Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-28
Their Married Life
By MABEL HERBERT URNER

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r"why. Nora, are these all the potatoes
they sentf"
"Yes, ma'am, them's ALL"
And I particularly ordered large
nss onionsr .or 0f forset to to" say sS white ones
And what's this, the spinach? Didn't
they used to send more than that?"
For some time Helen had been dis
satisfied with Boland's. the corner gro
Gerry. She felt they were, not giving
her as good measure as when she first
began to trade with them.
y, Mora. didn't bin come with these
things? Yes, here 1T is. Let's see what
they charged for these apples--I Or
dered quart Eighteen cents? That
seems awfuily high. How many in
quartz"
lust eight, ma'am," counting them:
That's 2 cents apiece-and look at
those specksl Nora, decidedly. m
going to try that place on the next
traded there so long Well keep on. no
matter what they send us. Now when si,
their man comes in the morning-Ili
not give him any order. I'll go out
Helen thought she would take a cer-
tain satisfaction in refusing Boland'
man his daily order, but when the next
morning he appeared at the Kitchen
trade smile and his pencil poised ex-
pectantly over his order book she felt
somewhat disconnected.
mo, I don't think we want anything
this morning" The note in her voice
was not at all triumphant but almost
apologetic.
Don't you need anything, Mrs. Cur
tis?"
Helen had not given at least a small
order, the tradesmans fixed smile van
ished In his surprise.
mo, thank you, nothing at all" MAX
ing a motion to close the door.
IL hope everything's been all right.
Mrs. Curtis"
"oh, yes, only | haven't any order
for you this morning"
Helen was furious with herself for
the apologetic note in her voice. Why
should she give him an order IL she
did not wish to? Yet somehow he
had made her feel that she should.
Helen liz Irritatcd
"And it's Saturday" ventured Nora
why should he?' sharply. I'm per-
fectly free to order where | choose
Nora, how MANY times must l tell you
Don't you know it'll get full of dust?"
And with decided sense Of irritation
Helen went In to get ready for the
street.
It was a cold, frosty morning, and
as Helen came out she faced a strong,
biting wind. To add to her irritation,
Boland's man was Just gettlns into
his wagon. He touched his cap, and
she felt his questioning glance follow
her.
Taking care to pass on the other side
Of the street from Boland's, she hurried
on to the grocer's in the next block.
Before entering she looked appraisingly
over the stand of fruit and vegetables
outside.
Several customers were already in
the store, and Helen had to walt her
turn. She knew 1t was absurd for her
20 vARu9St resentment
at this vet when she went into Bo-
lands, however busy they were, some
one always came up to her with
soltcitous, I'll be with you in just
moment, Mrs Curtis"
But these two strange clerks did not
even glance toward her as she waited
her turn - . 49,
tiesp" consulting the first item on her
list when finally one of the clerks APP
preached her.
Twelve cents a quart
At Boland's they were fifteen! Helen
did not consult her list again until
he had measured out the potatoes, for
she was determined not to give the
order but to wait and see everything
"what are those grapefruit"
"Ten cents"
''Three for a quarter?'
mo, ma'am, ten cents straight
Helen hesitated. She had been get
three for a quarter.
'.These are the best grapefruit on the
market" tossing one in MS hano:
You'll find them thin, ,sinned ana ICY;
VERY well, I'll take three. Now some
"Three for ten," tearing the tissue
paper from a couple of lemons.
"You can give me half dozenwanai
salad have you? Have you any
escaroleP"
We've some fine romaine," moving
on to the front of the store where the
green vegetables were.
Eyes. that looks fresh. head or that
will do, and this small head of cauli-
flower. and five cents worth OF soup
green's"
a-large paper bag.
"A package OF cream cheese, ana
loaf of Coleman's New England bread
THAT will be. all" taking out her
''One thirty-two. ma'am," rapidly ad-
ding up the items. Where shall I
send them?"
A Different Attitude
The apartment Helen lived in was
one of the most pretentious In the
neighborhood. and there was keen
rivalry among the tradesmen to get
It's tenants for customers. SO when
Helen gave her address, he glanced up
in surprised interest, his attitude in
stantly becoming most obsequlous
'I'll send the boy over with these
right away. Mrs. Curtis. Views several
customer in your house, and you'll ind
we'll treat you right. We keep only
the freshest and best grade of goods
our class of trade demands it. We'd
like you to try US on butter and eggs
"1'll see." murmured Helen, nor car
ing to admit that she ordered butter
and eggs and many staple things from
a large downtown grocery because she
found them cheaper than any of the
small lccal dealers.
well. I'll send them right around.
Mrs. Curtis" he assured her, and Helen,
thanking him, hurried out
Forgetting to cross the street, She
found herself in front of Boland's Mr..
Boland himself was measuring potatoes
from a barrel outside.
while his Good morning Mrs. Cur
It's" was most cordial, Helen felt the
constrained note in it. Plainly His man
had told him that she had given no
order and now he knew. she had been
to the store on the block above.
Her own Good morning" was not as