The Press., 1917-10-04

The third day he began to watch the
 girl anxiously. He, too, had noticed her
 exhaustion. During the day he was out twice and bought fruit from her.
 The fourth morning long line of
 girls went into the shop one after an ' other, remaining n few moments and
 then came out. For the most part they
 were i'll clad. unattraetive girls, and
 not one of them bought anything. It
 was evident they were seeking work
 and just as evident, after the first
 twenty or more had gone in and come out, that the candy maker was becom- | ing irritated. Toward the end he only
 gave an applicant single glance, and
 more than once his "Nor' was plainly
 heard by the girl at her push cart on | the corner.
 i At length late in the afternoon he came out bareheaded and in his shirt
 sleeves, as usual, but without his bas-
 ket. He went straight to the girl.
 Are you going to run this push cart all the time?' he asked.
 The girl looked surprised.
 'I don't know" she answered doubt l fully.
 Because if you're not" he went on.
 II want to hire you to work fin my shop. You saw all those girls strag
 gling in with soiled dresses and untidy hair and sour faces and pert manners. Bah! They'd make pretty shopgirls, wouldn't they? I want a lady, nice looking. neat, capable girl who can look pleasant and at the same time be ladylike. They all came in answer to an advertisement, and not one of the whole lot suited me"
 The girl swayed slightly, but stead jed herself quickly by leaning against the cart, holding to 1t by both hands.
 Perhaps I wouldn't suit either" she hazarded, forcing a smile to her face.
 Yes. you would he answered.. But his tone was not quite so positive. I've been watching you through the window for three days. You're neat and particular about yourself. That shows. And you're neat about other things from the way you look after your cart and fruit. And you're at tractive to customers and make your self look pleasant even when you feel the other way. That's what you're do- ing now. You're not sickly, are you?" his new found anxiety at last finding expression in words.
 No: I've always been very strong and healthy" she answered. "Only just now I am a little weak"
 II thought you must be strong" with some relief in his voice, from the way you handled the cart the first day you came. I was watching. But yesterday and today you've seemed a little sick ly. My work will be lots easier than having a cart like this and nicer and I think will pay you better. But of course I'll need a girl who's spry and can keep up. She'll have to help me make chocolates and fancy candies and put them in boxes and look after custom CTS. Tn too busy to wash my hands every time a customer comes in, and 1t hurts trade. I could do twice the business if I had good help. I'm turn ing away trade every day" He waited a moment, as though debating some thing, then added cordially Anyway, I'm willing to try you a few weeks even if you should be sickly. You're just the appearing girl I want, and l know you're spunky."
 Well. don't know yet" the girl began tremulously. Then her face sud denly changed. She was looking be- yOnd him. "Fatherr' she cried re- 
 A frail little man with white hair was approaching them, walking slowly with the aid of a cane. He looked anx- iOus.
 "Giuseppina," he cried, "I could not | wait any longer! I have been worry | ing all day, and at last had to get up looked SO bad last night, and you did | not want me to notice. I pretended to | be asleep, but l watched. and l | the night before. The first | two days I was too sick to think, but | since then you have not eaten a thing. You spent your money for wines and medicines for me, and"-
 The girl had been trying to interrupt him with warning glances, with ex- nressive motions of her hands. Now she cried "Father! again with such Sulueu ulSlEeSs Ill ueE VOlCG L0hL IOJ the first time the old man noticed and He drew himself up with sudden unconscious dignity. II
 Tt was only that my daughter insists On buying me costly wines and medi- cines like the very rich people have" he said, addressing the candy maker and the two or three push cart owners within hearing. We are in very com fortable circumstances, indeed, and have everything necessary. But such things cost a fortune, and when 1 am m Giuseppina gets headstrong and does not know where to stop, and then she thinks she must be economical. She Is a very good girl though: very good girl, and I assure yc1 we are in per rectly independent circumstances"
 The candy makers eyes were twin zling, but with q mistincSs behind them.
 ''The very use of the costly wines prove that. sir" he said courteously. Il do not have them even when I am ll. But. if you'll excuse me, you inter- rupted Il conversation between your daughter and myself. I was trying to z
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