The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-12
The Euening Story
Mr.. Taylor Explains.
(By Louise Oliver.)

I LIE JSW0lTy department Tie Dig
store was just inside one of the main
| entrances. This kingdom was subdi-
vided into special realms and over
each principality reigned princess IN
| black dress, white collar and cuffs.
| Never was ROYALTY more bCComingly
adorned, for Max Bluming, floor man
ager, knew what he was doing When
he picked the prettiest girls in the
store for this point of vantage, and
beauty always looks well in plain
| dress.
| Mary Marshall, a tall blonde, had
| charge of the jet goods. Here also did
Mr.. Bluming show judgment, anc the
silver plate was presided over by two
pretty little brunettes, who made the
| plates and baking dishes appear all
the more massive and shining beside
their dark, piquant beauty. Then
and here the manager had undeniably
shown his ability as an artist-there
was the counter for displaying Jewels
| from 25 cent bead strings to two carat,
first-water diamonds, and right behind
| the racks of pearls and trays of rhine
stones stood Mary Webster, as whole
some, sweet and fresh as May morn
ing.
Mary was-well, she was just Mary.
You looked at her and loved her. Her
eyes were like the country skies she
left, gray or blue according to her
| mood, and her skin scorned the cos
| metics of the drug department be-
yond. And you wanted her to try all
| the vari-colored jewels to see how
they would look on her. one IN
variably thought of pearls-not that
her beauty needed softening, but there
was something in her akin to the soft,
rich luster of the deep sea gems
| "Good morning, Miss webster!
| Somehow he had learned her name,
although Mary had no idea of his. She
nodded brightly, however, as she set a
hatpin holder over freshly busted
| spot and passed the cloth briskly over
| the top of the glass case.
| The man passed up the aisle and
| disappeared. Evidently he had some
thing to do with the store, but he was
not a salesman, for his hours were
| different from the others. Mary, still
smiling, was suddenly unpleasantly
aware that Mr.. Bluming was at the
| end of the aisle and that he was
Watching her She flushed and has
| tily turned her back.
ut seems to me-" she said indig-
nantly, that can't breathe any more
| without that man seeing it. He's al
| ways looking at mel" She shivered
| inyolunta rily. "One thing sure, if he
stays around here talking like he did
| yesterday and inviting me to dinner.
I am going to ask to be changed up
stairs. Very good looking that young
| man was and he has nice eyes and
| teeth. Sort of makes you think he's
| always having a little joke of his
own" She smiled at the memory, but
was suddenly sobered by the appear
| ance of the floor manager just across
| the counter. His own smile faded as
quickly as hers when he noticed the
quick change of her expression. but
as quickly reappeared.
| Good morning, Miss Mary. Did
your mirror tell you how pretty you
| look today? There's a little curl rest
| ing ever so lightly on your cheek that
/ would like to kisSi" He leaned IA
miliarly over the counter and fixed
his eyes immovabIy on her. face.
Mary kept busily at her busting.
| "And there's a man not a mile away
I would like to hit, and would if my
/ bread and butter didn't depend on it, -
said Mary under her breath. Aloud,
| Where shall 1 put these new brooch
es, Mr.. Bluming? Would you suggest
a background of blue velvet in the
| case %
But he nnistook the flush of annoy
ance for one of pleasure and. disre-
| garding her words, went on: BLUSH
| ing is a lost art, Miss Mary. It's very
| becoming to you. By the way, aren't
you sorry you turned down my invita-
another day, and I'm not the kind
that takes offense easily. How about
| tonight?"
| Give another engagement"
He regarded her steadily. st don't
believe you know another soul in this
/ y.
| You haven't another engagement.
His insolence was maddening.
| Haven't t. she flashed. "You know
| nothing about me. 1 may be engaged
to be married for all you know, Mr..
| Bluming."
She didn't know why she said it,
but the need of a protector, hypo-
thetical though he might be, was i'm
perative, and it came out before she
| could think.
Mr. Bluming was silent an instant
and his smile disappeared. Then he
laughed easily, 81 don't believe it,
But he walked away and left Mary
| in momentary peace. At the intersec-
| ton of two aisles, Mary had a glimpse
| of the young man with the nice eyes,
| the one who seemed to enjoy a little
joke of his own He looked her way,
| their eyes met, and-Mr. Bluming was
| forgotten.
/ That night, after thinking things