El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-30
The Story Of a Young Girls Struggles
The Fortunes Of Fanny
F amy Gets a Fne-DOllar Gift From the Finn For
Christmas
Christmas.

Most of them merely glanced at her
table. Late in the afternoon one or
two customers wished her a Merry
Christmas. The greeting made her
great holiday. She would not be
needed at the shop, Mr.. Hall had told
her. She had nobody with whom to
spend her Christmas. Last night had
been a beautiful experience, today was
dreary; tomorrow would be worse.
There's somebody on the phone
asking for you"
One of the BARRIERS spoke these words
at her elbow, and she started violently.
He noticed her quick blush and
laughed teasingly. ~@
Don't hurry" he said. ITS not
gontlemans voice.
She was ashamed that his remark
not only veXed her but disappointed
her. In spite of her knowledge that
Crandau had engagements for this
evening and tomorrow evening, she had
an unreasOning hope that it might be
he who was telephOning to her.
uBt it was only Nellie Benson. She
wanted to know if Fanny would meet
her, and the two girls with whom she
shared her tiny flat and have dinner
tomorrow.
There's no use in any of us bein'
lonely when we might just as well all
go somewhere together" she remarked.
We've all got to feed, and we might
dS W Ell LEGQ III q Uu4ltu- w nat 10 gO4
say to our meetin' at twelve gettin'
our dinner, and then takin' in some
kind of a shoW?'
All right" returned Fanny. Any
thing was better than being alone, she
reflected. Yet after last evenings ex-
perience how tame this kind of thing
seemed
What's the matter?" questioned
Nellie. haven't you got the price?'
"Of course, I have!' Fanny retorted.
~
1uncture, but something might happen
in the way of tips before night. 'pll
meet you anywhere you say"
Fanny Gets Gift From the Firm.
make il the downtown platform Of
the sub at Columbus Circle at twelve"
knOw-but if we want to see a show
afterwards we'll have to start ahead
of time. There's always a fierce push
at those things on Christmas. So
long"
Fanny hung up the receiver, her
sensation of depression lessened only
to a slight degree. She had dreaded
a Christmas day alone, yet was not
enthusiastic over Nellie's plan. Be
sides that her money was low, even
though she had assured herself that
something would turn up"
1t di. When Mr. Hall told her good
night, he pressed an envelope into her
hand On it was inscribed, "Merry
Christmas from the ElFul.'
ooh, thank your she exclaimed,
without opening it.
1T wasn't all mer he smiled. Il
amt the whole firm by a long shot"
Did he mean that Crandall had
large part in the gift?' she wondered
a minute later as she drew forth a
crisp five dollar bill Her back was
to the room and nobody saw her
troubled face. If the firm" meant Mr..
Hall and the other employees, she was
pleased by their kindness. If. how
ever, Crandan had hand in the gift,
she wished that he had given her
something more personal.
Surely if he loved her he would not
join in a semi public remembrance Of
this kind! 1t was all right and kind
from those who were mere acquaint-
ances. But from him! She would
rather have a ten cent Christmas card
sent privately by John Garland, with
a message for her only, than big gift
to which he had contributed with a
group of men who cared nothing for
her.
Yet the five dollar bill was great
help towards the Christmas dinner
suggested by Nellie.
(TO Be COntinued.)
Copyright, 1913, International News Service