red half-way up.
There were rustic window boxes of birch, filled with nasturtiums and
Wandering Jew.

Inside the store there were two counters, one on either side as you
entered, and these had been Mr. Peckham's contribution to the good cause.
Several old hickory armchairs from Cousin Roxy's helped to give the
interior an inviting appearance, and Sally put up little, thin scrim
curtains at the windows.

At first the stocking up of the store had been somewhat of a problem, but
Cousin Roxy helped out with the business plan, and by this time nearly
every one in Gilead was taking a keen, personal interest in the girls'
venture.

It was Ma Parmalee who first suggested Sally selling on the commission
plan.

"I've got thirty-five jars of the best kind of preserves and canned goods
in Gilead, though I say it as shouldn't," she announced, one day, when she
had stopped on her way by the crossroads to look over the new
establishment. "Most of them are pints, and besides I've got--land, I
don't know how many glasses of jell. I'd be willing to give you a right
good share of whatever you could make on 'em, if you could sell 'em off
for me down here."

Sally agreed gladly, and the fruit made a splendid showing along the upper
shelves behind the counters. Not only that, but it began to sell at once.
Mr. Ormond bought up all of the quince jelly after sampling one glass, and
Ralph acknowledged that he and Honey were perfectly willing to become
responsible for the strawberry preserves and spiced pears. By the time
Frances Cunningham and the other girls from the Academy had arrived,
Sally was already looking around for more supplies.

Then Cynthy Allen had come over with Cousin Roxy one day. Ever since her
home had burned the year before she had been under the friendly roof up at
Elmhurst, helping out according to her strength, and never fully realizing
how the shelter of the old house kept her from the poor-farm down on the
Plains. She came into the store with an old black lace veil fluttering as
usual from her hat, and a brown bombazine dress that dated from the
eighties.

"Well, you've got the place fixed up real sightly," she said. "I wonder--I
don't suppose you'd have any sale for braided rag rugs, would you? I've
got some awful pretty ones packed away in my chest, brand new, too. I've
been sewing and winding all winter for Roxana, too, but I guess she plans
to use them for carpets."

Sally accepted the suggestion instantly