The Hope pioneer., 1920-12-30
"A Fair
Substitute
40
s,ALvAH JORDAN GARTH


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1t had been a matter Of pride 10
Bertha Lull when abe married Alvin
Price that he was very handsome
man Of winning and agreeable man.
ners. Every friend and Acquaintance
he made became an admirer. Blanche
vansant had tried her coquettish
wiles, but Alvin was neither dirt nor
trifler and when he married another
there was certain tinge Of envy and
Jealousy.
Alvin was a travelling salesman for
large wholesale millinery house and
had an established clientele. His route
did not take him out Of the state. and
he never missed coming home Satur-
days until he announced to Bertha one
day that he was expected BY his firm
to make 4 special rush trip covering
his entire route within q month, to
place new hat braid that had arrived
late and would be out of vogue with
the end Of the season.
Bertha and Blanche had always been
good friends and the former was glad
to have her old time school friend
spend all the time she could spare In
her company.
II should not like to have q travel.
ing man for husband" said Blanche.
land particularly as handsome one
as Alvin. always frankly considered
that he was Irresistible, g
"Why, you ridiculous pessimist"
laughed Bertha. 'Do you suppose al.
vim ever even thinks of anybody but
me"
HE shouldn't. I'll admit" answered.
Blanche. ''for you are perfect little
jewel of beauty and duty, but Alvin
also attracts attention, and my cousin
who visited US last week and who
knows Alvin, says that among the read.
men not one Of them dares to aspire
to the marked partiality Of the ladies
as does Alvin, and that he IL such
favorite that many Of them won't
give their trade to anybody else"
"Why, bless you! Blanche" observ.
ed Bertha artlessly, show can the dear
creatures help 1t? Was there ever
such genial, accommodating and
helpful n fellow in the worldr'
A week later q casual remark Of
Blanche set Bertha thinking and
worrying. She repeated something her
cousin had said about Mrs.. Adams,
milliner at Glenville. A fellow road.
man had told of how Alvin would 70
out Of his way to visit the lady; and
that it was subject Of gay badinage
among other salesmen. Alvin came
back home several days sooner than
expected. Then all was forgotten with
Bertha save solicitude and tenderness.
"I'm about done out with my long
jaunt," Alvin told her. "Was laid up
with a slight fever for two days. Doc
tor said was due home for q rest.
Too bad, for had finished my entire
route except six little towns down in
Walden county. Bertha, dear. want
you to write little for me to the
house, explaining that I'm laid up for
a spell, but covered everything but
the towns marked on this list" and
he handed Bertha written sheet. She
started and flushed as she read among
them that Of Glenville, the town where
Mrs. Adams did business.
"Alvin." she said, twill 1t take much
time or work to 60 to these places
and see your customers7"
"Very little Of either" replied Alvin,
tor they are among my surest clients. -
'"Then." said Bertha with animation,
"why not let me take your place and
finish the trip? Give me the samples
and instructions. You will be proud to
find out what an eager little business
woman am"
Alvin demurred, but Bertha finally
overcame his scruples. She felt secret
ly guilty as she found herself on q
train, for she realized that her main
purpose was to see some Of those "im-
presslble milliners" with whom Alvin
was such favorite and the sting Of
Blanche Vansant's unkind insinuation
smarted yet.
Elmore was the first town Bertha
visited. 1t had but one milliner and
as Bertha entered her store the
woman stared at her hxedly.
"Why, you must'be Mrs. Pricel" she
exclaimed.
"How did you know that" questioned
pnrtho In aro 1oroopt