The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-03-17

boarders. but she shrank from doing
either. The people who rented and
boarded in West!nore were lot of a
quality that she would care to take
into. her house. She. thought of going
to school and learning something, but
French verbs had taught her that her
mind would not be adequate when it
came to examining fresh knowledge.
She even thought of doing home bal1-
ing, but Creela had always done most
of that-faithful Creela, whom she
had had to turn away, after eleven
years incompatible service And then
finally she thought of peddling some
thing, which a great many women
dld more or less successfully.
She settled upon gelatine as an ar
ticle. Great Inducements were offered
to would-ba agents. One enterpris-
ing woman was advertised as selling
two hundred packages, daily, with i'm
mense profit to herself, Of course.
Calista sent for the outfit and van
quisiled hope regained ground slowly.
Yet now that all was ready and the
morning moving fast h hesitated to
set forth. Why should she? The
countless women Who had scraped
II bowed to her for Years would
e a from them. And certainly she
could not find another excuse for de-
lay.
Resolutely she shut the bag and
took it up. AS she turned toward the
door a mirror caught her reflection.
She saw herself, bag in hand, trem-
bling on the verge OF her great ven
wonnta III fresh ming. She saw
the room about her-spanish leather,
weathered oak, ell so fine and fra
grant with association. Her eyes
smarted, the reflection swan and she
went out quickly, stumbling over a
rug in he: blind haste.
She hal DECIDED to begin as far az
POSSIBLE from her own location, so
she walked clear across the town be-
lore attempting to make a sale. She
scarcely had been out of doors since
Victor's death, and the good chill air
revived her. She felt almost confident
as n turned into Pink street and
Nobody answered her ring and she
drew a breath of relief and then child
ed herself for her timidity. This is no
way to peddle. She Went on to he
next house, rang the bell there. Mrs.
Moscript came to the door. Never.
neroEe mad calista seen Mrs. Moscript
IN morning garb, and she was shock
ed. 1t was evident that Mrs. Moscript
dressed for church or calling was al
together u different creature from
Mrs. Moscript about her household
business at 10 o'clock Of a busy morn
ing.
Good morning" she said tremu-
little formula learned from the circu.
lar. II am introducing an article
here with which I arm sure YOU will
be pleased" Here she opened her bag
and fumbled for a package Of the
gelatine. Having found it, she held
1t up before those boring alien eyes,
which were disconcerting her SO rap
idly. This package contains suffi.
cient gelatine-"
Mrs. Moscript began to draw gack.
II never use gelatine. and I am very
busy" she said. And the door closed
calista turned white. She had had
average agent, and she had not ex-
pected if--certainly not from Mrs,
Moscript. who had always been one
OF the "scrapers and bowers hover
ign approximately on the outskirts of
her set. She stood fully a moment
after the door closed. Duly she re-
turned the package of gelatine to her
bag and turned away.
She went to the next house. This
time 1t was bobbing, curious little
Mrs. Lynch who came to the door.
Good morning! On, dear me, it's
you,' she said. II thought 1t was
Just some agent or other and I never
let agents in. What: You-oh, no.
don't want anything, nothing at
closed. WV
Desperately Calista went to the
third house. She climbed to her bat
tleheld. with lead in the toe Of each
shoe. Having unl!mbered her rum
n was resolved to use them, but her
heart had turned to quicksilver.
Mrs. Marsh opened the door.