Show J r l I 9 3 se a aw w vl W k 4 w vl W i i Wy y Alices Alice's Disappointment c cAlice m maee aee se seAlice Alice went hurrying along the street her face bright with happiness ss and and her eyes dancing with pure delight The cold sharp morning air brought the color to her cheeks as she rushed along bowing first to this one and then to that with a cheerful Hello as she saw a ayoung ayoung ayoung young man hastening toward her Good morning Fred you see Im I'm at work as early as you was her good- good natured greeting as he lie reached her and the two set out rapidly in the same tion hon Hows that You must have got up mighty early Who's with your grandmother grandmother grandmother grand grand- mother he asked Oh dont don't you know Its It's all right a at atour atour our place now Aunt Mary lary and grand grandmother grandmother mother have made up and Aunt Mary tak takes s care of her and does up tip the chores while I go to work Its It's just fine andI and I 1 dont don't have to be an old maid any longer and I can go out with other people people people peo peo- and she chattered on gaily Presently she broke into a lough Say Fred maybe I ought not to tell you everything but do you know its awful awful awful aw aw- ful funny she began funny funny funny- Why gr grandma and d Aunt Mary wh when they quarrel was wa the reply Grandmother is so short and stout and Aunt Mary just as tall and thin and both are so well so well so dignified I Iguess Iguess Iguess guess they call it when they get to blustering blustering blustering blus blus- about and shaking their t fists each protesting that they are in perfect good humor and and scolding for all they are worth but there Im I'm not going to but worth say another word And sh she shut her mo mouth th tight By this time time- they had reached the store in which they both worked Alice took her place behind the counter while Fr Fred d went to work in another part of the building All day long Alice waited cheerfully upon her customers The floor walker made a mental note that Alice Anderson was a mighty fine clerk and Fred thought she was as fine a girl When no one in particular seemed to tobe tobe tobe be about Fred came down from the wrapping room and approached her side with some misgivings to be sure Say Alice he said you know- know say wouldn't you like to go to the party tonight and and may I r call for for you Alice hesitated She feared that that Fred was pitying her and she wished she hadn't talked so freely to himI him I Id I'd Id I'd be delighted to she began but grandmother grandmother Oh Oh yes Ill I'll go and she blushed as she turned n nervously and inquired W What a can I do for you yu maam ma'am of a a lady lady who stood fumbling at some pieces on the remnant counter When evening came the clerks scattered scattered scat scat- in half halfa a a dozen directions leaving the store gladly enough and thinking of the supper more than an anything th ng else Alice had visions of her grandmother and Aunt Mary sitting cosily chatting by bythe bythe bythe the fire just waiting for her before they began the meal that was steaming before them Fred with quite different thoughts went his way He seemed to have time for nothing save to prepare for the party and as quickly as possible set about doing this with a great deal of care care His necktie necktie necktie neck neck- tie would not go on right and he didn't have one that was the proper shade He put on one after another half a dozen different ones and finally took the first one one one-he he had picked up and got his sister to see if it was was- wason on just so His hair too was a bother but finally agreed to stay something something- like its owner wished Then Fred set out and nd it was full time too for it had taken no few minutes to stand before the mirror He almost ran to Alices Alice's home and then rather fearfully stepped up to the door and knocked There was no sound within and the place f looked rather gloomy not gloomy not much as Alices Alice's face had through the whole day He waited nervously a a few minutes when Alice the door and in a very i j. j He clumsily took a seat Alice placed d for and waited No him one said a word The clock ticked dolefully on the shelf Alice stood with her back to him busily arranging a shawl for her grandmother grandmother grandmother grand grand- mother who sat looking very sullen in inthe inthe inthe the back of the room Im awfully sorry Fred said Alice turning to him presently and trying to swallow the lump in her throat but but here she stopped to choke down a sob but I cant can't go with you tonight and low subdued voice invited him into the house then then- excusing herself she took her feeble old grandmother by the arm and led her to her own room Fred Fre l was disappointed anyway but most of all sorry for Alice He couldn't understand it all and sat twisting first on one way ay then another crossing and re re- crossing his feet until Alice entered the room again Then he felt nothing but tenderness tenderness' for her All the girlish liveliness liveliness liveliness liveli liveli- ness seemed to have gone her arms dr dropped at her her sides and her face l looked old and careworn She bravely forced back the tears and nd looked up with an unhappy unhappy un un- happy smile What is it Alice Fred urged ten ten- derly The gentle words brought tears and forced a great sob Then recovering herself the girl smiled again and answered answered answered an an- Oh its it's nothing they've quarreled again and you know I told you that was funny You go to the party without me You see see I cant can't leave grandma and she and Aunt Mary cant can't cant can't- Here she stopped No N 0 Alice no It wouldn't be any pleasure answered Fred Let me stay with you a while Let me feel as you do and he leaned tenderly toward her Then Alice laid her head down upon the table table- and wept softly while Fred looked on helplessly yet yearning to help her Presently she dried her eyes and nd looked up a noble resigned e expression resting upon her face i 1 a Q |