The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-06

Beidhn actually was ATTRACTED py
Something more than Helen's
charming personality
The ne1t morning found Helen
sitiing alone on the yefanda, an
of1fmolS basket Of materials be-
side her. Her aunt was waiting
In the office for the coming Of the
mail and had told Helen to go
right out and begin the ny
swats."
Mr.. Belden Joined her before
she had been seated many minutes
and dragged q chair to her side,
obviously wishing t. talk.
What on earth Is that? he ask.
ed after exchanging morning
greetings. He pointed to a bit OF
work In Helen's hands.
why, it's a ty swat. We buy
them plain at the ten cent store
and then crochet colored borders
on them and put crocheted flow
ers on them"
what are they fort" asked
Belden.
why, to swat nIes-I suppose"
said Holen. The crochetlng Is
Just to make them pretty
I'm blessed"
Mr.. Belden spent an hour at
Helen's side that day danced three
times with her that evening and
appeared in the morning on the
veranda. She had finished the fly
swat and. was at work on some
thing new.
what in the world are those2"
he asked.
why they're Decent dish cloths
to begin with" said Helen a little
reticently. I'VE sew thems together
with colored silk and make them
into sweaters. l don't know as Id
wear one-but they're all the rage.
"I'm blessed" said Mr.. Belden.
He did not change the subject. He
asked Helen to tell him OF the
other sorts Of fancy work she and
her aunt were doing, asked all
sorts OF questions about prices o.
materials, comparative values tt
different stores, and once Helen
caught him iotting down some
notes In a little book he drew
from MS pocket.
For the entire week Mr.. Belden
always spent an hour or so epGfr
morning at Helen's side, watchlrs
her work. When Saturday evening
came he asked her whether she did
fancy work on Sunday, and Helei
dghed happily and said she didn't.
THANK heaven" said MIR. Bel.
den. Then maybe you can arrange
to so on q motor ride down the
shore. II your aunt prefers she
may come too-though don't
think she'd care II we went alone
Well start in the afternoon, stop
for supper, and get back before
on the way home that Sunday
night, under the magic influence
OF an August moon by the sea, Mr..
Belden proposed to Helen and
Helen, under the same magic
spell, accepted.
That night, before going to sleep
Helen told her aunt OF the wonder.
full news.
"well, never. said her auat
with yawn. "And there are 20
many very pretty girls here to pick
from"
The next day when Helen and
Mr.. Belden met after breakfast
Helen told him Of her aunt's CON,
ment. "She seems to think that
there must have been som? reason,
for your noticing mo" 4
Mr.. Belden laughed. "At first
there was. You see. my uncle Is !
Belden OF Belden's big department
store. He's agreed to take me In
Junior partner, but he's trying me
out. Belden's fancy work depart.
ment has never made a profit. 1t
has never been able to compete
with the other big stores in that
line. So uncle told. me to tnke over
that, department and find ont What
was wrong.
IT stayed in the store for a
week, then decided I'd have 20
get out and see what the women
really wanted-declded I'd spend
a few weeks at a summer resort
where there are always some
fancy work fans. Then l saw YOU
and well, at first, I used to talk
to you because I wanted you to
tell men what you knew about
the fancy work business. And
WHY, I've got dozen-page re-
port to give my uncle from Just
what you have told me. You've
opened my eyes. se now what's
the matter with Belden's fancy
work department"
"But-but." Helen faltered.
II was sailing under false colors.
! really can't endure fancy work.
I Just did 1t because Aunt Matte
wanted to"
81 can't endure It either. Those
fly swats with the worsted roses
make me dizzy and I'd run a
mile II you wore one Of those
dish7rag sweaters. The idea is
that / first wanted to know you
because I thought you were al
typical fancy work girl-and
then"
And Helen was satisfied.
Copyright, 1929
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