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yright, 1917, by David
Cook Publishing
Company.
DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING
COMPANY, ELciy, ILLINOIS
- that is how it‘impressed Leona Day.
- fingers of the hand from which she had
ca crocheted yoke with
tached.
November 10, 1917,
N the third floor of Canfield’s Dry
O Goods Emporium, in the right-hand
corner, there was a nook that was
very attractive to girls and a certain class
of ladies. It was here that Leona Day, her
quick eyes taking in the approach of each
newcomer, held full sway.
ner of. Canfield’s faneywork department
was very pepular. But as Leona’s work
was not only to sell materials for faucy-
work, but also to instruct patrons in the
beginning of new patterns, it was not al-
ways smooth sailing for Leona.
It was very pleasant when a pupil who
was alert and tactful began a fascinating
“pit. of embroidery ;- but when it was an
“older person, or one whose*rough fingers
eaught’ in the flossy silks, it required con-
siderable patience for Leona to keep her ~
manner from showing ‘irritation, and her
voice pleasant’ and. inviting.
than one of her pupils went away saying
to anothers “ That girl is the most patient
“creature I ever knew.” -
But one day in the fancywork depart-
ment—and it happened on a day when the
rain was falling outside, and artificial ight
inside made the choice of silks and colors
‘somewhat intricate—there came to one of
_ the chairs awaiting an occupant at the
low table arranged for the workers, a tall,
rather awkward young girl, whose eyes be-
trayed wistfulness, while her manner was
one of hesitancy.
Leona drew a long breath as she saw this
evidently new pupil drop into the chair
and look about her. But though she longed
= to turn toward Dolly Dakin, who was get-
ting on beautifully with the fleur-de-lis
cushion, she drew from her stock of pa-
tience kept. for particular occasions, and
with a pleasant expression leaned toward
the newcomer.
The girl was dressed in a garb evidently
remodeled from a bargain sale; at least,
The
drawn an ill-fitting glove, were not the
fingers that Leona liked to have lift the
tempting skeins of floxs, or bury themselves
in the knots of ‘soft wool. . But holding
herself in check, she said, “ What can I
do for you?”
The girl laid her arm over some of the
materials in a way that caused Leona
hastily to rescue them. This brought a hot
wave of embarrassment to the girl's face,
as she said, “It’s that lace yoke I-saw in
the show case downstairs, that I want to
- make.
~ Ter voice was soft, and her tone plead-
ing. Looking into the girl's face, Leona
felt drawn to her would-be pupil, in spite
of the first impression. 0 you mean,”
she said, “the filet rose pattern ? ?tthere is
quite a good deal of work in that. I have
one here.”
She turned, and, opening a drawer, lifted
short sleeyes at-
At the sight of it the face of the
one on the low chair brightened. “It's
beautiful, I'm sure Carlo—” She drew a
elight breath aud said, “ That is the yoke .
I mean.”
“Yave you ever crocheted?”
“ Some,
”
Yes, this cor-
But in gen-
.eral she was.very considerate and* more
Sut Iam not very swift with ~
“Will you give me your name and ad-
dress, please? The instruction is free, you
know, when you purchase the material.”
“y thought there was a tuition fee,” said
the girl.
“ Not now,” said Leona.
Somehow the look of glad relief that
A nook that was very attractive to
came to the girl’s eyes as she learned there
was no tuition fee, warmed Leona’s heart.
She was used to all kinds of people—this
girl who had charge of instruction in Can-
_ field's fancywork department—and she had
learned the worth of appreciation in a
pupil. It was with an answering smile
that she took the address given, and, look-
ing down on it, she thought, “ Janet
It is a sturdy name, and it fits
“T can.come at nine o'clock, if that is
not too early,” said Janet.
“That will be very nice,” said Leona.
“You will Have it almest to yourself.”
“Oh!” said Janet, and the red came and
went in ber cheeks. “I shall be glad to
have it that way.”
“Well, that is the way it will be,” an-
swered Leona. “There are very few who
come as early as nine.”
The first rose was well begun by T.eona,
‘and then. Janet, took the’ work into her
rather awkward fingers.
“T know it is awful hard, but—” Janet
gave Leona a swift’ glance. “I've just
got to learn to make it, because Carlo—
well—Carlo is my sister—she'll so love
this pattern.”
At nine o'clock for
morn-
several
ings Janet came, and her work grew.
Sometimes there -were vexat’ons, but
in general the needle was quite deftly
handled, though not always with the
best results, But in time the teacher
noted that the last rows were done
much better than the first.
One day Janet asked if she might
come at eleven instead of nine. “ Yes,”
said Leona, “ but it’ will be a little more
crowded here then.”
Though the teacher's attention was not
o much hers as in the earlier hour, Janet
accomplished more than usual that day,
and, when the others at the noon whistle
gathered up their
pieces of work bur-
riedly and
them into
bags of
gathered up her
crocheting and put it
into her shabby little
reticule, with a smile
playing around ‘her
lips.
Looking at her as
she fastened her hat-
pins. Leona thought.
“What a strange girl.
So cager to. learn.”
Then she saw Janet
making her way to
her.
“1 think, Miss Day,
I can manage © the
yoke now, and I thank
you so much for show-
ing me so often.
“T. believe, Janet,
that you can get along
very nicely,” said
Leona, “and you know
you can come
k.”
“You are kind, in-
deed,” said Janet, as
she laid her hand for
a moment on the wrist
of the other. Then
she turned and van-
ished down the aisle.
“She is pretty—
but I would not care for another one like
her to teach. I cannot say that I want
her coming back—for a long while.”
Teova was to see her late pupil a good
deal sooner than she expected, for five
minutes later she was looking again into
the honest blue eyes. She was only two
blocks from Canfield’s Emporium. Janet
girls,
-had just come from out an Jtalian fruit
store and was carrying a bag bulging with
oranges and bananas. . She passed Leona
with a shy little nod, but turned back. end
it was then that Leona looked straight
into the blue eyes. The voice was timid,
but it held honest interest.
“Are your waiting for a car?” Janet
asked. Leona nodded.
“Tam afraid you won't get it. That is
—do you know the conductors and motor-
men went on a strike this morning?”
“Oh!” said Leona, “And I shall not
have time to walk down to the restaurant,
at there really is no good place around
her
Teona’s face showed anxiety as: she
looked along the signs of chop suey and
lunch counters across the way. “It is full
time that Canfield’s started their long-
talked-of café.”
“Yes,” said Janet, “syropathetically.
if you have any trou- -
Iler eyes followed Leona’s gaze from one
sign to another, then she turned, and said,
“Miss Day. would you not like to come
in and e a cup of tea with me and
my siste and a flush of confusion coy-
ered her
“Why,
ec.
Leona’s eyes
Janet!” she said.
“ We are just a little way from here, and
Carlotta would be glad—sou have helped
her 80 Ww onderfully.”
“ She is my sister,” said Janet. “ She is
younger than IJ, and she is lots nicer than
I am, Miss Day.” Janet’s voice trembled
with its weight of pride, as she looked
straight into her companion’s eyes “ Car-
lotta! She's pretty. She’s dainty. She's
everything splendid.” Then she added in a
softer, lower tone, “I'd like so to have
you come, if you would. We are just plain
folks. you know, But do com
“Why, bless you,” Leona cai, laying ber
hand on the girl’s, and looking ‘straight
into her eyes. “I am sure I shall be glad
to have a cup of tea with you, | and it is
kind indeed of you to invite me.”
“Tt is but a little way from here,” said
Janet, and then the two turned and went
a few blocks down the street. Janet walk-
ing eagerly, and Leona following a little
more at her leisure, doubtful if she were
doing the right thing.
Over a grain store, clean, and fragrant
with the bins of corn and golden grain,
Leona found Janet's sunny rooms. A tor-
toise-shell cat leaped from the window sill,
and came purring around Janet in a friend-
ly fashion. Janet stooped (and lifted him
in her arms, and then said. “ You'll have to
Tom. Ife is ‘quite the one of the
fonily." There was just a slight tremble
in Janct’s voice, “Father used to think
a great deal of Tom.”
Looking around the plain room, scantily
furnished. in which Leona found -herself
standing, her eyes reste] on a round table
with a white cloth and a little teapot,
and, on the window sill, a Baby Rambler,
filling the nook with roseate hue. The cur-
tains by the Rambler were thin and cheap,
but snow-white, and book with gilt
edges rested by the Rambler,. But it was
opened wide.
&
“This is the Little Lady of Wonderful Stitches.”
the young girl sitting in a wheel chair near
the window, that Janet turne? to.
“This is Carlotta, Miss Day—my sister,
Carlotta.”
Frail and delicate: asa Tittle w indfower,
