AT noon they lunched together,
as usual
Gee. Name. my head is bursting
and I've got the awfulest cold"
Fear gripped Names heart.
81 know I can't go out with Jim to-
night Saw. Name. don't you like him:
I think he is the one best bet.
20 he's a nice enough fellow Our
foorwaiker looks pretty good 10 me
answered the now desperate Name
yes we oil know that, Him oellng
you every time he passes you You
hadn't ought to let him. Name Jim
Gays So"
81 don't care what Jim says. and
I'll thank you to mind your own husl-
ness." and she flounced out OF the res
taurant
The next morning she was delight
ed TO see Bessie's face swollen. She
had banished mercy from her soul
She fiirted openly with the floor
walker: she wore seven new puns
and a pair of Jet earrings reaching
nearly to her shoulders. which had
cost her the price of her winter un.
derwear What cared she? Perhaps
Ressie would think them the gift OF
some man.
succession OF troubles came to
Bessie She lost her purse and tore
her new dress. More than once Name
had misgivings. so that when one day
her friend failed to appear she was
utterly unable to keep her mind on
her work
Coal bods? Wall counter. Don't
see where o. beg your pardon: In
the basement"
Dry goodsi Wall counter. lady"
mo. we don't keep earrings. What
are those? o ] beg your pardon.
didn't understand
Two DAYS. three DAYS passed. bring
ing no Bessie Night after night
Name tossed from side to side un-
able to close her eyes. Had Bessie
lost her iob7 Was Bessie III? Was
Bessie. perhaps--how could she even
sav twas Bessie dead? She dared
not ask
On the fourth day she could bear it
no longer Her fear washed all the
jealousy from her heart and back in
its place flowed the love she had at
WAYS borne her Bess.
Crying and stumbling, she came to
her frierd's room. afraid to knock.
afraid not to At the summons TO en-
ter she burst in and threw herself
wening on Bessie's neck
"Bessie o Bessie thank Heaven.
You're all right. aren't you, Bessie2
You're not dead you aren't even sick
II you've lost your job you can have
all my money till you get new one
o Ress. Ress. amt glad" and she
chung Historically to her erstwhile
enemv
"Whafever ais you. Name? I amt
sick and amt lost my job. I'll tell
you all about that In minute Tell
me new what's the matter with you ?"
with tears and sighs. with groans
and apologies. Name made full con-
fession.
so that's itY You poor dearie.
Listen honey. I'm going TO marry my
cousin Charlie: that's why I'm not
working any more Him and me has
been engaged four years-and Jimi
1t was all that fresh fioorwalker Jim
thought he was cutting him out You
didn't seem as loving as you used to
be Matched up this scheme to bring
you to. but 1t didn't work very well
BE good TO him. dear, He loves you"
And that ring? Name. honey.
lost that opal out the very first night.
and had a bit of glass put In so'st you
wouldn't feel bad