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he was looking she gazed up as if at the clouds and smiled wistfully。
That is the shopgirl smile； and I enjoin you to shun it unless you are
well fortified with callosity of the heart； caramels and a congeniality for
the capers of Cupid。 This smile belonged to Masie's recreation hours and
not to the store； but the floorwalker must have his own。 He is the Shylock
of the stores。 When be comes nosing around the bridge of his nose is a
toll…bridge。 It is goo…goo eyes or 〃git〃 when be looks toward a pretty girl。
Of course not all floor… walkers are thus。 Only a few days ago the papers
printed news of one over eighty years of age。
One day Irving Carter； painter； millionaire； trav… eller； poet；
automobilist； happened to enter the Big… gest Store。 It is due to him to add
that his visit was not voluntary。 Filial duty took him by the collar and
dragged him inside； while his mother philandered among the bronze and
terra…cotta statuettes。
Carter strolled across to the glove counter in order to shoot a few
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minutes on the wing。 His need for gloves was genuine； be had forgotten to
bring a pair with him。 But his action hardly calls for apology； be… cause be
had never heard of glove…counter flirtations。
As he neared the vicinity of his fate be hesitated； suddenly conscious
of this unknown phase of Cupid's less worthy profession。
Three or four cheap fellows； sonorously garbed； were leaning over the
counters； wrestling with the mediatorial hand…coverings； while giggling
girls played vivacious seconds to their lead upon the strident string of
coquetry。 Carter would have re… treated； but he had gone too far。 Masie
confronted him behind her counter with a questioning look in eyes as
coldly； beautifully； warmly blue as the glint of summer sunshine on an
iceberg drifting in Southern seas。
And then Irving Carter； painter； millionaire； etc。； felt a warm flush rise
to his aristocratically pale face。 But not from diffidence。 The blush was
intellectual in origin。 He knew in a moment that he stood in the ranks of
the ready…made youths who wooed the gig… gling girls at other counters。
Himself leaned against the oaken trysting place of a cockney Cupid with a
desire in his heart for the favor of a glove salesgirl。 He was no more than
Bill and Jack and Mickey。 And then be felt a sudden tolerance for them；
and an elating； courageous contempt for the conventions upon which he
had fed； and an unhesitating deter… mination to have this perfect creature
for his own。
When the gloves were paid for and wrapped the Carter lingered for a
moment。 The dimples at corners of Masie's damask mouth deepened。 All
gen… tlemen who bought gloves lingered in just that way。 She curved an
arm； showing like Psyche's through her shirt…waist sleeve； and rested an
elbow upon the show…case edge。
Carter had never before encountered a situation of which he had not
been perfect master。 But now he stood far more awkward than Bill or Jack
or Mickey。 He had no chance of meeting this beautiful girl so… cially。 His
mind struggled to recall the nature and habits of shopgirls as be had read
or heard of them。 Somehow be had received the idea that they some… times
did not insist too strictly upon the regular channels of introduction。 His
heart beat loudly at the thought of proposing an unconventional meeting
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with this lovely and virginal being。 But the tumult in his heart gave him
courage。
After a few friendly and well…received remarks on general subjects； he
laid his card by her hand on the counter。
〃Will you please pardon me；〃 he said； 〃if I seem too bold； but I
earnestly hope you will allow me the pleasure of seeing you again。 There
is my name； I assure you that it is with the greatest respect that I ask the
favor of becoming one of your acquaintances。 May I not hope for the
privilege？〃
Masie knew men … especially men who buy gloves。 Without hesitation
she looked him frankly and smil… ingly in the eyes； and said：
〃Sure。 I guess you're all right。 I don't usually go out with strange
gentlemen； though。 It ain't quite ladylike。 When should you want to see me
again？〃
〃As soon as I may；〃 said Carter。 〃If you would allow me to call at your
home； I 〃
Masie laughed musically。 〃Oh； gee； no！〃 she said； emphatically。 〃If
you could see our flat once！ There's five of us in three rooms。 I'd just like
to see ma's face if I was to bring a gentleman friend there！〃
〃Anywhere； then；〃 said the enamored Carter； 〃that will be convenient
to you。〃
〃Say；〃 suggested Masie； with a bright…idea look in her peach…blow face；
〃I guess Thursday night will about suit me。 Suppose you come to the
corner of Eighth Avenue and Forty…eighth Street at 7：30。 I live right near
the corner。 But I've got to be back home by eleven。 Ma never lets me stay
out after eleven。〃 Carter promised gratefully to keep the tryst； and then
hastened to his mother； who was looking about for him to ratify her
purchase of a bronze Diana。
A salesgirl； with small eyes and an obtuse nose； strolled near Masie；
with a friendly leer。
〃Did you make a hit with his nobs； Mase？〃 she asked； familiarly。
〃The gentleman asked permission to call。〃 an… swered Masie； with the
grand air； as she slipped Car… ter's card into the bosom of her waist。
〃Permission to call！〃 echoed small eyes； with a snigger。 〃Did he say
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anything about dinner in the Waldorf and a spin in his auto afterward？〃
〃Oh； cheese it！〃 said Masie； wearily。 〃You've been used to swell things；
I don't think。 You've had a swelled bead ever since that hose…cart driver
took you out to a chop suey joint。 No； be never mentioned the Waldorf；
but there's a Fifth Avenue address on his card； and if be buys the supper
you can bet your life there won't be no pigtail on the waiter what takes the
order。〃
As Carter glided away from the Biggest Store with his mother in his
electric runabout； he bit his lip with a dull pain at his heart。 He knew that
love had come to him for the first time in all the twenty…nine years of his
life。 And that the object of it