Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-03-07
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Maixie was La ve,y absent. minded
mood. She generally preceded over the
notion counter lin Smith & 0nrter's
stuffy basement with the air Of
queen, but this morning her mistakes
were many and varied. Her latest
customer. stout lady, after an unsuc-
cessful attempt to match silk Of an
impossible blue had sailed Indignantly
away. when Maizie, glancing to -the
front Of the store. saw something that
brought the pinkest of roses to her
pretty cheeks. A somewhat hulking
young man in grimy overalls hnd fam
mel shirt WAS vending his way In her
direction. He stopped for q few mo-
ments Of low-toned conversation and
then continued toward the hardware
department.
who's your friend?" asked Annie,
the blond girl.
"oh. his names Dan Blake" an
swered Maizie wi.h conscious blush.
Il met him at one OF the community
sociais. He works over in the machine
shop. He just asked me to the movies
tonight. Don't you think he's hice
lookingf'
He might be If he cleaned himself
up," agreed Annie. o..
This struck an answering chord In
Maizie's heart Then she glanced with
admiration at the immaculutely-clad
tioor-walker, Nir. Barker. Even as she
gazed he turned and came over to her
counter. ...-.
"Say, Maizie, you sure do~bloom in
the desert air." he said. looking with
rather bold admiration at her pink
cheeks and sparkling eyes. There's
dandy picture over at the Paragon
tonight. If you say so I'll meet you
there at eight" Maizie accepted the
invitation at once.
After that gloom seemeN to settle
over the basement like dark cloud.
or course she had not actually prom
ised Dan, but she knew, down In her
heart she had fully intended to go with
him when he had asked her. She had
On uncomfortable Tightening i'm the re-
gion Of her throat. At that moment a
bevy of high school girls came chat
tering down the stairway and over I'm
her direction. Rich furs open at the
throat showed georgette crepes, and
short skirts displayed trim French
heels and silk stockings. But they
found no charm In Maizies eyes.
did you see that good-looking floor
walker smile at me?" giggled one tall
damsel.
"Oh, that's nothing" answered an
other miss, purchasing paper of pins
with most patronizing air. His
mother keeps boarding house on the
corner OF our block. He's an awful
flirt and has different girl about
every night In the week"
After that Maizie's heart lightened
in the face Of u great resolve. When
the big gong rang at half-past five
she stopped on her way out of the
store beside Mr.. Barker who was ar
ranging his splendid tie to a greater
satisfaction to himself before small
mirror.
81 won't be able to go to the Paragon
with you tonight, MIR. Barker" she
said. Il have another engagement"
and before the astonished young man
could reply Maizie was gone.
That night, sitting side by side In the
red plush chairs in the cinematograph-
ic resort, Maizie and Dan enjoyed the
program to the fullest extent Espe-
cially interesting was the little TO,
nance which showed the little apart
getting supper and fat baby lying In
Il crib. Dan reached over and took
Maizie's hand in his. Out on the street
they fingered In front of u brilliantly
lighted furniture store. Ten dollars
down and five n month furnished just
such an apartment as they had seen In
the movies. Dan pressed the warm
little hand that he had tucked under
his arm.
Isn't it peachy?" Maizie began, then
she checked herself and blushed with
good grace.
I'VE could have one just like that II
you would, Maizie." whispered Dan
The quick, happy glance In her eye
told Dan that Maizie would. And
he continued, joyfully, after mo-
ment's silence, 1--WE won't have to ge,
1t like that, either. You see, Dad owns
the biggest part of the shop, only he
wanted me to know the business thor
oughly, so l began at the foot Of the
ladder"
They walked on happily. Ahead OF
them Maizie could see the swell" Mr.
Earker, shapely and stylish orna
ment. She only pressed closer to Dar
with a happy heart and deep graft
tude that she had realized before Il
was too late that all that glittered wa.
not gold.