The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-08
EARNING A TRoUSSEAU
By MAUD BEASIEY.
Copyright. 1915. by w. G. Chapmac. }

ter of the Twenty-Five and Fifty-Cent
store, looked up at Maggie Parsons,
her neighbor behind the toilet arti-
cles.
Gee, That's the third time old
Simmonds has spoken to me this
morning." she remarked.
He must be getting stuck on you.
Lizzie" replied her friend.
Simmonds, the owner of the chain
of stores, was a man between sixty
and seventy years of age. He had
fringe of white whiskers under his
chin, he was not particularly well
groomed or spruce; in short, he was
not in the least the kind of elderly
gentleman who would attract the af-
fections of a pretty girl of twenty.
Lizzie had secured her position the
first day she looked for one. She had
come up from the country, and when
she had saved up the price of trous-
seau--a really elegant one-she meant
to let George Robbins. at present en-
ployed in their home town as mana
ger of a little local store, lead her
to the altar.
Simmopds certainly appeared inter-
ested in Lizzie. Before the girl had
been in the store a month he had
already contrived to have her sum-
moned to his private Office at least
dozen times.
How would you like to act as my
stenographer, Miss Holt?" he inquired
upon the last Of these occasions.
Il don't know much about stenog-
raphy," admitted Lizzie. But | could
learn, | suppose" she added, think
ing of the increased salary and the
improved trousseau that would re-
suit therefrom.
We'll, I'll tell you what I'll do"
said the old man, staring at her in
way that brought the bushes to her
cheeks. I'll pay for you to learn at
the night school on the next block.
Then when you are competent, maybe
there will be place for you in here!"
The stenography lessons were a
failure. Lizzie made no progress at
ALL Her vain little head was filled
with the thought of the trOusseau. and
the hooks would turn the wrong way,
and the consonants turn themselves
into impossible angles. Meanwhile
Lizzie continued at the store. Sim
mond's attentions were now the talk
of everyone. Lizzie could stand it no
longer.
We'll. I'm going in to resign" de-
clared Lizzie, and stalked toward the
private Office.
The girls waited. Exactly at the
noon hour Lizzie emerged. bright
crimson. by the side of Simmonds.
whose arm was drawn through hers.
Down the aisle they walked, Lizzie
crimsoning still more as all eyes were
turned on her So they went into the
street, and Bill, the boy who swept
up, reported at one o'clock that they
were having dinner at Haffney's.
We'll. what d'you think of that!"
calculated Maggie to the rest.
Il amt going to stay in a place
where such scandalous happenings
happen" answered the homeliest Of
them, with a toss of her head.
Lizzie Hollis vain and childish
mind was fairly turned by her en-
ployer's attentions. She spent the
afternoon careless of the black looks
of all around her. She was living
over that delicious hour again. Mr..
Simmonds certainly was a gentleman,
even IL he was old. But that night.
when the reaction had come. the girl
faced the problem in her room alone
more seriously than she had ever faced
anything.
She was not SO ignorant of life
but that she could see the meaning
of her employers maneuvers. But she
was ignorant enough to feel helpless.
She coald not face the crowd in the
store again. Either she must be true
to George Orwell, she saw the alter
native quite plainly as the hours wore
away. And to her credit the thought
of George triumphed.
The next day she left her rooming
house and engaged a room in anoth-
er. She did not return to the store.
She obtained a position with Mar
shalrs. and in a week she had com.
pletely forgotten the incident, except
that she felt little proud of herself
as the heroine OF Quasi-adventure.
Then one day familiar figure en-.
tered. He was an old gentleman with
fringe of white beard. and he was
accompanied by a very motherly look
irg old lady. They came slowly up
to the perfumery counter. Simmonds
looked up. to encounter Lizzie's fright
ened eyes fixed on his.
why. bless my soul, it's Miss
Holt" Here. mother! This is the
young lady | was telling you about
who disappeared SO mysteriously from
the store"
The motherly woman came up te
Lizzie.
My husband has been talking t.
me so much about you." she said. 90
am sorry you went away. But ] un
derstand how you felt. You see. Her
man is little abrupt and strange II
his ways. Go away. Herman! l an
going to talk to Miss Holt now.
You see, my DEAR" she continued
I'VE lost our only daughter a yea
ago. and Herman was passionatel,
devoted to her. And after you got {,
working in the store he came hom
and said to me. Mother. one of on
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