On his way down from Vivian Court, the mining man's attention was caught
by the great corner show window at Sedgewick-Wilson's, and instantly out
of the display of handsome evening gowns his eyes singled a dancing frock
of pink chiffon. "She always looked pretty," he told himself, "but when
she wore pink--my!" and he turned and found his way through the swinging
doors. A little later the elevator had left him at the second floor. For a
moment the mirrors bewildered him; they gave a sense of vastness,
repeating the elegant apartment in every direction, and whichever way he
glanced there was himself, seated on the edge of a chair, his square shoes
set primly on the thick green carpet, his hat held stiffly over the
crippled hand. Then an imposing young woman sauntered towards him. "Well,"
she said severely, "what can I show you?"
Banks drew himself a little stiffer. "A dress," he said abruptly in his
highest key, "ready-made and pink."
"What size?"
"Why"--the little man paused, and a blush that was nearer a shadow crossed
his weather-worn face--"let me see. She's five feet seven and a quarter,
in her shoes, and I judge a couple of inches wider through the shoulders
than you." His glance moved to another saleswoman, who came a step nearer
and stood listening, frankly amused. "You look more her figure," he added.
"Takes a thirty-eight." The first saleswoman brought out a simple gown of
pink veiling and laid it on the rack before Banks, and he leaned forward
and took a fold between his thumb and forefinger, gravely feeling the
texture.
"This is priced at twenty-five dollars," she said. "How does that suit?"
Banks drew himself erect. "There's one down-stairs in the front window I
like better," he said.
The woman looked him shrewdly over. He had put his hat down, and her
glance rested involuntarily on his maimed hand. "That pink chiffon is a
hundred and twenty-five," she explained.
"I can stand it; the price doesn't cut any figure, if it's what I want."
He paused, nodding a little aggressively and tapping the carpet with one
square foot. "The lady it's for is a mighty good judge of cloth, and I
want you to show me the best you've got."
She glanced at the other saleswoman, but she had turned her back--her
shoulders shook--and she hurried to bring out a duplicate of the pink
chiffon, which she arranged carefully on the rack. Bank's face softened;
he reached to touch it with a sort of caress. "This is more like it," he
said; then, turning to the second girl, "but I can tell better if you'll
put it on. You don't seem very busy," he added quickly, "and I'll pay you
your time."
"Why, that's all right," she answered and came to pick up the gown. "I'll
be glad to; that's what I'm here for."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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