The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-12-11
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
WOMAN'S LONELY
GUEST FOR ROMANCE.

WOMANS LONELY
QUEST FOR ROMANCE.
B. E. ALLEN, PERSONNEL, was
written in gilt upon the glass square
of an office door, and that and the
urge to get on made B. E. Allen what
she was by working day. Carefully
turned out, her age hidden by care and
thoughtfully chosen, expensive raiment,
her big, wistful gray eyes could and
often did stop a males rowing glance,
and those eyes of hers were prodigally
supplied with outsized lashes. Her soft
velvet black hair was waved so eX-
pertly that it seemed a natural curl,
and it vas beautiful with her clear
skin. She looked soft and gentle, she
was hard and efficient and cruelty
pragmatic. She called this being fair"
The girls whom she shunted from
department to department in the big
New York store had learned that rivers
Of tears would not melt her decisions.
If you weren't doing so good in the
hosiery she'd move you to the millinery,
even though you sobbed aloud that way
about the floor walker you must leave.
And if you failed to sell anywhere after
Miss Allen had given you a good try,
you were out!
I'm sorry" crisp and clear, "but you
haven't done well, you know" And she
could turn off protests and pleas as
easily and finally as she turned off the
reading her name from the hall side,
and not in the reverse. And nothing to
do but to creep off shifting and gulp-
ing.
BY evenings Miss Allen became Bet,
and had herself a time. Speaking this
cliche made her feel younger than she
was and rather daringly gay -. She
would leave her office feeling a rag
It's wiring yourself dry of energy
every day-every day-if you want to
"get on!" And wilted, she must shop
10 would drop in.
Home, she would shed office wear
and take another bath and take on
earrings after she'd wriggled into the
good model she had found hanging over
in the Gray Salon. .:.. Soft material,
because after the office-well, some
thing soft feels so nice and the
r rssson was psth ysss pretty; 81 a ooar5 fer ps soms
knew, and said, she had had many
chances to marry . at least she had
a few years past -. But a girl in her
position, getting her salary, thought
twice
Life would begin for Bet at about
6:35. Helen Vance, with rooms down
the hall. would drop in. Too, edging
thing. They would appraise each other
in the good old feminine fashion before
Bet said, It'll shape up a cocktail.
What do you want?"
This night in October Bet Allen felt
like that proverbial rag and one bet
ter! She always knew when she was
done up because on those nights the
c,,;ffe ~ o1o,lrc cho hoI RI oply fol-
lowed her . That morning she'd
dealt with a youngster she had shunt-
ed all over the store and tried out
everywhere! Her record was terrible.
But that, in the youngsters mind,
seemed to have no connection with her
dismissal; she had sobbed hideously,
wailing, "Whatn I do? WhatIl I do?
My mothers sick!"
The girl was one of those throw
backs in feminity, expected to be cared
for and all that tosh.
Bet dropped her key and said a
damn. Now her door was open, and
she stepped into her living room. It
was a trifle overcrowded, as virgin
nests sometimes are. It's warming to
drag home new sticks and bits OF
twine. It gives you something to do
after work.
scenery, she realized. She dumped
small packets from the delicatessen
shop on the table near the latest,
grimmest proletarian novel and settled
in the chair she called Jos chair"
The whole day had been So miSer+
youngster, which she rarely conde-
Seconded to do, for it never paid. And
now she knew it again. Helen tapped
twice on the door and opened it. She
was tired, too. She said so.
I'll shake a cocktail together when
I can move" said Bet.
Darling, I'm on my feet, and thatn
as she turned to the kitchenette, and
from this she called, "Your gins low!"'
IT know" Bet answered, voice slowed
by WEAKNESS, 90 told me Last night;
meant to order it, but-didn't get to it."
Helen came back with a shaker and
two glasses on a tray:
And me-" she said, due for a change
to the gala, have passes to that new
Theater Guild thing, and Lee wants to
see it. He likes me to dress"
Odd. cold feeling of doubt that came
s eayf pa ing do I come up?" she'd
answer eagerly with an urge. And whip
energy by will and cook "a nice little
dinner"
Helen turned talk to a neighbor.
Harper every night, and I say it's too
much. I said right to her, I said, vi,
that's too much'!"
What did she say?"
Words and more words; cocktail
glasses filled again; cigaret smoke in
the air making it gray-blue, thick. The
cocktails didn't seem to go far with
Bet; that new doubt had put them
out. she thought. She said suddenly,
Helen, do you ever read those letters
in the love-lorn columns ABOUT ta as
long as you have something to pass,
and if you haven't, leave your"
IT think they're horrid. No, I don't
they depress me-"
"i'm going to read them hereafter
said Bet. :. e.,
Helen, nobody's dummy, got 1t: she ae
shrugged her shoulders. Going IN 1o1