The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-28

o"HeT, out Just stenographer. Still,
as she smiled out OF those brown eyes,
he was emboldened. Very soon 1
shall have to ask you a great cues.
tion," he began She turned her face
away. mo don't" she begged, and
with pressure OF her warm little hand
on his arm she left and Joined the
stream that swept down into the sub.
way.
During the Christmas week there
were no classes in Spanish, and that
week seemed long. But Alonzo, in buy.
ing the spangled fan, had used up his
entire balance OF cash. and when he
had dined on 25-cent dinners for four
days he grew hungry. He might have
sent less OF his wage to his mother,
but this Alonzo was too dutiful to do.
In his hunger his eyes fell on those
studs the girl had given him. He
could not possibly use them now, and
there on the bureau they could only
serve to remind him OF the gulf that
kept her from him. They were bought
at the big department store that boast.
ed OF giving money back for unsatisfac.
tory purchases. At least he could
have square meal on New Years day,
he thought. as he carried the studs to
the one in authority over such refunds,
and stood sheepishly by while the
money was secured.
She must be rich. and she must
have cared lot for me. too" he said,
as ten crisp dollars were placed in his
hand. Then he hurried off-hurried,
that is. tell he passed the fan counter.
There stood the girl in brown, Hide.
gardc. He drew near her i'll the crowd.
no, | don't wont the money back"
she was answering. II merely want
credit TO spend the money In some
other department" Alonzo watched
as she locked for the last time at the
spangled fan and then signed her name
on the credit slip that the salesman
cape her Then be followed mutely as
she assembled an elevator to the fourth
floor of the big department store.
Sporting goods, automobiles. baby car
riages and groceries," called out the
elevator man.
Alonzo still followed. Once he had
as the girl ahead Of him cast furtive
glances over her shoulders. But he
still followed, past the sporting goods,
the automobiles and baby carriages to
the groceries.
There she engaged the services of
one Of the smooth.voiced, smooth.shay-
en- young men in white linen coats and
began: Il have a credit slip that
want to use in this department. VIII
you take my order? First want quite
a lot of spaghetti-it's so nourishing.
You might send five pounds Of that,
and them"
Alonzo, hiding behind the coffee dem.
onstrator's booth. put his hand spas
medically to his forehead. Great gods
and little fishes!" he said to himself al
most aloud. "spangles for spaghetti.
How could she?"
And the girl in brown went on order.
ing--flOur, sugar, beans, tea, coffee,
applies. potatoes, lard, butter and choc.
olate till the bill footed to fifteen dol
lars and three cents. She carefully
took out the three pennies from her
brown purse, gave her address, thanked
the salesman and started Oh her way.
Alonzo had recovered his surprise.
A thought had come to him and was
fast gaining credence with him. Per-
haps she had no more use for the gay
fan than he had for the studs. He
reached her in the descending eleva-
tor, and when he had made himself
known held her arm in the crowd I've
been watching you for the last quarter
OF an hour" he told her.
And you know exchanged those
lovely spanglGs for spaghetti and
things?" She blushed to her little
brown curls as she spoke. 81 was sor-
ry to do it. You see, haven't much
money, and question of exchanging
the present for groceries or going hun
cry on New Years. With this help
mother has been able to buy chicken.
and so VIC shall have quite feast. You
see, I'm just stenoGrapher. l am
afraid didn't want you to know that,
because you are so much better off
with your oil wells and your wide
travel"
Alonzo interrupted her to pour forth
his own confession and they walked
through the crowd toward the subway
Just as usual. When they came to the
subway entrance the old longing to tell
liildeGarde came. and somehow that
night he did manage to tell her and to
ask her the important question and
IIildegarde pressed her little hand
against his and murmured little yes