The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-16
EVENING STORY
The Girl With a Smile.
BY GERALD ST. ETIENNE.


he was in far from an amiable frame
of mind. 1t was the day before
Christmas and the rush OF holiday
shoppers had made him disguised.
Thank goodness he did not have to
be in his Office after O'Clock. ne
thought as he -buttoned his fur-lined
coat and prepared to leave.
On the way out he was held up by
a crowd around the novelty counter.
Would those women never get done
pickering over trivial articles? How
the clerk put up with them was mo .
that he understood. Was it any won
der that clerks grew imperunent!
After all, was not the customer more
to blame in nine cases out OF ten =
he would take that into consideration
when dealing with complaints after
this He could not help stopping to
take glance at the saleswoman.
Then he stopped still and watched her.
Edna Fidlar bad always interested
him. He could catch glimpses of her
as she moved from one counter to the
other, reached for an article on high
shelves and exhibited notions to the
impatient. erratic and often rude Gus
toners. There was one thing that i'm
pressed him more than anything else
her smile. He had always noticed
it, but this time it presented new in
terest to him.
He had never seen a smile like 1t
before. She seemed to express her
every 1G6llnS III LIldl SIllllC- ~ tAiO
timid little woman purchasing hand
bag for her daughter, she smiled kind
ly; to the little boy seeking a gift Tor
his mother, she smiled encouraglngly
as she helped him make suitab bic
choice; to the naughty young woman
buying something to satisfy her own
vanity, she smiled tolerantly, and upon
the woman who stormed because some
unheard-of article was not in stock.
she smiled pityingly. How would she
smile on him? Thought Clarkson as
he edged to the front.
did you wish to speak to me. Mr.
CIarkson?" she asked with a pleasant
smile.
'Why ah-ah-ol1, what was it?"
His interest in her had driven every
other thought from his mind.
"Was it a gift for some one?" she
suggested.
yes" he answered hopefully.
Something for the landlady's little
granddaughter"
He seemed lost to know what to,
purchase, but Ella helped him choose
suitable gift.
Il am confident the little girl will
like this" she said as she handed over
the parcel with the smile she had
given the little boy, at the anne time
writing out a charge slip to go on
Edwards account.
IT am sure she will" he answered,
making a brave attempt to return the
smile.
On the way out he looked back to
see if she were smiling after him, but
instead she was smiling on the Gus
toner that was engaging her attention.
What as asset she is here-what an
asset she would be anywhere" he
murmured thoughtfully.
That evening \Edward put his feet
into warm slippers and sat snugly
before a burning fire. How lucky he
was to have such comfort, he reflect
ed. The clock on the mantel told him
that the mad rush of Christmas shop
pers would just be at its height. He
pitied the clerks. His girl with the
smile would be almost too tired to
stand up, but she would smile just
the same-or wouldn't she?
Christmas could not mean much
more to her than short rest from toll
holiday that must have been a dread
instead of a pleasure. The more he
thought of it the more impossible did
it seem that Ella would enjoy that
if ever a girl did, and there was no
reason why she shouldn't. He was
going to see to it that she did. Hastily
he put on his shoes and prepared for
the street.
Ella was covering up her counter
when the managing director hurried
up to her. She looked up, and then,
as he expected. smiled, though family
this time, as she prepared to uncover
the counter.
WAS it something else? You are
almost too late" she said in the same
kind tone.
II did not come back to shop" Ed
ward smiled. Il have come to ask you
to have dinner with me tomorrow. 1
was going to have it alone, but it
would seem more like the Christmas
spirit to have it with some one"
s.rThank Won she anSUored for she
knew him well enough to know that
his motive was a kind one, but have
promised to spend it at the Orphan
age. 1 sing a little, and 1 always help
out at the Christmas tree and treat. 1t
makes it more pleasant for the little
ones-my voice is my donation"
Cant I go along, too?" he asked,
eagerly. 1T should love to help out
with toys and candies and things
That would be splendid" Her face
frightened, and the tired look seemed
to vanish. 1.-The kiddies do build SO
much on Santa Claus
So that year Edward Clarkson spent
the most wonderful Christmas of his
life. But the day ended all too soon,
and once more he plunged into his
work. He did not forget Ella, but re-
solved that as soon as his work was
cleared away he would become better
acquainted with the smiling clerk.
At last business got down to normal,
and he prepared to carry out his re-
solve. His hair was brushed back
Sticky. and his face was beaming forth
in the very happiest smile he could
| muster as he approached the novelty
counter. Then his face dropped. Ella
was not there. A new saleswoman.
with a face like a chief mourner, was
! in her place. why. where is Miss
Fidlar?" he demanded
The new girl frowned from force of
habit. "She left" was her abrupt an
swer.
Left" Edward echoed. Why"
ITO be married. of course. What
else do girls leave or?"-The sa1eswo-
man seemed disguised with his ignor-
ance.
He did not wait to inquire further
The shock was causing a pain in his
head, and a little voice kept calling
in his ear and telling him what a slow
idiot he had-been to let some other
| fellow get ahead of HIM He would