The Washington herald., 1920-10-06
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corked; and he wore diamond cuff,
buttons. This young man per-
ceived irresistible excellencies in
Nancy. His taste ran to shop
girls; and here was one that
added the voice and manners OF
his high social world to- the
-franker charms of her own caste.
So. on i, the following day, he ap-
peared in the store and made her
serious proposal of marriage
oveu OF hemstitched, grass
bleacftUAIrish linens. Nancy de-
clined. A brown pompadour ten
feet away had been using her
eyes and ears. When the rejected
suitor had gone she heaped car
upon Nancy's head.
What a terrible little fool you
are That fellows a millionaire
he's a nephew of old Van Skittles
himself. And he was talking on
the level, too. Have you gone
crazy, Nance?"
Have II" said Nancy. II didn't
take him, did 1? He isn't a mil
lionaire so hard that you could
notice 1t, anyhow. His family
only allows him $4,000 a year to
spend. The baldheaded fellow was
guying him about it the other
night at supper"
The brown pompadour came
nearer and narrowed her eyes.
Say. what do you want?" she
inquired. in a voice hoarse for
lack of chewinE-gum. "Ain't that
enough for you? Do you want
to be a Mormon. and marry Rookie
feller and Gladstone DowIe and
the King of Spain and the whole
bunch? Amt $4,000 a year good
enough for you?"
Nancy flushed a little under the
level gaze of the black, shallow
eyes.
TT wasn't altogether the money.
Carrie" she explained. His friend
caught him in a rank lie the other
night at dinner. 1t was about
some girl he said he hadn't been
to the theater with. Well, l can't
stand a liar. Put everything to-
gether-I don't like him: and that
settles it. When l sell out it's not
going to be on any bargain day.
I've got to have something that
sits up in chair like a man,
anyhow. Yes. I'm looking out for
a catch: but it's got to be able to
do something more than make
noise like a toy bank"
The physiopathic ward for
yours" said the brown pompa-
dour. walking away.
These high ideas. II not ideals
Nancy continued to cultivate on
IS per week. She bivouacked on
- l. N nNG
catch" eating her dry bread and
tightening her belt day by day.
On her face was the faint, SOL
dierly. sweet, grim smile of the
preordained man hunter. The
store was her forest: and many
times she raised her rife at game
that seemed broad-antlered and
big: but always some deep un-
erring instinct-perhaps OF the
huntress. perhaps OF the woman
made her hold her fire and take
up the trail again.
Lou fiourished in the laundry.
Out Of her $3.50 per week she paid
s6 for her room and board. The
rest went mainly for clothes. Her
OPPORTUNITIES for bettering her
taste and manners were few COM
pared with Nancy's. In the steam
ing laundry there was nothing but
work, work and her thoughts OF
the evening pleasures to come
Many costly and snowy fabrics
passed under her iron. and ii may
be that her growing fondness for
dress was thus transmitted to her
through the conducting metal.
When the days work was over
Dan awaited her outside, her
faithful shadow in whatever light
she stood.
Sometimes he cast an honest and
troubled glance at Lou's clothes
that increased in. conspiCuity rath-
er than in style; but this was no
disloyalty; he deprecated the at
tention they called to her in the
streets.
And Lou was no less faithful to
her Chum. There was a law that
Nancy should go with them on
whatsoever outings they might
take. Dan bore the extra burden
heartily and in good cheer. 1t
might be said that Lou furnished
the color, Nancy the tone, and Dan
the weight of the Distraction
seeking trio. The escort. in his
neat but obviously ready made
suit, his readymade tie and un-
failing. genial, ready-made wit
never startled or clashed. He was
of that good kind that you are
likely to forget while they are
present, but remember distinctly
after they are gone.
To Nancy's superior taste the
flavor of these readymade pleas
uTes was sometimes a little bitter;
but she was young; and youth is a
gourmand. when it cannot be a
gourmet.
Dan is always wanting me to
marry him right away" Lou told
her once. But why should 1? I'm
independent. i can do as l please
with the money / earn: and he
never would agree for me to keep
on working afterward. And say,
Nance, what do you want to stick
to that old store for, and half
starve and half dress yourself?
If could get you a place in the
laundry right now if you'd come.
1t seems to me that you could af-
ford to be little less stuck up
If you could make good deal
more money"
Il don't think I'm stuck-up,
Lou" said Nancy. but I'd rather
live on half rations and stay
where I am. l suppose I've got
the habit. It's the chance that l
want. l don't expect to be always
behind a counter. I'm learning
something new every day. I'm
right up against refined and rich
people all the time-even if 1 do
only wait m them; and I'm not
missing
passing around"
Caught yoIr millionaire yeti"
asked Lou with her teasing laugh.
81 haNan,t -