The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-23
Eoening Story
A Gift for Mother.
BY RUBY DOUGLAS.

A chilly November rain drizzled
down on the streets. Bob Hancock
was plotting his sister thru the busy
shopping district. They walked close
to the big plate glass windows for two
reasons; to keep more nearly dry ana
because Jane Hancock Insisted that
she got most of her ideas for gowns
from the window displays.
But there is more room out on the
outside edge of the walk, Jane" her
brother protested. He did not select
this way to spend his morning. but his
sister did not know the city well and
was afraid to go alone.
"And / can't see thing, out there,
Bob she insisted, hugging the inside
pathway.
land this trousseau shopping was all
important to her, Bob gave IN and
said no more. But his face was the
face of a martyr.
The two became separated by the
crowd and when Jane looked about for
stood still and looked up and down the
street. Her eyes lit up as she spied
him, his own face close to window
a few feet beyond. She had expected
to see him standing on the curb swing
ing his stick.
Bob" she said. II thought you were
| lost"
81 am" Bob replied quickly.
Then Jane followed his gaze. Its
object was a very lovely face-the face
a window with fluffy feather fans,
beaded handbags. vanity cases and
other truly feminine accessories.
| What do you care about feather
! fans. Beb?" asked his sister.
Bob laughed a little embarrassed
laugh as his sister looked him in the
eye.
II was consideringY one for
mother as a Christmas gift" he said
lameiy.
| Jane laughed aloud. snow. Bob,
what on earth would mother do with
a great jade green ostrich feather
fan out in Fostoria p.
Bob's eyes travelled over the other
pretty things with which the lovely
woman was decorating the window.
How about a bead bag?"
/ Mother has one" replied Jane dis
lcouragingly.
Bob was silent for a moment while
he stood and Toasted his eyes on the
girl.
Suddenly he turned toward the en-
trance to the shop. IT am going to
| buy a Christmas Gift for mother while
want to conner"
| Jane could not refuse to come, but
she thought her brother had gone sud
denly mad. Heretofore, 1t was all she
could do to drag him into a depart
ment shop, and now he was making @
straight line into one of the biggest
and most crowded of them.
They found the fan counter.
Mother never uses green-sht
thinks it's bad luck" whispered Jane
as Bob asked to see green feather fans
Mother gets in a rut about hel
clothes-and everything. This will
cheer her up said Bob. No" he
was saying to the clerk. II want one
that -fluffier-greener. Ii saw
one in the window, just now"
Jane was speechless with amaze
ment. Was this her brother Bob?
After a few moments the obligine
young clerk said that she would try
to get the one in the window. She
started off in the direction Bob had
indicated. an just go along" he said
ito be sure it's the right shade. sJusi
a minute, Jane" to his sister, who
was leaning against the counter, dumt
| with surprise.
ut seems too bad to put you to this
trouble" Bob said, hypocritically to the
clerk as they approached the back OF
the big windows.
Nothing is too much trouble when
people are obliging to u.s. said the
girl.
She slid back the mahogany door
that gave entrance to the show win
dow. "Oh, 1 beg pardon. Miss Fell
would like to see that green fan. Dc
you mind handing it to me?"
| Meantime Bob had pushed his way
to the very entrance of the window
space and was looking into the face
of the window decorator.
The clerk looked from her customer
to the decorator and from the decora-
| tor back to the customer. Then. be-
ing quick witted. she detected the fra
GRANGE of, romance.
JEAN" the man was saying.
| bob Hancock-in New York;" the
| decorator gasped. She handed the
green fan mechanically to the clerk.
I've been waiting five years to hear
| from you, Jean. / am here to help
Jane buy her wedding clothes. When
4 may 1 see your"
"Your sister Jane? Is she old
| enough to be married? She was only
] thirteen-then."
| The clerk pulled ct the fluffy green