El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-24
CHATTER vXT

CHAPTER A-Al-
noon on the day on which Caryl
n Marvin Iunched with Harry
SomEdyke, Julia Marvin
turned with a wan smile to a fellow
saleswoman at the lace counter.
Don't you want to go to lunch
now. Miss McDonough?" she queried.
"The rush viii be less for the next
hour or so, and you must be tired, I
know i am"
Gee" calculated Laura McDon-
ough, rolling her eyes drama ticaIy
and smoothing the wrinkles in her
skirt down from an over-slim waist,
Its been something fierce to-day. I
suppose the early fall sh0pplngs be-
gun The last old hen that was here
was the limit, turning over the whole
darned stock and then deciding that
she didn't want anything. How You
ever was so polite 10 her gets me-"
She was hard to please" Julia ad-
mitted with a sigh. Poor old sOuli She
comes from away out in New Jersey,
and she told me that she gets into
the city only once year. She was
looking for lace for her daughter
wedding gown. 'Emmie's going to
marry one of the finest young gentle
men IN or near N orJenoyke' she SAID
y ell don't see now you 90 It.
declared Laura McDonough, half en-
viousIy, half scornfully.
do What2'
looking frumps that blow in here.
They bore me to extinction" she lisped
with an intimatiOn of what she con-
sidered ladylike languOr.
They interest me-" smiled Julia
That's the how of it. They don't
bore me a bit. Now run along and
get your lunch. I'm going next and
I may starve If you don't hurry"
''Il be back in half an hour" prom
ised the girl as she FASTENED away.
Baird's store is one in which the
comfort and welfare Of employees re-
ceiVe some consideration, so there
were, here and there, chairs behind
the various counters, and a saleswO-
man was allowed TO sit down when
there were no customers at her coun-
ter Julia sank into chair and
closed her eyes. Tt had been a hard
morning and W0uld-be buyers had
been, it seemed to her. more exacting
than usual Her head achedi her back
was tired. her feet were swollen with
much standing. She was so tagged
that she felt as if she could go to
sleep here and now.
She aroused herself with a start and
looked down the length of the lace
Uttered counter. Three other girls
in her department were grouped to-
gether chattering and giggling, ignor-
ing the disOrdered condition of the
stock With stffled sigh Julia arose
tumbled finery. So occupied was she
in her task that she did not see a
man who, passing down the aisle.
stopped short with a smothered ex-
clamatiOn. He stood in front of her
for a half minute before, lifting her
head. she saw him.
what can I do for you, sir2'' she
asked automatically. coming forward
The man hesitated. II beg your
pardon he said. hut surely I must
be mistaken, yet-eXcuse me, but
aren't you Miss Julia Marvin2'
yes" answered Julia, amazed IT
am. but you have the advantage of me.
do not know you"
"But what are you doing here2" he
blUrted out impetuOUsly. The ques-
ton did not sound impertinent, COM
ing from him, for he was evidently
embarrassed, and even in her surprise
the girl took note of his courteous
bearing and indefinable air Of good
breeding.
Perhaps" she said gravely, "if you
VIII tell me who YOU are it will be
easier TO explain matters"
NV name is Kelley Delaine," he
told her. Your sister, thinks In
my employ as stenograDher have
also had the pleasure OF seeing you
once before, but possibly you may
not remember"