Charlevoix county herald., 1919-12-05

woman before she had chance TO
draw away.
"Of course l will. just dote on
fixing people up! You oughta seen
my sister when she first came up from
the country! Say. in week you
wouldn't a known her. How much you
got to blow in?" n
II have 500 to spare" Miss Cha
pins tone held the misgiving. mixed
with anticipation, of a child who Is
about to invest his last penny In
prize package of popcorn.
All of which accounts for Miss Ma
sons appearance before the high desk
of Huston Brothers dry goods store
just before closing time the following
afternoon. Miss Chaplin climbed down
from her stool, and the two went a-fOr-
aging through the company's stock.
They were concerned with pile Of
rainbow hued "geOrgettes" when Mr..
Meeks turned into the aisle. Mr.. Meeks
was senior floor walker, in the en-
plOy of the firm nearly as long as Miss
Chaplin; but never before had he seen
that estimable woman inspecting stock
of the georgette variety! At a glimpse
of her companion he stopped short;
and the mistake he made was nat
ural.
"Ah! Helping your friend choose
blouse?' The tone was an unctuous
one Mr.. Meeks reserved for important
customers. Gladys glanced from the
understood, black-coated man to Miss
Chaplin. Her sharp young eyes per-
ceived that the elder woman was fus-
tered; that her face and her hands
trembled while she stammered over
the introduction.
you're hep. Miss Mason. But gosh
How can she stand for that misplaced
undertaker?" These words were
spoken to herself; to the suave little
fioorwalker Gladys was SO gracious
that he tore away reluctantly.
That evening and early the next
morning Gladys accomplished the
transformation of Miss Chaplin. If the
cOlOring of a sparrow could be changed
over night to that Of an orole the eff
feet would not be more startling to
Its mates than was the appearance OF
the head bOokkeeper at Huston Broth
ers to Mr.. Meeks. The little floor
walker stopped at Miss Chapip's desk
to talk until he felt the eye of the
manager boring through his back. He
paused every time he passed by her
on his rounds. He inquired for Miss
Chapin's lady friend and before clos
ing time he had tentatively suggested
that they both accompany him to the
pictures some evening.
Miss Chapin's voice fiuttered when.
she passed along the invitation to
Gladys. Sure; I'll be glad to CO."
was the girls hearty answer 81 think
your gentleman friend is real nice"
The little bOokkeeper blushed at the
insinuation that Mr.. Meeks was pay
ing attention" to her, but deep down
there came an awful sinking feeling.
What If he was maneuvering whereby
to see Gladys again?
But when the evening came Gladys
"friend" was on hand, too, apparently
quite by accident. Mr.. Meeks was de-
liberately foiled in his attempt to sit
next to Miss Mason. He took the hint
a little glumly; he did'nOt even men,
tion friends" the next time he in
vited Miss Chaplin out In few weeks
he was taking her out regularly.
Then 1t happened one day, when the
occupant of the next room knocked at
Gladys door to inquire anxiOusly IL
her new satin skirt wasn't "a mite too
short" that the girl grabbed her,
kissed her impulsively, and exclaimed:
"Why, my dear, you have grown ten
years younger in the last month !" And
with that compliment lowering i'm her
mind, Huston Brothers head book
keeper came within speaking distance
of looking pretty that evening. Per-
haps that was the reason why there
was paid to her by Mr. Meeks, on that
occasion, the greatest compliment
which, in his estimation, it was in his
power to offer any woman. He asked
her to marry him
The fine feathers had played their
part successfully. Gladys had guessed
at the real reason for Miss Chapin's
sudden desire for finery, reason
which that little woman had never
quite owned up to herself.
For when Mr.. Meeks expressed him
self on the subject of woman's dress
to his intended bride she acqui-
esced meekly.
These things" he said, lingering the
sleeve OF her georgette waist, "belong
to certain-er-types of women don't
admire. When we are married. dear, T.
want you to dress as modest woman
should-as you used to-"
When Miss Chaplin repeated only the
latter end of this remark to her friend
--she didn't like to hurt anyone's feel.
ings-Gladys chuckled, quite all to her.
self: you little fool The bloom.
Ing hYnncritp ~