Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-08-05
"A Fair
Substitute
oo
/. 1919. By the Western News
paper Uniol->
BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH

Price that he was very handsome
man Of winning and agreeable man
ners. Every friend and acquaintance
he made became an admirer. Blanche
Nansant had tried her coquettish
wiles, but Alvin was neither flirt nor
tritler 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 special rush trip covering
his entire route within a month, to
place new hat braid that had arrived
late and would be out of vogue with
the end Of the season.
I 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 travel.
ng man for husband" said Blanche,
Sand particularly as handsome a one
as Alvin. always frankly considered
that he was irresistible,
"Why, you ridiculous pessimist !"
laughed Bertha. do you suppose AL
yin ever even thinks of anybody but
meT
He shouldn't. I'll admit" answered
Blanche, "for you are a perfect little
level 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 road
men not one of them dares to aspire
to the marked partially Of the ladies
as does Alvin, and that he is such
a favorite that many Of them won't |
give their trade to anybody else"
why, bless you! Blanche" observ- !
ed Bertha artlessly, "how can the dear |
creatures help it, Was there ever
such genial, accommodating and |
helpful a fellow In the world7"
A week later casual remark Of !
Blanche set Bertha thinking and
worrying She repeated something her .
cousin had said about a Mrs. Adams, !
a milliner at Chenille. A fellow road
man had told of how Alvin would 90
out Of his way to visit the lady, and
that 1t was subject Of gay badinage
among other statesmen. Alvin came
back home several days sooner than
expected. Then all was forgotten with
Bertha save solicitude and tenderness
Pm about done out with my long
jaunt,' Alvin told her. "Was laid up
with slight fever for two days. Doc
tor said I was due home for a rest Il
Too bad, for ! had finished my entire
route except six little towns down In
Walden county. Bertha, dear, I want
you to write a 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 a written sheet. She
started and flushed as she read among
them that Of Chenille, the town where
Mrs. Adams did business.
ALVIN" she said, Twill 1t take much
time or work to go to these places
and see your customersf'
Every little of either" replied Alvin,
for 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
/ am"
Alvin demurred, but Bertha finally
overcame his scruples. She felt secret.
ly guilty ms she found herself on a
train, for she realized that her main
purpose was to see some of those Elm
pressihle milliners' with whom Alvin
was such favorite and the sting of
Blanche Vansant's unkind insInuation
smarted yet.
Gilmore was the first town Bertha
visited. 1t had but one milliner and
As Bertha entered her store the
woman stared at her fixedly.
"Why, you must be Mrs. Price" she
exclaimed. q
"How did you know that" questioned
Bertha In amazement.
Because you just placed Mr.. Prices
sample case on the counter, and the
number of times that proud hus-
,and of yours has shown his custom
.rs your picture in the back Of his
watch couldn't be counted"
Bertha went to the next town, Glen.
lille, with her heart cheered and COM
'orted. Still, she entered the store of
Mrs. Adams all agitated. A middle
ICED woman sat sewing on hat
Are you Mrs. AdamsT inquired
Bertha.
"oh, no, am her daughter. Mother,
someone wishes to see you.
A woman gray-haired and bent and
appeared. She scanned q
Bertha curiously, recognizing her in
tantly. The moment Bertha told her 8
Mission the old lady folded her in her
arms.
you are welcome as the flowers In
pring, you sweet lover she spoke,
,issing Bertha raptlrously. HAS that