The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-11
The Man She Won
A modern romance of life in the
Nations Capital By a Washington writer.
By Phyllis Moore Gallagher

One of the first things she die
was to visit the store where, only
a year before, a charge account
had been denied her. She went
in proudly, her dark head high, a
chubby-jacket of shining skunk
about her slim shoulders.
A footman, in livery expensivelJ
cut and illumined with brass but
tons, trailed her through the aisleS
and up to the counters, relieving
her Of bundles. She made things
difficult for every one and enjoyed
herself immensely. And when she
left a group of stricken young
faces followed her exit, wondering
if they would be reported and II
they would lose their Jobs. For nc
matter how hard they worked II
had seemed impossible to please
Mrs. Rodney Callman.
Only one girl did lose her Job
Isabel called the manager of the
store as soon as she returned
home.
ISABEL'S VINDICTIVE
"You have a clerk named Elva
Matthews working for you, 1 be-
lieve," she said icily, lin the negli,
gee department. If you wish my
patronage I'd advise you to clear
your store of impertinent clerks.
And it would be sagacious of you
to begin with that Matthews
woman" She paused only a mo-
ment to give effect to her next
words. This" she added, mean.
ingly, "is Mrs. Rodney Callman."
She hung up and lit a cigarette
and stood there very pleased with
herself.
Rodney, who was coming
through the wide arc of the draw.
ing room door at that moment,
said evenly: "That was rotten of
you, Isabel"
Isabels dark eyes snapped at
him. Rotten? A lot you know
about it. The girl was imperti-
nent."
Elva Matthews hadn't been i'm.
pertinent. She had been simply
dazed by this woman who had mar
ried Rodney Callman, who had al.
most made a wreck of Peter Kent's
life. AS she had waited on her she
hadn't been thinking of Isabel's
wants but rather of Isabel's life
And she had thought a little OF
her own life, too, in contrast
of Jack and her miserable separa,
ton from him, of the various jobs
she had had-in a bourgeois
kitchen, in the Callman factory
in a candy store and now here at
the store. She had lost her jobs
in the beginning because she was
not well, not strong enough to dc
the heavy work expected of her.
But the hours at the store were
easy, the work was pleasant, there
was a chance for advancement
Mrs. Hurt. the lingerie buyer, hac
told her: Keep UP the good work
Mrs. Matthews. You'll be finding
yourself assistant to the lingerie
buyer if you do"
And Elva'S heart had almost
beat out her side. For the first
time then since Jack had been
born she had real hope, hao
Rugged to her breast a real ano
POIGNANT dream.
HAD SAVED CAREFULLY
In another six months, if she
saved carefully, she could go to
Peter and thank him with all her
heart for the help he and Gloria
had given her. She would say, 81
didn't come back to see Jock be
cause could not endure holding
him, feeling the softness and
sweetness Of him against me and
then leave him again."
But her relief hadn't been for
long. That afternoon she had been
called to the personnel window,
had been handed a small white
envelope with $13 folded inside
She had been fired. Mr.. Bastebal
said, rather grimly: Tough luck
lady. But you know how these
newly-rich danes are. Got tc
handle 'em with kid gloves"
Elva said: ut was-Mrs. Call
MANI"
"Yeah," said Bastebal. Called
old Mrs. Shurgrue."
Elva hadn't said anything more.
She had gone to the locker room,
had taken down her small black
hat and thin black coat. She had
stood for a long moment looking
at the black Isle gloves, at her
thumb sticking out through a
gaping hole not really seeing it.
Isabel, having squelched all
those former friends whom she
felt deserved to be squelched. and
having impressed all those who
needed impressing, launched upon
a dazzling campaign of entertain
ing. She had little trouble.
For she had a talent for parties,
she waS a born hostess. She made
endless important connections
socially, her name was constantly
in the social columns. She
headed committees by right of
having contributed more money
than any one else in the city, she
was chairman of the relief com
mittee of the Garfield Hospital.
She did none of these things
because she had an interest in
charity. It was all a means to
an end. And for the most part.
because no one could be more
charming than Isabel when she
tried, people liked her.