South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-08
THE THIRD YEAR.

"NO-thenK you she murmured IN
some CONFUSION.
Warren had told her that she could
not look about" in the London shops;
that when you entered an English
store you were expected TO buy, and II
you did not buy you were made to
feel most uncomfortable.
And now Helen found that this was
true. The cheerful showing OF goods.
which is the policy OF every American
merchant, seemed unknown over here.
She had not asked TO be shown, nor
even priced any article. so she might
feel she was under no obligation To
buy.
Yet she could not even walk through
the stores and glance about without
being stopped at every few steps by a
frock-coated hOOr-Walker with his per-
sistent. Can direct you madam"
That seemed the mission Of these
floor walkers-to accost every one they
saw strolling through with no definite
purchasing intent in their gaze. While
the only question was: Can / direct
you madame?" the implication was
plainly: These goods are here 70 be
purchased. We hope you have come
for that purpose.
But Helen wanted to look about
70 get a general idea Of the shops be-
fore she made her purchases. She
had only a small sum TO spend, and out
OF that she cnust buy souvenirs and
presents Cor al. OF Warren's people
and her own.
Something Different.
While OF course these presents must
be inexpensive, she had hoped 20 get
them distinctly English, something
they could not get at home But how
could she do this, If she was not al
lowed to look about. II she was expect
ed to begin TO buy the minute she en-
tered a store.
he no 10 ole
at some chiffon scaTfs, which were dis
played at the veil counter. One OF
these In black would be nice for War
ren's mother. che thought. But she
was afraid to go nearer to examine
them, for the saleslady had already
noticed her hesitation. and she was
waiting for her to come close enough
10 make her the victim OF d sale
But such hesitation was not TO be al
lowed, for now a flOOr-walker hemmed
her in from the rear.
do you wish 10 be served. madam p"
Then with a wave toward the waiting
clerks. Madam wishes TO see some
scarfs."
Helen, with a sense Of having been
trapped. had no choice now but to let
the clerk show her the scarfs.
This is very smart. maam." hold
ing up n pale pink one. I'VE have
them In all cOlors. Very good value,
ma'am. for ten and eleven three
farthings.
Tenn and eleven three farthingsl"
Helen was mentally trying to reduce
hat 10 dollars and cents. Eight shil-
lings was two dollars. Why, it was
almost three, And she had seen prac-
tically the same thing in New York
for S1.9S.
perhaps madam would like white
one better You can wear white with
everything. Shall l send you one OF
these taking out her check book
with the air OF a sale completed.
With a hurried NO, no. it isn't quite
what / want" Helen tried to break
away But the determined saleslady
held her with a I'VE have many 9TH
ers. let me show madam some other
styles. Now this is quite smart"
Hard to Leave.
Helen knew that the more goods she
was shown the more criminal would
be the affrOnt If she did not buy. But
she could not get away.
At last. in desperation. she bought
the cheapest scarf they had. 1t was a
narrow and rather fiimsy one, for
three and six-S7 cents. II would do
for Della. although she had intended
taking her a pair OF gloves.
After that Helen was afraid TO hes
itate before any counter. Still she
was met every few minutes 10y the in
evitable floOr-walker with his newt
oble query
Her answer. NO. thank you" was
always received with n look OF cold
disapprOval. Plainly she was an
American and plainly unfamiliar with
their stores-then why did she not
want 10 be directed? Why was she in
the shop II it was not TO make pur-
Chases. Why was she strolling about
in this aimless way? These were the
thoughts OF the floOr-walker.
Finally she hit upon a plan Of walk
ing swiftly. with an air OF intent
determination, as though making
straight for some particular counter.
This was effective. and she was not
molested. but it gave her little chance
for observation.
Then she evolved a still better plan
She noticed that many OF the English
women were carrying parcels. RMS
was at least an evidence Of good in
tentiOns Perhaps II she had a halt
dozen small packages she might be al
lowed TO roam undisturbed.
Hurriedly she made her way 20 the
toilet counter and bought a few staple
things that she always needed and
which required little selection--taI-
cum powder, bath powder tooth
brush, etc She bought them one at a
time and had them done in separate
packages.
In Heavy Paper.
Helen had heard Warren's amused
comments on the heavy bro wn paper
with which the Englishman does up al
hts parcels. Yet she was amazed 20
see them wrap up these small toilet
things in paper dark and heavy enough
for a hardware store and tie them
with a coarse Irvine making the newt
able loop by which they carry all
packages
Then. de~~ling her purchases with
an air OF triumphant defense, she
started Off again for further ex
plOrAtiOn OF the shops.
That evening she told Warren Of her
ruse. and laughingly assured him she
Intended 10 leave the packages un-
1pened and carry them again tomor-
row. 50 that she might make the rest
OF her purchases after a more leisurely
survey
Warren threw back his head and
roared
by George. Helen's developing a
sense OF humori Well II you can side
step the English fOor-walker and
saleslady you'll do a darn sight better