the satisfaction of seein' Isabel Janse's face light up real bright over my pretty things, the way any normal young woman's ought to, when she goes shoppin'. And, honest, I don't know whose eyes were shiniest—Isabel's or mine, when she stood up before me in the blue challie with the polka dots dancin' all over her.
The followin' is a list of the articles Isabel was able to exchange for that little cameo of hers: one blue challie dress with polka dots; one pink striped percale with hamburg collar; two cute little aprons with ruffles round the bib-part and blue bows stuck saucy on some puffy little pockets in front; two white waists with lots of val insertion; one white wash skirt; one wide crushed girdle of soft plaid silk; one piece of enamel jewelry (brooch, blue-bird design); and one string of uncrushable pearl beads.
I tell you by the time I'd helped Isabel pick out all those things, she'd got real friendly with me. At first she'd been rather inclined not to discuss her affairs any more than necessary, and I hadn't found out how 'twas she managed to make fifteen dollars last so long. For one of the soldiers told me that Isabel had been carryin' on these Wednesday and Saturday parties of hers for two years now, come fall. After our shoppin'-bee, she opened up quite human and told me.
