The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-10-22
A TAG DAY
ROMANCE
By JESSIE E. r

ing and wear. stood at the corner of
two busy streets. a cardboard in one
hand, Il white Carnation In the other.
She was forlornly sad as to face and
eyes, stariU~ vaguely at q smiling,
pleasant lady who was one of the tag
gers. The latter had noted her de-
pressed manner and on some inten-
tive impuls" of kind beartedness had
approached her with motherly inter.
est and had said:
You must wear the insignia Of the
day, dear. | snow YOU are one of us
in sentiment"
And h the true lady unohtrusive-
~ placing flower and caro- into the
girls hands, mingled with the crowd
seeking real subscribers.
The tears came into the eyes Of Yer
On Lund. Amid her loneliness a be-
ming act Of consideration meant much.
but 1t emphasized the dreariness and
restitution that faced her. Out OF
work, a stranger in a strange city, she
had been compelled that morning to
give up the cheap little room she &C.
cupied. She was faint and weak.
Help the good cause" hailed a
brisk, CHEEKY voice, and the distracted
Nerda felt tag and flower drawn from
her clasp and a bank note substituted.
BeWilderedly she looked up to note
a smiling. genial young man. For a
moment he seemed quite magnetized
by her Sorrowful, but soulful eyes.
They transmitted to her a strange i'm
preSsive thrill.
Il won't forget that lovely face In n
hurry" he spoke to q companion.
"Oh, wait! watt" cried Verda.
You have made a mistake" but the
surging crowd had swallowed up the
two men.
Almost stupidity she stood gazing at
the dollar note. There was waited
from q near restaurant q tantalizing
Wifi Of food. She turned towards It
almost fiercely. Then she ran away
from the temptation. She pushed aside
the j~ostling multitude, staring ahead
TO fry and discover some tagger TO
whom she could deliver the dollar. She
batted her way ever more strenuous
~. Ahead she made out the young
man who had given her the money.
Finally she neared him. She put out
n hand TO halt him. He was airily
sweeping his lips with the sweet
flower.
ooh, please" painted Verda, extend
ing the bank note. II am not a tag
ger. | had no right to take It."
There She wavered, there a sudden
film came across her vision. She
swayed weakly. Bryan Latham
caught her in his arms as conscious.
ness deserted her.
"Do not move, dear" spoke n gen
tie womanly voice many hours later
and verda stared vaguely about her.
She lay upon q couch In the rest room
Of an Office building. A screen was
set across q corner Of the apartment
ana the matrOn stood regarding her
with 4 smile. "Will you not tell me
something about yourself?" she asked,
And Verda told her all of her power
tY, Of the flower and tag and of her
temptation TO assuage her hunger.
The matrOn wound a sympathizing
arm about her. There were tears Of
tenderness and pity In her eyes. She
went away and returned with q server
containing a dainty. but strengthening
ropaSt. the first food Of which Verda
had partaken for a night and a day.
ct was Mr.. Latham who left you
here" the woman told her, "a true
Kind hearted gentleman, If there ever
was one. He was very anxious and in
tcrcstcd. He seemed to surmise that
Won were in trouble. He has t~elephoned
twice about you and wishes YOU to re-
main here until business hours are
over"
II am Mr.. Latham's sister" inter
ruptel an intruding voice, and a we'll
dressed lady appeared just beyond the
edge Of the screen. as this the young
lady my brother told me about? He
t%elephoned me and If l can be Of any
service to YOU let me be your friend"
She was married and had q family
Of two little children, anu when the
matron had taken her aside and talked
with her in low tones Mrs. Warner
returned to the side of Verda.
"You poor friendless dove! !" she
murmured, kissing her. 1--WE are go
ing to mend some Of the injustice Of
life that has fallen to your lot. My
auto is below and when you are strong
enough to accompany me we will soon
have you under a roof where you
must welcome a long, perfect rest"
verda Lund retired that night the
guest of a true souled woman with
plenty of spare for those she could
help, and glad to bestow 1t. She did
not mention her brother until several
days later, and by that time her little
ones had learned to idolize the stran-
ger whose gratitude and Joy made her
love the whole world.
Very unobtrusively Bryan Latham
came to the house at last. He did
not oh<rude himself upon verda, but
he could not conceal an interest her
every time he met the glance Of the
pleading eyes that had thrilled him
from the first.
ut was just a month ago that you
came into my life." he told verda
when they were alone together one
ovoninC hSea how I cheriSh tho NOM.