The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-23
NJ DAILY
SHORT STORY
w Gift For Mother
RY RuRY. pouoLAe

from the WINDOW dlBplays'
'sRut there Is more room out on
ltne edge OF the walk, jane" her
{-other protested. He did not Sc
faek this way TO spend the morning
but his sister did not know the city
ven and was afraid TO 80 alone.
.,And can't see a thing out
there, Bob" she insisted, hugging
the inside pathway.
Since Jane was to be married
soon and this trousseau shopping
vas 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
7 about for her brother she did not
Dee him.. She stood still and look-
ed up and down the street. Her
eeyes lit up as she spied him, his
9Wn face close to q window a few
BET beyond. She had expected to
sse him standing on tbs curb swing
ing his stick.
Bob" she said. 81 thought you
were lost"
~ am" Bob replied quickly.
Then Jane followed his gaze. Its
l object was q very lovely face
Asthe face OF a young woman who
was dressing q window with fluffy
feather fans, beaded bags. vanity
cases and other truly eminine &C
cessories.
= .What do You care about feather
Cans, Bob?" asked is sister.
Bob laughed a little embarrassed
y augh as his sister looked him in
the eye.
4 Ill was considering one for
mother as Christmas gift" he
said lameIy,
~ Jane laughed aloud. Now. Bob
what on earth would mother do
with great jade green ostrich
feather fan out in Fostoria."
Boh's eyes Travelled over the 9th
pretty things with. which the
yely woman was decorating the
How about bead bag?"
Mother has one" replied Jane
scouragingly.
Il Bob was silent for a moment
NsWhile he stood and Toasted his eyes
on the girl,
Suddenly he turned toward the
entrance to the shop. II am going
20 buy q Christmas gift for mother
while ] am here, Jane" he said.
do You want to Gomez"
i Jane could not refuse to come.
but she thought her brother had
zone suddenly mad. Heretofore 1t
mas all. she could dc to drag him
into a department shop, and now
DO was making a straight line In
10 one OF the biggest and most
crowded OF them.
They found the fan counter.
Mother never uses green-she
thinks it's bad luck" whispered
Iene as Bob asked to see green
Gather fans.
"Mother gets in a rut about her
slothes-and everything. This will
cheer her up" said Bob. mo
be- was saying to the clerk. II
want one that is fluffier-greener.
FL saw one in the window, just
now"
Jane was speechless with amaze
4ment, Was this her brother?
After a few moments the oblig-
ling young clerk said she would
.tfy to get the one In the window.
She started off in the direction Bob
had indicated. I'll just so along, "
he sale, ito be sure it's the right
hade. Just a minute, Jane" to
lis sister, who was leaning against
The counter, dumb with surprise.
ut seems to bad to put you to
this trouble" Bob said, hypocriti-
Tally to the clerk as they approach
ed the back Of the windows.
t'Nothing too much trouble when
people are obliging to US" said the
She slid back the mahogany door
that gave entrance to the show
window. "oh, 1 beg pardon, Miss
ESelloWes, but ! have customer
who would like to see that green
tan. Do you mind handing it to
met"
Meantime Bob had pushed his
way TO the very entrance of the
windowspaoA and was looking in
y TO the face Of the window decora-
tor.
The clerk looked from her GUS
timer to the decorator back to the
!, Icustomer. Then, being quick wit
y ted, she detected the fragrance of q
romance
"Jean," tho man was saying.
Bob Hancock-in New Yorl?'
I the decorator gasped. She hand
cd the green fan mechanically to
the clerk.
Tive been waiting five years to
hear from you, Jean. am here to
help Jane buy her wedding clothes.
When may see you?"
Your sister Jane? Is she old
enough to be married? She was
only thirteen-then."
The clerk pulled at the fluffy
green fronds Of the ostrich fan.
no you want this. sir? May |
have 1t wrapped?' she asked,
looking for an excuse to disappear.
( t.oh-a-ycs. I'll BIO back in a
moment" Bob FASTENED to say.
Then he turned to Jean. "I-have
q given up poker playing and-and
doing the other things you object
ed to, Jean. May come and tell
you about it-pIease? I'm so
tired Wating-I love you So"
Jean Fellowes looked about,
frightened, lest some one hear her
receiving such words from custo-
NOR OF the shop. I'll live at 204
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