Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-08-13
Tie Evening Story
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SATURDAY A t

Vida was tall and straight and dark.
She ~ ner hair very plain; n
a adopted a kind OF store uniform
new to Westmore-a severe tailored
waist an da black skirt. The tailored
waist was not becoming. She needed
softening frills and colors to brighten
her up. But $40 a week does not adj
NIT OF such when one has an old
aunt to support.
so when Paul Morton came to the
store nobody had the least idea that
ne o ever see Vida Page. He did
not. He saw nothing but business;
he was essentially a man Of affairs.
aul Morton was Mrs. Lambert's
brother and he had come to learn the
business OF h store. If he liked 1t
ne intended to put in some money
and become a partner. The Lamberts
were very anxious to please him O.
tnat account. Paul had a still clear
race, keen. brownish yes and red
hair: Before he had been in the store
a week they We're calling him the
bright spot"
His coming had caused something
of a furry, but It subsidized immedi-
ately. He fitted into his place quickly
and he soon became a familiar sight
IN he different departments. The
younger girls ceased trying to ,flirt
with him. What was the use when
he never saw them!
He had been in the store g. year to
a day on this Saturday morning, and
there had been some talk of cele-
brating the anniversary and making
him a present. It had been Louise
Spencer's idea, and secretly she had
everybody interested. She had
gone so far as to take up a little fund
for a present and coaxed Jimmy Lew
Is to make the presentation. When
she came to the store she had the
attached to this a long list Of the
names Of the donors and an appro-
pirate sentiment.
Louise showed the watch fob to
Vida. You see, he's sure to become
a partner" she whispered. We've
all got to hump ourselves to keep on
the right side of him. He can't do
much wedding out among us after
we've handed him out a present like
this"
Nid said nothing, but she wished
the anniversary had not CHANGED to
come on a rainy Saturday. She also
wished that the prospective partner
had not red hair. Any day he might
find occasion to cut down the work.
ing force, perhaps to fire" her. And
then what would she find to do in
Westmore?
She was a little Uneasy about that
anniversary present. Jimmy Lewis
was the last person in the world to
make a presentation. He was sure to
get red In the face and stutter and
maybe say the wrong thing.
She watched Jimmy as She meas
ured off goods. The store was busy,
although it did rain. Jimmy rushed
about with the fob in his pocket, ner-
vous and upset. Once he rushed
across the aisle to tell her in a low
tone: II can't get near enough to
give 1t to him. And I don't know how
TO do it anyway. Gee. this is the
hardest job I ever tackled"
Toward noon there came a hush.
Hands paused in their tasks; eyes
watched, ears listened. Jimmy had
caught Mr.. Morton on the stairs and
had handed the box to him - just
landed it without saying anything at
all-and then, with his ears like
peony leaves, fled to hide his embar-
rassment behind a stand Of umbrellas.
Louise Spencer groaned and fell
back into a big roll of cotton bat
ting which promptly afHliated with
her brown flannel dress. Only Vida
Page went on calmly cutting blue
serge. Her one glimpse of Mr.. Nor
tons face had shown to her that he
was surprised without being pleased.
But, there, what else might one ex-
pect! Was it not a rainy Saturday?
At noon Jimmy Lewis walked a
block with Vida on her way home,
as his boarding place lay in the same
direction. "All I got was a cool thank
you" he grumbled. You're all well
come to our share in that, but for
goodness sake don't ever ask me to
do anything like it again. After the
look he gave me if 1 keep my job
another week I'll be surprised. He's
a corker, that fellow, with just about
as much heart as a fresh water clam"
There was a general feeling of dis
consolation among the s%aIespeople
when they gathered in for work that
afternoon. But within twenty min