The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-12-02
Ivory and Black
By ROSE MANDERS
ASSOCIATED Newspapers.D
lWNU Service)


Daphne, the model, giggled. "The
boss is grouchy about something,
Irene. Better not sit down"
Irene, smoothing the frill on a
gown that had just been tried on,
looked up. Daphne was certainly
lovely. At that moment Jim Carl
son saw them talking.
please keep at work, Miss
Irene" he snapped. "The overhead
here is getting beyond reason. Have
you stitched the fur on that rest
gown YETI"
Irene shook her head. 81 can do
that now" she replied.
do So" He looked at Daphne,
who was now gliding before a mir
ror in sinuous wrap faced with
ermine. '"That's good idea," he
praised, "show off the goods and
attract attention, Miss Daphne.
That wrap makes you look like a
queen"
Irene found that her vision was
blurred by a mist of tears, and she
bent over her stitching. She wasn't
envious of Daphne's beauty-at least
she didn't want to be, but she, too,
would have liked to swim about in
the exquisite creations that so en-
HANGED the models fragile pretti-
ness. 'How I'd love to try on that
scarlet chiffon" thought Irene,
land the black feather cape. I'd
look bit different"
But Irene might as well have
wished to have the sun bend down
suddenly and hand her a bit of
magic fire, for Daphne was the prin-
cess of the showroom and she only
wore the lustrous silk undertakings
and the imported gowns. And jim,
the man Irene secretly adored,
looked at the outer husk of Daphne
and admired her.
"This turquoise velvet must be
marked down. The sun has faded
it. Take $40 off it and hang it on
the rack, Miss Irene, and put the
rose and gold satin in the window"
Irene obeyed. Then she stood a
moment in the great show-window
looking at each garment in the dis
play. She was thinking deeply and
failed to notice that a man had
paused outside and was staring at
her. 1t wasn't until Daphne's high
voice shrilled out that she started.
"Look at Irene, Mr.. Carlson.
She's trying to cut me out as a
mannikin, guess. She oughtn't to
be there in that serge frock. She
ruins our artistic picture, don't you
Think"
Come out of there" ordered
Jim, land help Miss Daphne into
this transparent velvet"
AS Irene followed Daphne to the
little changing alcove Daphne glared
at her. Don't you try anything
funny, Irene. That is my man out
there and l won't have you postum
ing about to attract him"
''Mr. Carlson?" demanded Irene,
amazed.
''No. The man in the street. He
was watching you in the show-win-
dow. Jim Carlson is just about to
fail. I'm leaving at the end of this
week. l don't intend to wait until
l have a salary due that can't col
Iect."
A young girl with her mother en-
tered, and asked to see the scarlet
chiffon dance frock. Jim was out
and the slim little gown was too
small for either of the other clerks,
so Irene put it on.
Jim, hurrying in, paused. Irene,
flushed with excitement, was NOV
ing indolently across the strip of
velvet carpet, her dusly head shin
ing above her white shoulders.
eve have a feathered wrap that
looks well over this" Irene was
saying "It's lined with scarlet chif-
fon. Bring it, Mabs," she directed
in her low, soft voice
When the purchases were COM
pleted and the shoppers gone Jim
looked at Irene as she emerged
from the changing alcove in her
blue serge gown with the snowy
frills at neck and wrists. "You did
wonderfully we'll to sell that outfit,
Miss Irene. Funny I never noticed
before how low" he checked him
self, flushing.
Irene felt a surge of joy.
Suppose you model instead of
that blonde girl"
Every WE'LL" said Irene, not trou-
bling to tell him that Daphne was
leaving in two days anyway ''Mr.
Carlson, I've been thinking about
the losses you stand because of win
dow displays. Facing east, our win
dow gets the sun and the awnings
later in the season hide too much
from the cars passing in the ave-
nue.. l believe you'd attract more
attention if you followed the jap
anese fashion of showing only one
article. I'd enjoy trimming up your
window if you are willing. Then
only one gown or wrap is faded in
stead of ten or twelve"
"That's good idea. Would you
be willing to stay tonight and fix
it up? We could 60 out and get a
bite near here and come back"
When they returned Irene ar
r