Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-01-22
"a Fair
Substitute
~~D
by ALvAH JORDAN GARTH


/
tcspyrsshs. 1913. ~ the western Move.
paper Uaissl
IL had been q matter OF pride 10
Bertha Lull when she married Alvin
Price that he was a very handsome
man OF winning and agreeable man.
ners Every friend and acquaintance
ne made became an admirer. Blanche
Nansant had tried her coquettish
wiles, but Alvin was neither fiirt nor
trifier and when he married another
there wass certain tinge OF envy and
| Jealousy.
Alvin was n travelling salesman for
n large wholesale millinery house and
had an established clientele. His route
did not take him ont 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 month, 10
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
| 10 have her old time school friend
spend all the time she could spare in
her company.
Il should not like to have travel
ing man for husband" said Blanche
land particularly as handsome a one
as Alvin. always frankly considered
that he was Irresistible,
why, you ridiculous pessimist!'
laughed Bertha. "Do you suppose Al
win ever even thinks OF anybody but
mer'
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 road
men not one of them dares to aspire
10 the marked partially of the ladies
as does Alvin, and that he is such
favorite that many OF them won't
give their trade 10 anybody else"
why, bless you Blanche" observ-
ed Bertha artlessly. "how can the dear
creatures help 1t? Was there ever
such genial accommodating and
helpful a fellow i'm the world?"
4 week later a 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 20
out of his way to visit the lady. and
that II was a subject of gay badinage
among other statesmen. Alvin came
back home several days sooner thar
expected. Then all was forgotten with
Bertha save solictude and tenderness
I'm about done out with my long
jaunt" Alvin told her "Was laid up
with n slight fever for two DAYS Doc
tor said ! was due home for n rest.
Too bad, for ! had finished my entire
route except six little towns down In
Walden county Bertha. dear. l want
YOU 10 write little for me 10 the
house, explaining that I'm laid up for
Il spell but covered everything hut
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, will II take much
time or work to go TO these places
and see your customers3'
VERY little of either" replied Alvin,
for they are among my surcst clients"
Then" said Bertha with animation
why not let me take your place and
finish the tripY Give me the samples
and instructions. You will he proud TO
find out what an eager little business
woman ] am"
Alvin demurred, hut Bertha finally
overcame his scruples. She felt secret
" guilty as she found herself on q
train. for she realized that her main
purpose was to see some Of those "im
pressible milliners" with whom Alvin
was such q favorite and the sting OF
Blanche vanssnt's unkind insinuation
smarted yet.
Gilmore was the Arst town Berhs
visited. II had but one milliner enc
"a Bertha entered her store tbs
woman stared at her hxedly.
Why you must he Mrs Price {" she
exclaimed.
How did you know shat" questioned |
Bertha Ia hmazement.
Because you just placed Mr.. Prices |
sample case on the counter. and the |
number Of times that proud hus
band Of yours has shown HE custom
ers your picture In the back Of his |
watch couldn't be counted"
Bertha went TO the next town, Glen. |
Vile, with her heart chcered and com. |
fOrted. Still. she entered the store Of |
Mrs Adams all agitated. middle |
aged woman sat sewing or a hat.
Are you Mrs. Adams inquired
Bertha.
"Oh, no. | am her daughter Mother.
someone wishes to see you.
A woman gray-haired and bent and
wrinkled appeared. She scanned
Bertha curlously recognizing her In.
stantly The moment Bertha told her
mission the old lady folded her In her
mOtherly arms.
"YOu are welcome as the flowers in
spring sou sweet love :" she spoke.
kissing Bertha rapturously. Has that
dear good husband Of yours told you
how he saved me from losing all /
had, and comes clear ont of his way 4
to look over my books and help me
alongT'