The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-14
Married Life Third Year

'sCan ! direct you. madam
Helen mad been In the shop only a
Few moments, but already four suave
floor walkers had accosted her with
this polite but insistent question
No. thank you" she murmured, in
some confusion.
Warren told her that she could not
look about" In the London shops:
that when you entered an English
store you were expected to buy. and
II you did not buy you were made to
feel most uncomfortable.
And now Helen found that this was
true. The cheerful showing of goods,
which iB the policy of every Ameri-
can merchant. seemed unknown over
here. She had not asked to be shown,
nor even priced any article, SO she
mighe feel she was under no obliga-
ton 20 buy.
Yet she could not even walk
through the stores and glance about
without being stopped at every few
steps by n. frock-coated floor walker
with his persistent, Can direct you.
madan mel"
That seemed the mission of these
nooe walkers-to accost every one
they saw strolling through with no
definite purchasing intent In their
gaze. While the only question was,
Can direct you. madarne?" the inn
plication was plainly: These goods
are here to be purchased; we hope
you have come for that purpose
Buf Helen wanted to look about
to ges o general idea Of the shops be-
fore che made her purchases. She had
only y small sum to spend. and out
OF that she must buy souvenirs and
presents for all OF warren's people
and her own.
eomsthIns Differsns.
wh1e Of course these presents
must be inexpensive. she had hoped
TO get them distinctly English, some
thing they could not get ut home. But
how could she do this. II she was not
allowed to look about. II she was ex-
peotsd 60 begin to buy the minute she
entered . store.
She had paused q moment to glance
Mt some chiffon scarfs. which were
displayed at the veil counter. One
of thpse I'm black would be nice for
Warren's mother, she thought. But
anime them. for the saIeslady had al
ready noticed her hesitation and was
waiting for her to come close enough
to make her the victim OF q sale.
But such hesitation was not to be
allowed. for now q floor walker
Aemmed her In from the rear.
do you wish to be served. madam"
Then. with q wave towards the wait
ing clerks. Madam wishes to see
some Bcarfs.- $50.
Halsm with q sense OF having bean
TRAPPED had npo choice nov but to let
the clerk show her the scarfB..
"This IL very smart, ma'am," hold
ing up pale pink one. 1--WE have them
In all colors. Very good value. ma'am.
for ten and eleven three farthings."
Ten and eleven three farthings!"
Helen was mentally trying TO reduce
that &C. dollars and cents. Eight shill-
ings was two dollars. Why. it was
almost threei And she had seen prac-
ticaliy the same thing in New York
for 31.sS.
madame would like a
white one better? You can wear
white with everything. Shall send
you one OF these7'' taking ont her
check book with the air Of q sale COM
p1eted.
with hurled, mo, no. It isn't quite
what I want" Helen tried to break
away. But the determined saleslady
held her with q I'VE have many
others; let me show you some other
styles. Now this IL quite smart"
Helen knew that the more goods she
was shown the more criminal would
be the affront IL she did not buy. But
she could not get away.
At last. In desperation, she bought
the cheapest scarf they had. It was a
narrow and rather flimsy one. for three
and six-S7 cents. It would do for
Della, although she had intended taxi
Ing her O pair OF gloves.
After that Helen was afraid to hes
itate before any counter. StiIl she was
met every few minutes by the newt
able floor walker with his inevitable
query.
Her answer, mo. thank you" was
always received with a look Of cold
Plainly. she was an
American and plainly unfamiliar with |
their stores-then why did she not |
want 60 be directed? Why was she in |
the shop II It was not TO make pur-
chases9 why was she strolling about |
In this aimless way? These were the |