The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-17
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S7ORY>l
| - DAY
| HuS40R PAYHOS
R0ffANCE
A Lickpenny
Lover

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Copyright. 1890. bv Doubleday. Page
q Co: Published bv spccsai ar
raroemsnt ,rifh the Wheeler SYM
dscafe. Fnc.
There werc 1000 girls In the Big
Eest Store. MaSie was one OF them.
She was IS and a saleslady In tho
gents gloves. Here she became
versed In two varieties OF human be-
ings--the kind OF gents who buy
their gloves In department stores
and the kind OF women who buy
gloves for unfortunate gents. Besides
this wsie knowledge OF the human
yapecies. Masie had acquired other In.
~ formation. She had listened to the
promulgated wisdom OF the 7.9s9
other girls and had stored n In a
brain that was as sccrrtive and wary
as that OF a Maltese cat Perhaps
nature. forcsecing that she would
hack wise counscilors. had mingled
the saving ingredient Of shrcwdness
along with her beauty. as shc has
endowed the silver fox of the price
less fur above the other animals with
cunning
For Masss was beautiful. She WINS
- deep-tintcd blonde. with the calm
spokse of n Lady who cooks butter
-oakes In q window. She stood be
hind her counter In the Biggest store.
tand as you closed your hand over
the tape-line for your glove measure
you thought of Hebe: and ~ you
= oooked again you wondered now she
had come by Minerva's eyes.
One day Irving Carter. painter.
millionaire. traveller. poet. ausomo-
bllist. happened to enter the Biggest
Store. IL is due to him TO add that
his visit wns not voluntary. Filiai
duty took him by the collar and
dragged him inside. while his mother
philandercd among the bronze and
terra-cotfa statucttes
Carter strolied across to the glove
counter in order to shoot few min.
utes on the wing. His need for
- gloves was genuine. he had forgotten
to bring a pair with him. But his
action hardly calls for apology. be
cause he had never heard OF glove
counter nirtations.
As he neared the vicinity Of his
fate he hesitafed. suddenly conscious
of this unknown phase Of Cupid's
less worthy profession.
Three or four cheap fellows. sonor-
ously garbci. were leaning over the
counters. wrestling with the media
torial hand-coverings. while giggling
girls played vivacious seconds to
their lead upon the strident string OF
,coquetry. Carter would have retreat
ed, but he had gone too far. Masie
confronted him behind her counter
With a questioning look In eyes as
coldly. beautifully. warmly blue as
the CLINT Of summer sunshine on an
iceberg drifting In Southern seas.
And then Irving Carter, painter.
millionaire. etc. felt a warm flush
rise TO his aristocraticaIly pale face.
But not from diffidence. The blush
was intellectual in origin. He knew
In a moment that he stood in the
ranks Of the ready made youths who
wooed the giggling girls at other
counters. Himself leaned against
the oaken trysting place OF a cockney
Cupid with desire in his heart for
the favor OF n glove salesgirl. He
was no more than Bill and Jack and
Mickey. And then he felt n sudden
tolerance for them. and an elating.
CONTIGUOUS contempt for the conven.
fions upon which he had fed. and an
undertaking determination to have
this perfect creature for his own.
, When the gloves were paid for and
wrapped Carter fingered for a mo
ment. The dimples at the corners OF
Masie's damask mouth deepened. All
gentlemen who bought gloves linger-
ed In Just that way. She curved an
arm. showing like Psyche's thru her
shirtwaist sleeve. and rested an ell.
bow upon the showcase edge.
Carter had never before encounter
81 a situation Of which he had not
been perfect master. But now he
rfood far more awkward than Bill or
Jack or Mickey. He had no chance
Of meeting this beautiful girl so.
ciaily. His mind struggled to recall
the nature and habits Of shopgiris as
he had read or heard OF them Some.
how he had received the idea that
they sometimes did not insist too
strictly upon the regular channels OF
Introduction. His heart beat loudly
mt the tfgought OF proposing an un-
convent ,nal meeting with this love
ly and virginal being. But the tu.
mutt in his heart gave him courage.
After a few friendly and well-re-
ceived remarks on general subjects,
he laid his card by her hand on the
counter. n
"WiIl you please pardbn me-" he
said, ''if seem too bold. but earn
estiy hope you will allow me the
pleasure Of seeing you again. Here
Is my name; ] assure you that It In
with the greatest respect that ! ask
the favor OF becoming one OF your
fr- acauaintances. May / not
hope for the privilcge?"
Masie knew en-especially men
who buy gloves. Without hesitation
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