Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-02-22

very young and she had delightful
shining hair that wanted to curl and
almost didn't.
"Socksi Silk or lisle-fifty-nine or
twenty-ninef" she asked In birdlike
voice.
"Why do bargains always run in
nines?" he asked irreverently.
She flushed. "I'm sure don't know.
but they do-and sevens and threes
and ones"
mine is q magic number" he said.
"In take a pair Of nines."
"Fifty-nine or twenty-niner she in
quired again.
(which are the cheapestf" Tom, the
inventor, the man Of science, was los
Ing his wits, just because q girl had
such tender blue eyes and hair that al
most did not curl
"Twenty-nine," she said patiently,
without smiling. "These are Isle
thread"
"I1l take two-two pairs," he said,
idiotically.
"ColorY'
"Oh-anything-anything, just as
long as it's black" and the wretched
youth flung himself out Of the store
without waiting for his change. He
told himself afterward that he needed
that forty-two cents change-he might
have bought another pair!
That night he tried on the socks and
found they were too small. He was
big young man and generously proper
toned. The socks must 60 back again.
He wondered If the girl would be there
hoped she would and hoped she
wouldn't, and she was.
She looked quite blankly at Tom,
just as II her heart hadn't Quickened
at sight Of him-he did not recognize
her but she had gone to public school
with him three years ago; she secret
ly admired him.
''Tm sorry, but these socks are too
small" said Tom, as he stopped be-
fore her.
"You said nines," she remarked, as
she pulled out red box.
" meant tens" he explained.
"You also forgot your change" she
said, taking some money out Of a
stunning little box. "Forty-two cents"
Thanks" said Tom, dropping it into
his pocket.
She took down another box, picked
out two pair of black socks and
wrapped them up.
'Thank you," said Tom dizzily, end
walked out Of the store. At his labora-
tory he opened his bundle and found
two pairs Of black silk socks. Qe
smiled rapturously. "rll have to take
those back" he muttered with a mis-
erable attempt at vexation.
It was lunch time then. and he
stopped at a nearby cafeteria for
bite. Toms appetite was robust and
he picked up various plates OF delecta;,
BILE viands on his way to vacant table.
AS he set down his tray he saw tina!
a girl had sat down. The Girl, with a
tray containing crackers, bowl of
milk and small cake. "Bless her dear
heart; she's starving herself" he wor-
ried as he hastily swallowed his meal
After a day or two he went back to the
store.
The girl was there. She was wearing
a little blue ruffle around her throat,
and one strand Of her bright hair had
really managed to curl She blushed q
little when she saw him.
"I'm sorry" he declared mendacious-
ly. "But these socks are silk-I bought
Isle. you know"
II made that mistake" she admip
ted, as she substituted another pair fos
the silk ones. "It is too bad you has
to come again" !.
II did not mind-not at all" he safd
emphatically, and this time she smiled
at him, and when she smiled as she
turned around to put the red box back
on the shelf he was reminded Of school
boy days and a little curly-haired girl
facing the blackboard, reaching up to
write something. The chalk had
dropped from her fingers, and he re-
called the frightened look on her face
a. It dropped. But his deft hand
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