Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-21

II AMY NrOIlDEsN was affanG-
ing her counter for the third
NJ time. She had nothing else
4 to do 1t was raining suds
and no customer had rung
the door all morning. Yesterday it
had been little better. Nobody but
old Mrs. Hatch had entered to match
shade of yarn which Nancy did not
have; her stock was running low.
And the day before-what had hap
pened the day before? Nancy sighed.
Doubtless it had been of piece with
all the other days since she had first
begun to realize that her little shop
was not success.
She had always wanted to keep a
shop, and when. after 10 years of diff
ficult office work, she had left the
typewriter to launch out on her ven
ture. she had known that she would
need all her courage and wit, as well
as all her capital Now after barely
two years her capital was gone, for
the little shop would not draw Gus
toners in spite Of clever advertising
and an alluring display of goods.
1t seemed after all that women
played cards more than they en-
broidered, and that such things as
hand made blouses and lingerie had
no great appeal. Even Nancy's
charming personality had been in
sufficient to make a patron out of
mere shopper, and the fact that she
showed off blouse to advantage did
not inspire other women to emulate
her.
THE time has come for me to
shut up shop" Nancy said TO her
self as she untangled a skein of
orange silk. II can't keep going
"a har nnly l. 10
and-and my money is gone. I don't
owe anything, but l am going to if
] keep on
Her eyes filled with tears. The
dear little shop, She loved it so
After it's freedom, after being inter
ested and happy and diverted for
two years how could she go back to
diCtationpad and typewriter? She
hated the proximity of men who
thought because they paid her a
good wage they could smoke in her
face or play the crouch as they
chose. It seemed that she had only
just got the smell of tobacco out
of her hair. Besides, pounding the
keys made her fingers either prickly
or numb, to say nothing of the con-
slant CHATTER Earring her nerves.
The dear little shop, What did
women want, anyway? 1t came TO
her that she had attempted rather
to crafty her own preference than
those of other women. She adored
fine lace and dainty stitchery and
sheer materials; she had reveled in
these things. but she could not per-
suade other women to buy them.
The unexpected tinkle of the little
bell made her start The woman who
entered was as faded and thin and
frail as a frostbitten weed.
Il wanted to pay you for that
skein of silk / got here the other
day." she said, taking out a limp
little purse that looked as if the
elephant had stepped on it not once
but 20 times. She laid a coin on
the counter.
"Oh, I remember" Nancy pushed
the coin back. It's all right Mrs.
Finkle. l won't charge you for that
silk. I'm going to close out any
way"
CLOSE OUT" Mrs. Finkle looked
about at the pretty place. "Oh. /
hope you won't do that. Miss Gold
en-"
Must" Nancy smiled bravely.
"I've not a gift for shopkeeping, it
seems"
well" Mrs. Finkle sighed, we're
both in hard luck then. I've had to
give up working out by the day. Ny
knees are so bad | can't get up and
down. That money is yours, Miss
Golden"
Il won't take i" Nancy shook
her head. What's one little skein
of silk between friends? You've
helped to keep my shop neat as
pin, Mrs. Finkle, and since you can't
help me any more, maybe it is just
as well for me TO close OUT
Mrs. Finllle replaced the coin in
the limp purse and started TO leave.
L was just wondering" she said,