The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-09
The Eue1,i1,e Story
At the Bazaar.

-
At the Bazaar.
(By Dorothy Blackmore.)
Its the first really American thing
I've seen the girls take an interest In,
remarked young George Cameron. He
was selecting a tie to match the bOr-
der on his handk erchief and the stripe
in his shirt.
1T is patriotic, isn't it?" acquiesced
Willis Moore. as he twirled his stick
like a drum major. 81 fancy the
bazaar will be a jolly bore though.
His friend turned on him. mot at
all. The prettiest things In town are
to be models and they'll be diked in
cotton from top t" toe Being well
known-get that?-cotton brokers,
you and I will De expected to attend
and give our support"
IT think you'll give good deal of
tone with all those matched-up. rags
of yours" Moore twitted his friend
me for the cotton bazaar. rags or
The two men left the bachelor apart
ment and found their way to the
armOry where the great cotton bazaar
was being held by the women of the
town. Cotton was TIC be on exhibition
and for sale in every conceivable form
to educate the public in it's uses and
in this way help the country to dispose
of its output in view of the European
war.
George Cameron and Willis Moore
stood astonished at the doors as they
approached. There were crowds
everywhere, and not even the regi-
ment on dress parade had brought so
many outsiders to. the armOry build
ing.
George Cameron laughed with him.
His friends never ending use OF slang
always amused him. Some" he
echoed as they elbowed their way to
the entrance.
"I'll just cotton onto something
nifty here tonight. Georgia." Moore
continued. Watch me. Are any of
our girls here? Bess. Flora ct al?
II don't know who's here. Be pa
'Yes, two" he said. buying two tickets
at the door. Even the tickets were
squares OF cotton.
Booths surrounded the great hall, and
in the center were tables spread with
snowy white cotton cloths and waited
ton crepe frocks Their aprons were
cotton and they had cotton tray cloths
on their trays and handed cotton nap.
kins to those who bought ice cream
and cake " 'fl'' mn
Bales of cotton stood about to be
used for seats, and festoons Of cotton
batting gave a dazzling white effect
to everything. Visitors were tagged
with miniature bales of cotton.
The two men strolled about from one
exhibit to another. Cameron was inter-
ested in the bazaar purely from a:
business standpoint and he took
pleasure in learning of new uses for
cotton. Willis Moore. he admitted it.
was as much interested in the pretty
girls displa wing their wares and act
ing as models for various cotton gar
ments as he was in the exhibition from
its intrinsic view. But the latter was
a man who was popular with all girls
other man had loved and had not won
the girl of his heart. Therefore, he was
somewhat embittered against the fem
ininity. 's.-
Cotton gloves! Gentfemens cotton
evening gloves!" said a pleasant voice
from within a booth
Cameron would have gone on but
his friend turned to the girl and he
could not do otherwise than follow.
They don't look SO bad, Ell, George?''
Willis asked taking pair from the
girls hand. -. :
Cameron looked ait them and then
into the face of the girl who was Of
fering them for sale. He stopped short
and dropped the gloves on the floor.
Seeing that he was a fifth wheel
on the wagon. Willis Moore stepped OH.
and his friend went nearer to the glove
booth. There was no other girl at the
stand but the one who had offered the
pair that still lay on the floor. Cam
eron. US If suddenly recalling the
gloves. stepped back and picked them
up. I'm buy this pair, Helen, since
I've soiled them by my stupidity"
"Oh," laughed the girl, you needn't
unless you like. Butt think they're
your size"
The man looked into her eyes seriously.
remember thaf2s ho Ck
Helen nodded. "YesI remember even
that" she admitted.
examining a pair of gloves as if the most
Important things in the world lay within
them.
Its strange to find you helping with
anything $3.50 useful and patriotic and
and thrifty: I might say: George said. a
little bitterly.
! not noticing the bitter note in his voice
you've changed?"
Helen gave a series of decisive mods
Very much" she said slowly Il regret
those frivolous years. / realize now that
there Ia SO much to do in the world be-
sides thinking of ones own pleasure. I'm
as busy as possible now-since father lost
| war-helping wherever can
Helen interrupted George. But she
stopped him.
obi don't need to earn bread and
butter. George. but need to help others
who have to earn it. T.
| DOn'I say any more. Let me GOING 10
see you again. Helen, and
Buying up the whole stock. Georgie?'
| interrupted Moore, irrelevantly stepping
up to them.
.sWiiI you?' whispered George.
| Helen nodded laughing. George intro
| duced Willis Moore to her and the three
| talked of nothing for q few moments.
| The cotton show now held just one in
| terest for George Cameron, and on the
| following night he went to 1t again to
| take the fair glove saleswoman home
and TO tell her all that he had wanted 20
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