The Washington herald., 1914-01-02
Daily Short Story.
The Correctness Of Genevieve
NJ JANE OSBORN.
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~ ~hoEs OSD0HNs
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Miss Genevievs VaLdevere eyed the
young saleswoman narrowly. She hadn't
any use for the kitchen dishes she was
buying; she was simply buying them in
order that she might do just what she
was doing-study the saleswoman who
sold them to her.
your work must become exceedingly
es1some' Genevieve said with per-
fectiy correct accents. Genevieye was
always perfectly correct from her severe
heaooress to her hat-heeed boots.
Inc siri looked at Genevieve with
MLue-open, fearless eyes. Nav" she
saio, not unless you are out late ut
nst, . ia rather work in a store where
always some one to talk to and
s"eh folks to look at than home"
indeed. said Miss vandeyere T
never Thought o: 1t that way. sim ~
must be tedious" i y
me giri behind the counter smiled re-
s.,,,y Al the woman opposite her
sne SAID If You really want TO
hhoW What It's like you better trv ~
Here's your change" Then az N,,ss
Nendeyere passed she turned tn her con,1
panion- Imagine a prim thing like th.,
pit!ing me. She's not so had Iook,p,,
'noueh-hice long lashes and a swell COM
plexion' out say, Lulu. look at that sLirt
Three yards around at least and ~,
That I'd be ashamed to give 10 tbs 81
vation Army, it's that old fashioned and
pet shes got no end of money too !"
e meantime Genevieve Vandeyere
had had her inspiration.
The very exclusive wor,sr. .,,,L
which Genevieve belonged had chosen a.
LIS subject Of study, The Lot OF the
working woman and to Genev,eve b.d
peen assigned the subject of the denar,-
nent store employe. With her usu.I
correctness and thoroughness GeneyIeye
had decided to take no second-banJ
sources Tor her information, but to study
the subject herself. Hence she had
Dought the Kitchen dishes at the largest
department store she knew of and had
".eu 10 put some searching questions
10 the saleswoman. You have to try
II. the saleswoman had told her. "weII
"hy not! Genevieve replied to herself,
ana 50 began the transformation
IL was easy enough to explain at home.
she said she had gone to see a friend
for a Few weeks in another city.
Genevieve was about thirty, but she had
the complexion Of her girIhood. its radi-
ance unsoftened by rouge or powder. Her
alert brown eyes were shaded by straight,
heavy black lashes. to whose luxuriant
beauty Genevieve had never given a
thought Her brown hair was unbecorn-
insiy brushed severely back from a high
forehead and studiously arranged so as
not In any way 10 suggest the silhouette
prescribed by fashion. For in Genevieye's
training there was something especially
oaneful in the prevailing mode what
ever II might be. Horsewomanshtp and
golf and regular hours had given Gene
we've ngure that Diana might have
envied, but no one ever told Geneyieye
so. In fact. no one with sufficient per
ception had ever come into Genevieve's $
sphere.
So Genevieve yentured forth TO buy
the wardrobe demanded by her new role
and a few hours later. her arms full Of
bundles. she engaged a small room in a
club home for working women. When
she ventured forth the next morning in
search Of her first position her trans
formation. at least so far as appearance
went, had been accomplished
She went straight to the department
store that had the reputation of en-
ploying the greatest number Of young
women. and with bUoyance that the
knowledge Of her complete disguise gave
her she FASTENED TO the employees de-
partment.
Young Mr.. Marden, a son of a mem
VI lnt WHO ldItly taken
charge in the hope of gaining needed ef-
ficiency by so doing, looked up with his
perfunctory narrow-eyed scrutiny as
Genevieve. one OF a hundred or so that
daily filed past his desk, came into his
small Office. Then when he saw the
clear. radiant face. the dark bright
eyes and the luxurious lashes he looked
again. opened his eyes wide and leaned
over his desk for nearer view. lie
narrowly suppressed a whistle. She wore
a small. almost rakish black velvet toque
that pushed the waves of her hair we'll
over her white brow. The open throat OF
her cheap black blouse showed white
throat. full and strong. and from under
the clumsy lines of her colored. cheap.
ready-made coat Mr. Marden could see
the lines Of a figure that was at once
ma jestic and supple
He asked her only the usual questions.
She was inexperienced. living in a work
ing girls club. was unmarried, and was
willing to begin at anything.
Since YOU are without experience -
said Marden. Il will put you in as a
supply in the basement. tinware depart
ment, but-please take OF your coat and
walk over toward the door" She obeyed.
almost tripping in the unaccustomed
scantiness OF the cheap. ready-made skirt.
lOOhcu dl lHe crown
of her impCrtinent little toque to the
toes OF her cheap. bright tan shoes.
Yes. l thought So" he said. II will
see that you are promoted to the suit
department in a week or So
Genevieve. eager to miss nothing and
thinking above all of her club paper.
asked: What did taking or my coat
and walking to the door have to do
with the suit department."
Marden looked at her to be sure that
she was sincere in he- question, and,
meeting the serious gaze of her brown
eyes, he explained: We'll, you see, al
most any figure will do behind a
counter
For a second their eyes met and
Genevieve felt an annoying sense of
pleasure in the thought that this stranger
had found something in her appearance
to commend. No one had ever said any