Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-02
THE DAILY STORY.
WORK THE MAGICIAN.
downright. 1914, by W. wernerl

she saw him coming toward her a
long vav off. He spoke to nearly
.yerv one he met: and when he came
near enough he spoke to her, exactly
&C he had spoken to all the others.
rbar. was no shade of differences in his
manner 1t was that which made her
80, .bruntIy and dash into her IA
theirs store.
cbs dronned on seat before the
nearest counter and setting her chin
=, nor hand stared UP at the shelves
of goods beyond Gradually she be
CAME aware that there was a piece OF
bIue taffeta on the top shelf which
OUGHT TO make a charming gown She
might get it. And yet, blue taffeta
d,d NOT after all. seem just the right
cure for a heartache.
Enthusiastically her trounle was
beartache. She had been interested IN
tho man whom she had just met u
long time. She had always hoped TO
make him really interested in herself
and had thought she was succeeding
until this moment She knew very
we'll that no man meets woman ne
cares about as he meets half dozen
other persons whom he does hot csii
about AT all For Fanny French was
experience vet to gain.
Good morning. Miss French. M
very sorry to have kept YOU waiting.
Fanay's absent gaze came down 10
the level of the saleSw oman's race
She smiled politely. Since she mad 70
have an excuse for being there, she
might as well make it the blue tat
feta.
The saleswoman got the piece down
and unfurled il and swept it up AGAIN
skillfuuy into wave of sheenfui
color. But all the time her attention
seemed only half held ana her gaze
huttered over -Fannys head toward
incoming customers
Were short of help today" she ex-
planned Miss Shultz was taken sick
and couldn't come"
That's TOO bad" Fanny murmured.
Miss Shultz was one of the oldest and
most able women in the store. faiHS >
father would he annoyed
Suddenlyit came to her that she dld
not want the taffCta. after all The
sight of it fairly sickened her. There
was no novelty in blue taffeta for her
no novelty in anything. Life was
lust the same thing over and over.
Dresses meeting the same people.
bridge. dancing, up late in the night
and in bed half the day, with no real
taste for anything. no goal in sight,
nothing to make next year more de-
sirabie than this. She looked up into
the keen eyes of the saleswoman as
she pushed the silk away.
Il don't want any OF IT, Miss Con-
nor Thank you for showing it to
me-.
Its always a pleasure TO wait on
you. Miss French, the saleswoman
replied affably.
Fanny rose and turned her back on
the taffeta At that instant she caught
a glimpse of man in the background
"a little. gray. hurrying man, with
his hands full of papers. 1t was her
T1t
She followed him He looked so tired
and worried that Fanny's heart smote
her. She laid her hand on his Shout
der. He threw up his head and smiled
Hello: what are you doing here:
Want job" he inquired jokingly.
Fanny's face changed. Yes. do"
she replied.
Good We're short on help this
morning. Miss Shultz has gone under.
Lord only knows how we are going to
spare her during the opening rush
next week" He drew long breath.
I'm glad to see you, my dear. but
Il don't mean to bother YOU.
father" Fanny said. Il mean to help
you. l wasn't joking when I said !
wanted d job. 1 really do want one.
I'm tired Of everything else in life.
and want to try work for a
change"
Her father looked into her face as
tonished, but his eyes were full OF the
concentration they always held when he
faced a problem. Fanny held herself
straight as for inspection She was be-
coming flushed
Your mother won't like it" he said.
You see, it isn't just the thing for
YOU"
II do not know why not" And
then all her trouble rushed out in one
low cry: please. father, Don't YOU
see I've got to do something differ
ent?'
Very WE'LL he said. quietly. Take
off your things and go to work Help