Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-01-13
"A TAG DAY
ROMANCE
By JESSIE E. SHERWIN

1t was tag day in the city and a
young girl whose attire while neat
and well fitting showed signs of mend
ing and wear, stood at the corner of
two busy streets, cardboard in one
hand, white carnation in the other.
She was forlornly sad as to face and
eyes. staring vaguely at a smiling,
pleasant lady who was one of the tag
gers. The latter had noted her de-
pressed manner and on some inten-
tive impulse of kind heartedness had
approached her with motherly inter-
est and had said:
You must wear the insignia of the
day, dear. / know you are one of us
in sentiment"
And then the true lady unobtrusive-
ly placing flower and card into the
girls hands. mingled with the crowd
seeking real subscribers.
The tears came into the eyes of Yer
GA Lund. Amid her loneliness a be-
ming act of consideration meant much.
but 1t emphasized the dreariness ani
restitution that faced her. Out of
work, stranger in a strange city, she
had been compelled that morning to
give up the cheap little room she oc-
cupied. She was faint and weak
Help the good cause" hailed a
brisk. CHEEKY voice. and the distracted
Verda felt tag and flower drawn from
her clasp and Il bank note substituted
Bewilderedly she looked up to note
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.
81 won't forget that lovely face in a
hurry" he spoke to a companion.
"Oh, wait waltz! cried Verda.
"You have made mistake" but the
surging crowd had swallowed up the
two men.
Almost stupidity she stood gazing at
the dollar note. There was waited
from a near restaurant a tantaliZing
Whit of food. She turned towards it
almost fiercely. Then she ran away
from the temptation. She pushed aside
the jOstling multitude, staring ahead
TO try and discover some tagger to
whom she could deliver the dollar She
hattled her way even more strenuous
ly. Ahead she made out the young
man who had given her the money.
Finally she neared him. She put ont
a hand to halt him. He was airily
sweeping his lips with the sweet
flower.
"Oh. please" painted Verda, extend
ing the bank note. II am not tag
ger. I had no right to take it,"
There she wavered, there 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 a gen
tle w0manly voice many hours later
and Verda stared vaguely about her.
She lay upon couch in the rest room
of an office building. A screen was
set across a corner of the apartment
and the matron stood regarding her
with Il 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 sympathizing
arm about her. There were tears of
tenderness and pity in her eyes. She
went away and returned with a server
containing a dainty, but strengthening
repast. the first food of which Verda
had partaken for a night and a day.
1T 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
terested. He seemed to SurmSe that
YOU We're in trouble, He has telephoned
twice about you and wishes you to re-
main here until business hours are
over"
Il am Mr.. Latham's sister," inter-
rupted an intruding voice, and a we'll
dressed lady appeared just beyond the
edge of the screen. rs this the young
lady my brother told me about? He
ttitDtibHtu lit anu IL Il Idn Dt VI any
service to you let me be your friend"
She was married and had a family
of two little children. and 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. I'VE 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 roof where you
must welcome long, perfect rest"
Verda Lund retired that night the
guest of true Souled woman with
plenty of spare for those she could
help. and glad to bestow it. 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