The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-04
(By Louise Olney.)


The new girl lifted her eyes from
the tags she was attaching to lingerie
garments for the morrow's white sale
when Grayson marched up and con-
fidently invited her to go to the thea
ter. She gave him a queer, serious
look. ....,a 's=
mo. thank you" Her sweet tones
were like a slaphIn the face.
Webb Grayson, head of the depart
ment. big and good looking. seldom
asked a girl anywhere. and this little
anyway. He liked the queenly, capa-
Die sort when he bothered with girls
at all. Ordinarily such treatment
would have made him turn angrily
detained him to question her.
Don't you like the theater?" he
asked. noting her silky dark lashes
and the perfect parting of her silky
hair.
Yes" she said. still busily tagging.
night: ''
mo-" she said
Then you object to me-" he re-
marked coolly. you've been here a
month and don't mix with the others.
Allow me to say that a theater invita-
ton isn't an insult. You seem to go
nowhere, and wished to give you and
myself some pleasure. 1 shall not ask
yOu again IL you QOn I IKE me-. ThG
young mans eyes took in the delicacy
of her skin, the tired look under her
big gray eyes. She turned a little
paler at his word, but she smiled faint
I'm afraid I seem rude. don't
mean to be. I've nothing against the
others. I'm simply too busy to mix
l go TOY night school. And I do my
own sewing"
His eye ran over the simple. pretty
dark blue dress she wore.
But you must have some amuse-
ment," he said.
+ She gave a little. shrinking move
ment and he turned and left her with
out another word. He wouldn't
force himself on any girl. Her palp-
able dislike was a jolt to him. Most
OF the girls in the store would have
been glad of a chance to go. Their
looks pursued. wooed. coaxed his at
tention and made him keep to him
SELF. The other men clerks envied
him. But he was no ladies' man.
1t was early spring. bright and
bracing out Of doors, stuffy indoors.
with unrest in the air. For days
Grayson casually watched the girl,
angry that he could not help doing
80: She began to- be friendly with the
other girls. she even joked little with
the other men. but her face grew
little cold when he came near her. At
first he laughed at her evasion. Then
MS SAuluSeInent turned INTO V0XAC1On.
He grew dissatisfied with himself,
with his work, restless and irritated.
He felt hurt, somehow.
At the close of a firing day he came
up behind her and helped her put a
lot Of boxes into place on the shelves.
He said nothing. She was breathing
hard, and once she leaned back as If
worn out.
Miss Weir.' he began, I'm going
to give you some advice. 1 know you
don't like me, but my advice il per-
fectly good. You'd better take it.
You look half sick. You'd better rest
all you can and stay outdoors every
minute possible. Cut out night school.
You must walk in the fresh air.
His voice was stern. He felt like
shaking her as II she were beloved
but cooperating child.
do this work.
"I-have to work." she half whis-
pered. as in a sort OF fear. Don't
dare say I'll be sick! I won't. I'm
trying not to be. 1 can't walk after
standing all day. I'm too tired"
DO you sleep with your windows
wide" he questioned fmpersonally.
Are you eating enough? People
often don't wffer they're too tired
The girl shook her head. II do the
best can" she said. STRENGTHENING
herself proudly. She would not let
her eyes meet his But as she moved
me-"
It was her first really kind word to
Il Was An unusually balmy evenine
. week later that he happened to 20