Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-15
Daily Short Story
ny T.. ~. SWEET
THE aUEsTIoNABLE RELATIVE.

front Of the / hbou counter--n6t l,r
suidiy-shc was too athletic FOR that
out with protesting air OF not know
ing what TO do She motored son..und
saw the closed homes OF hcr friends: she
glanced over the society columns ~
read what the friends we're DOM -,
the mountains or at one seaside res,r.,
or another; she shopped. not bce,us.
she wanted anything. but to kin time
And it would require fully two morn
weeks for her mother 20 tnisn s.,tiin.
the estate before they could leave
The ribbon girl was replacing ruoo.
a'ter waitine on valueiess customer
rt,iAa >, rHrfect shame you cart -
lifetime, too, with the duh seasoft or,
wei siris could be easily spared"
The ribbon girl had turned to take
more goods from the counter. when
She noticed the customer on In. stool
she moved nearer, and waited
customer ta asked F SS ls$ e iat t%s
of -, q lifetime shouldn't be missed 800
Inc shop girl smiled.
Maybe the managers right and Im
netter OFT keeping At work. He says ii
! though don't think So ANYWAY
can't ca afford to risk losing my job as
Katharine. with friendlinsss that
made Impossible any thought OF rude
ness: ''Of course, it's curiosity on NJ.
part, but friendly curiosity. Would YOU
mind telling me what's the shame ana
-. "oh; don't mind" Rila answered.
across the counter. Its Just thai :,
dear Old lady with lots of money is
Tying TO be nice to me. I've waited
on her and her granddaughter az this
counter for three years. and now ths
sranddauShter IS going to have a
avenue. They've asked me TO be- one
OF the bridesmaids ana be a hons
guest for a whole week. I've ar idea
rs IA sort of charity But / don't
"A " Ia,
lifetime to have a time like that.,nL
KNOW the Old lady likes me. and she
And she's going to furnish Ei,Ia
ANA MN To@st n, and pay her expenses
somebody for whole week. ripht in
aImomE EN-. TN seem natural to.her
wa ous W ", ior hsr own people we're that
lovely" - would pc
Job Fq q6r not :. s ,a ;Ts enough to lose
says it would make me dssatis iiad and eb
d %% t Gni' % sG ya don't to ibn him 81,
about such things, and id jus, Tx. ~" ,o
see once; But perhaps the manace p
"el.IGives he is right"
percd the other. 'He thinks w wn.Sc
suing time, talking"
proaching man. Her ewes fun IL aP
: puzzled; haif-cognizant light. Wandered
only To fit back again and AGAR aon
| eetrttiiy TO study the face Of the shon girl
her hair done differently. she coula a aTl
at II her own glass And sf The hes v0 1Gskea
,,o piare you no work to do. Miss Ton
ne: came sharp inquiry from he
Your Your frienG GT Ire , giving more, time to
been watching. Have you any fauIi to
md -? to the customer "
! NYa.nar me, rose and turned
aEement, not the clerks" So
ho The d, tI,La of the mana ger.had
face He had not, recognized her he o buck nir
Now he looked at her biankly
why: don't quite understand Miss
;A Sd. he stammered. we have sup
ported Is,nin the management very ericient''
my5slf to dep"rt l nave m lsstr;s,sa
s sonnSy;hi tons the head is really, re.
6bp py rrea dfr AL all Ny mother and
Yes, and we APPRECIATE it," began
the manager, his face red--wc-
but Katharine Interrupted him by
IT, soanter %nd i?wsred aaF her y ias@
ierhaps you don't know this business
is part of the estate my mother is
5IWHg bnns N town ', to settle up" She sa id,
snort time ago. the property went to
m n'T THsy aE sistsr, my a moiher 4 few
of seeing something of the inside
working I'm going behind the coun-
ter a., as a Two weeks substitute for one
and has invited Miss Rilia. And now
10 lose your services, Mr.. Grail. for
j han; ind. excePs IN One eu pa ?us'hsn$
| Hereafter there Will be no discharging z:
and no discipline through fear. Now
please tell Miss Rila you've reconsid
he rest he of gi42s ay ie gh her
her duties, but don't give a hint to
her 1, or to anyone else who, really am.
IN .ln fl,.. he
clerks N'' 80
Katharine had thought the city de-
third day she was undeceived. One OF
,nem shnnced an TO 20 through her de-
in the city. Her mother had been
ars and the worst sR s9ms
was. put on the words. The sight OF
Katharine behind the ribbon counter
chanced through to see for themselves.
ON the sixth day her great-aunt came.
foolery, Kitty" She scoided '.itilIy
!old me nice girl had taken her place
gan to hear rumors, that you were
obliged to t., go to work. Rot! What's
Why. I'm. learning wonderful things
a bout my friends. aunt" mischievously.
They stare at me from distance and
stanccs---shake hands and look sorrow :
full and pityinsly. one OF them &C
iualiS repeated an ihNitattoh given d
week ago. y woman who has loudly
claimed TO he my dearest friend wrote
that through some Incredible careless
ness she invited 10 house party NOR,
than she could entertain. and would
have 10 beg off a bout me till another
time. though it hurt her dreadfully.
And then ,AIdersham--"
The titled grandson you're engaged
not quite, aunt-just about to be-
and I'm shuddering Yet 1t my narrow
. escape | happened to be iounIng To-
ward the elevator and saw Allan Al
dersham step out, adjust his glasses
and peer straight toward me. sup
pose some one had told him, and he
wanted 10 be sure before relinQuish-
ing al, hope of the money that might
have been his. When he saw NE look :
| ing he shot back INTO the elevator and
disappeared.
"Humph' Any others
N-no-yes, with more heSitaucy.
II believe Addison Stacy called"
L., FL L.-.....