The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-18
TheEpenin9 Story
Ribbons.
Ribbons.
Copyright. 1910, sy W. wernsrj

bon OF deep. exquisite rose color,
and as Auncy bent over II Il threw
a glow up into her pale little face
II was more becoming TO her than
to the prettiest girl In town. But
she did not know that.
Auncy Maine had n quite wonder
full way with her when Il came 10
selling ribbons. II was way that
often induced even mere shoppers"
TO buy. She drew them 80 tenderly
= through her slender hands: she fiirt.
ed them about 80 skilfully; she so
subtly displayed their color and
texture and value as to create actual
temptation for beholders. Her
counter was the most attractive In
. the store and caught the eye OF
every person who entered. Incl
dentally each visitor saw Auncy in
her simple black dress. with her
black hair shiningly wound round
her head In wide, fiat braids. her
dark eyes intent on business and
her red mouth giving the one high
light TO her nunlike appearance.
Auncy loved ribbons. She had
loved them all her life. And above
all colors she loved the rose. But
she had never possessed a bit OF
rose color In her life. Auncy had
been born so poor that the greatest
luxury OF her life had been beef
. stew on Sunday. Her parents were
French: they had come to America
81 he I1xn ~ thntr I'm gina
tons During the second year her
father died and the woman and
little girl were left TO struggle
alone. They made flowers In tiny
room in the basement OF an old
tumbledown house. Auncy worked
all day, but her mother also worked
half the night. They earned ~
week and two OF those four went for
rent. In time things frightened
and Auncy went TO school and her
mother got a Job that paid living
ware, but when she was sixteen her
mother died and she faced the
world alone. She got work at Nc
:, Namara's selling notions and be-
cause she was so quick and success
ful they promoted her presently TO
the ribbon counter. She had been
there ever since-four years. She
earned Sc a week and she made II
do. She even saved very little
bit. She had a small room where
abe was allowed 10 cook things over
an oil burner. Her clothes were her
own inventions, so much had
French parentage done for her. She
made them at night. half holidays
and vacation times. Her one recrea-
ton was reading books which she
.. got from the public library.
II was a lonely life for a young
girl. but II was so much better than
anything that had gone before that
Auncy was content. She loved to
sell ribbons: though she could not
possess them herself she was glad
to see other people able TO do so.
She sometimes wondered about her
customers and the uses 10 which
they put the ribbons she sold them.
!. She wondered now what the pretti-
est girl was going 10 do with all
these yards and yards OF rose color.
ed satin.
After the prettiest girl had moved
away with her purchase Auncy
stood looking down at the remnant
left, musing with faint smile upon
her face. II her thoughts had been
nut into words they would have
shamed and startled her. innocent
though they were. She was think
ing that since II now seemed quite
impossibIe she would ever wear
rose-colored ribbons herself sne
wished she had a little dark-eyed
girl TO wear them.
Slowly she moved her glance from
the ribbons and II fell on another
glance fixed earnestly upon her. A
childs head came Just above the
counter. Under the white rabbit hat
was a round face. so rosy, so sug'
gestive Of kisses. that Auncy, used
though she was TO seeing children.
wa. thrilled Dark curls fell from
/ beneath the hat; the eyes matched
the curls.
"I must have looked like that
when I was seven" Auncy thought.
Che leaned forward. What do you
wish. dear?" she asked.
ribbon, please-that color
"Rose ribbon" Auncy said. It's
lovely. isn't Il? How many yards1
Enough to make a nice, big DOW
for my hair"
"a yard and a half" think
|. Auncy said and grasped her scis-
sors.
IA "wait. please" A man stood De
side the child--a vigorous LOOKING
young man. with clear gray eyes
and a face all healthy req anu
brown. We'll take three yards
Elizabeth, won't WEI It's such
beautiful color"
u Auncy measured and cut. Then
she made the ribbon into ne",
little parcel. which the man ADDED
to other parcels in his overcoa'
pocket. When she had counted ou'