The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-17
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Getting Acquainted.

tall, grave, quiet-mannered floorman
OF Weeds found II SO easy to gaze
frequently at Linda Pruitt, for Linda
was as dissimilar to the gentleman
named as winter TO summer. 0ppo-
site to his tall, dark graveness she
was small. rounded, blond and gid
Oily vfyacious.
LINDA worked at the glove counter,
and she was the magnet at that par
ticular spot for many OF the youths OF
the store, who found many errands to
take them there. Grahame smiled at
her when she came In, tornado like,
Just on time in the morning, but his
smiles were Just like the smiles he
gave the other girls. and II he saw in
Linda anything different from the 9th.
ers no one had any means of knowing
that.
But that the girls saw in him some
thing different from any man employ
ed in Weeds, or elsewhere, for that
matter, was a matter frequently ad-
mitted by all.
II bet he don't know there is WON.
an on earth" Nettie Ward exclaimed
one day when Mr.. Grahame had pilot
ed a handsomely gowned, beautiful
girl to the glove counter and bowed
on leaving her as though he had al
ready forgotten her.
Don't you believe IT," Linda said.
THAT same gentleman never misses
anything, I bet, and also bet that
he knows every single one in this
store, what she wears, how she wears
1t and whether her teeth and nails are
clean"
NONSENSE" Miss sheare snapped
Mr.. Grahame is man who has no
time for girls and their fripperies."
Linda tossed her blonde head. She
knew thing or two, and she hadn't
missed many OF those glances Mr.
Grahame had thrown her way. Show
me a man who is not interested in a
girl or women and I'll show you dead
man, and accept II from Linda, the
child wonder, Grahamey is far from
dead"
Miss Sheare drew in her breath in
horror. Girls like you believe all
men think of is women" she remark.
ed.
IT don't think; I know" Linda re,
torted, "and what is more, I'll wager
to have this same gentleman eating
out Of my hand in month. Want
to get?"
Loud groans greeted this and eager
voices, wager up.
All right" Linda agreed. 'If I don't
have him, eating out of my hand in 80
days I'll buy you all soda, and il
do each must buy me one"
They agreed. Fate took hand at
Linda's noon hour, and as she picked
UP her package of lunch, which for
economy she was bringing from home
these days, Mr.. Grahame stopped at
the end Of her counter. Linda had no
intention of beginning operations so
soon, but as she stepped from behind
the counter and tried to pass the gen.
deman, who had his back to her, the
string of her lunch broke and a dill
pickle, a doughnut and an apple rolled
under his feet. Mr.. Grahame stopped
and retrieved the articles, holding the
pickle, which had come partly unwrap-
ped from its waxed paper. in his hand
and looking at It as If pickle was a
novelty in his young life.
Linda was embarrassed almost to
tears, but her manner was icy as she
spoke:. when you're through with
the inquest on my helpless dill will
you kindly return It? 1t has never
been away from home before and
wants home folk" She didn't know
what made her say such fool things,
but Mr.. Grahame turned and grave.
ly handed her the pickle. 1.-THE apple
and you may keep the doughnut,"
she said.
Flushing, Mr.. Grahame handed over
dat
eyes met the twinkling blue ones Of
the girl and he laughed aloud-a white
tooth displaying laugh. Lnda's gig
gle accompanied him. u think" he
said quickly, "as 1t was on account of
my being in the way that you dropped
your lunch, should have the pleas
ure OF taking you upstairs and buy.
ing your another one"
But, strangely, Linda had become
bashful and. with deepened color, re-
fused and fastened away.
Mr.. Grahame watched her out Of
sight. That evening he went home on
the same car that she did, and as they
were by some strange set OF circum-
stances occupying the same double
seal, they. talked-or Grahame did
and Linda laughed and smiled and
looked admiration all the way.
With Linda good time to eat was
when you had something to eat, so
she entered crowded car next morn
ing with an open bag OF sailed pea,
nuts in her hand. She caught strap
and swayed gracefully until the gem
tleman In front Of her arose, which
was Immediately taken. It was Mr..
Grahame. Linda grinned a good
morning 70 his gladstone greeting.
Have some peanuts" she said, prof
fering the bag.
,Grahame looked positively fright
ened at first, and then his mouth wild.
ened In 4 grin. Thanks" he said.
slipptng immaculate fingers into the
buttery bag.
Some time later Mr.. Grahame said
40 he and LINDA entered the store to-
gether: ut makes lonely fellow feel
awfully good TO know a bright little
girl like You. board, and you know
how much friendship one has that
way" They walked down the end of
tho room together to Linda's counter.
II wonder" he unused, ..4f you would
20 70 O show with me some night. I
could get the tickets today for"