Cheerful-By Request

d the fiacre French of the Paris cabman. Some there are who craftily open the door with a skeleton key; some who ruthlessly batter the panels; some who achieve only a wax i

ind to rave abo

a vague way she realised that she was seeing Paris as a blind man sees the sun-feeling its warmth,

fants' wear for her department at Schiff Brothers', Chicago; but Sophy under-estimated the powers of those three guiding parts. While heart, soul, and br

d across her consciousness the picture of the chic little modistes' models and ouvrières slipping out at noon to meet

s. She had seen the workmen in their absurdly baggy corduroy trousers and grimy shirts strolling along arm in arm with the women of their class-those untidy women with the tidy hair. Bareheaded and happy, they strolled along, a strange contrast to the

ite hand that was stretched from the window of a motor car. He was standing at the curb; in either greeting o

d turned a quiet corner and come on a boy and a girl. The

n his arms there on the street corner in the daylight, and had kissed her-not the quick,

rror and fascination. The boy's arm brough

iend awaiting her calmly up the street. She was not even flushed; but Sophy wa

-those clever, capable, shrewd-eyed women who swarm on the city in June and strip it of its choicest flowers, from ball gowns to back combs. Sophy tri

ere were rows of fat, placid, jewel-laden Argentine mothers, each with a watchful eye on her black-eyed, volcanically calm, be-powdered daughter; and

ight of the brightly lighted, gay hotel foyer they would straighten up like war-hor

ly ugly as Sophy was an anachronism in Paris. She belonged to the gargoyle period. You found yourself speculating on whether it was her mouth or her nose that made her so devastatingl

t them that her hands would b

n Paris ten minutes before she noticed that they were wearing 'em long and full. Her coat was short and her skirt sc

I sit

uyer type on whom she had speculated ten minutes before-a good-natured face with shrew

, and moved over a bit on

mfortably conscious of it. In eleven minutes she turned her head suddenly and caught the stout woman's eyes fixed on her, with just the ba

," she said,

ump face flu

't t

t would make a difference in my looks. It wouldn't. It's hard to believe that I'm as homely as I look, but I

-I beg your pardon

it now. It took me a long time to realise that this was m

n's kindly fac

re really

whose features are lighted up now and then by one of those rare, sweet smiles that make her plain face almost beautiful. But once in a while you find a woman who is ugly in any colour of

," said the

lingerie and infants'-wear

issey-Ella Morrissey. Millinery for Abelman's, Pittsburgh. And it's no snap this year, with the shops showing postage-stamp

ced confession of the

table ans

ar for ten years. If there's anything I can tell you, just ask. The first buyin

hesitating. Then she turned a pu

ean when they say

me into her face-a pitying sort of look. Th

's something about Paris-something in the atmosphere-something in the air. It-it makes you do foolish things. It ma

to this town. The only things I really like in Paris are the Tomb of Napoleon, the Seine at night, and the strawberry tart you get at

deepened in Miss

evening? The restaurants!

reted it without resentment; but there was pe

reign buyer. I've worked. And I wasn't handicapped any by my beauty. I've made up my mind that I'm goin

issey che

l, haven't you be

to noise. I am. I can stand for a town that roars, like Chicago. But this city yelps. I've been going round to the restaurants a little. At noon I always picked the restaurant I wanted,

fried potatoes?' The waiter would give them a disgusted look and put in the order. They might just as well have been eating at a quick lunch place. As for the French women, every time I picked what I took to be

er; but Sophy Gold was not laughing. As she talked she gazed grimly ahead at

r. Well! They may be artistic, but they all looked as though they

raised a plump,

you're an American. Don't look at it from a Chicago, Illinois, viewpoint. Just try to imagine you're a

't be buying lingerie and infants' wear for Schiffs'. I'd b

l, rubbing one fat forefinger slowly up

but have you eve

f the lingerie section I've selected trousseaus for I don't know how many Chicago bri

lla Morrissey laid one hand on th

om the noise. Too many people down here. Besides, I'd like to take off this arm

I ought to get out," Sop

this duty to the firm. You get up at six to-morrow morning and

he lift; but at

ne voice; and a detaining hand was la

face their source. Max Tack, junior partner in the firm of Tack Bro

orrissey not too cordiall

clothes, of a fresh shave, of glistening nails. Max Tack, of the hard eye and the soft smile, of the slim figure and the

g to introduce m

em, buyer fashion-names, bus

honey-tongued. "Some one pointed you out to me ye

ted your business," said M

ed closer, hi

sten, little one: aren't you going

diplomatic court to those hundreds of women buyers who flock to that city in the interests of their firms. To entertain those buyers who were interested in goods such as he manufactured in

w?" Sophy Gold shook her head. "Wednesday then?

own dinners," s

d a chiding fo

cal before. "You stingy little rascal! Won't give a poor lonesome f

a buyer at the first shot. Of course you had to use tact and d

week before? And nearly died! Some wanted to begin at Tod Sloan's bar and work their way up throu

g for-with that fac

d the lift, the twinkling-e

to play. Thanks, just

stood staring up at them a

ss Morrissey grand

that linguistic p

n Ella Morrissey's room. She flicked on the lig

your usua

ard for this job of mine to risk it by putting myself under obligations to any New Yor

ance was jerky but concise. At one stage of her disrobing she brea

ammock couches last year. When I come home from the store summer evenings I peel and get into my old blue-and-white kimono and lie there, listening to the girl stirring th

till staring out

other me much

. Max is all business. Of course he's something of a smarty, and he does think h

and her voice was a little bit

s from old girls, beginning 'Dear Kid,' and ending, 'Yours with a world of love!' I don't believe in that kind of thing, or in accepting things. Julia Harris, who buys for three departments in our store, drives u

ow toward Miss Morrissey. It served to p

business. It's the only thing I care about. I'll

working and being independent and earning your own good money puts the stopper on any sentiment a girl might have in her; but d

have got to do with Max Ta

ughed her fat, co

osey; but I'm pretty nearly old enough to be your mother. The girls ki

oor, followed by certain giggling a

nd open the door, will you, like a nice

o entered were the last in the world to leave you in ignorance of that fact. Ella Morrissey presented he

. That's a pretty hat, Carrie. Get it to-day? Give me a big black velvet every time. You can

isten, Fan: don't go back to San Francisco with that stuff on your lips. It's all right in Paris, where all the women do it; but you know as wel

a twenty-eight blouse she's got a forty-two brain-haven't you, Belle? You didn't make a mistake with that blue crêpe de chine,

rested the success or failure of many hundreds of feminine garments. The lace for Miss Minnesota's lingerie; the jewelled comb in Miss Colorado's hair; the hat that would grace Miss New Hampshir

ave you a shock. Their shoes were correct. Their skirts bunched where skirts should bunch that year or lay smooth where smoothness was decreed. They looked

hem, felt strangely out of

went to New York last year I sat and twiddled my thumbs while every

I was to work as hard as I have to during the day and then run round the way yo

Estelle Mornet's. There's a business woman for you! Her place is smart from the ground floor up-not like the shabby o

; I don't think they're going to take at home. T

I've hardly

hen they discussed clothes; for to the

zed. The three sp

ce to call us here. The boys are probably downstairs." She answered

m her armchair. "Have a good time! You all look lovely. O

turned at the

ing on him, because his grandfather was

swishing of silks, a breath of perfu

or for a moment. Then Ella Morrissey turned to look at Sop

" smil

too-a mirthless,

es; but I only remember a maze of golden hair, and pink and blue sashes, and rosy cheeks, and ardent little boys, and the sureness of those little girls-

's eyes narrow

invited to a party you wait

ill," said

would hardly call it that-least of all Max Tack, who had spent seventy-fi

, up in her room, was fathoms deep in work. It was barely eight o'clock and there was a wonderful opal

ighty sweet to-night

approach never vari

Paris-they'

was in

features: "I suppose, after the way you threw me down hard the other night, you wouldn'

or most things,"

dictates," interrupted Max T

look

own the river to St.-Cloud. The station's just back of th

ie, you don't want to do that! What is there in taking an old tub

sn't matter. You simply asked me what I'd li

do something fussier-that's all. I've never gone down the river; but I think that's a cl

into a taxi; it's only

ey were not half-bad-looking people either. He had been rather afraid of workmen in red sashes and w

hat's about four ce

s, and the honking horns, and the shrill cries, and the mad confusion faded away. There was the palely glowing sky ahead, and on each side the black reflection of the tree-laden b

Venice!" excla

e little boat and work its wonders. The shabby student-looking chap and his equally shabby and merry little companio

ubist frock; and she smiled back and snuggled up and rested her cheek on his arm. There seemed to be a deep and silent understanding between them. You knew, someh

d contentedly in the embrace of her sweetheart. The stolid married couple

re faded and became grey, and then black. And the lights came out

phy's hand had never been clasped like that before. She did not know what

" asked Max T

ht," murm

turn to Paris. But how to get back? They asked questions, sought direction-always a fran

said Max Tack. "I

assed right here, and that we should get

lplessly, shrugged his s

note of admiration. "And why are you so afraid that I'll

ecause I've had to work so

took one of the floc

t to go home yet!"

o drive in the Bois Park-i

the gallant an

e had driven with Aurora in her chariot he would have held her hand and called her tender names. So, because he was he, and because t

as never meant for

tle tinkling bell that somehow added to the charm of the night. A waterfall, unseen, tumbled and frothed near by. A turn in the winding road brought them to an op

t to do; but the plainest woman, as well as the loveliest, has the centuries back of her. Sophy's mother, a

dn't have

too, was backed

couldn't help it

tle tremulous laugh, "I'm very, v

ones who think they're beauties, that it sort of rests my jaw and mind to be with some one who hasn't a

his way, and because every passing fiacre revealed the same picture, Max Tack sat very near her and looked very tender and held h

oor of t

," said Max Tack. "You

no-

run into the office wh

, y

ce. The fiacre meter registered two francs seventy. Max Tack did a lightning mental calculation. The expression on his face deepened. He lo

rty for the evening's entertainment! Why-w

dissatisfaction with the meter. He tapped that glass-covered contriva

pressed a five-franc piece into the outstretched palm. Then to the hotel

irs to the next floor and knocked gently at Miss Morrissey's door. A

was just going to have them dr

s of hat models done from memory, notes and letters lay sc

ncil sketch and squinting at it disapprovingly over her working spectacles, "and I'm s

and of it had become loosened and straggled untidily down over her ear. H

ketch and turned slowly. She surveyed

made you chan

ok in Sophy's

-something in the air. It makes you do and say foolish

ther brief moment. Then she trundled over to where Sophy stood and pat