The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-13

ha! I went fishing day before yesterday
and got dreadfully su~nburned."
And yet the newspapers have been com
planning that it has rained all the week.
and the Rev. Mr.. Riggs shook his head
sadly.
1T did rain, RS you say, 10Y I come to
think of it," said I, "but the sun came out
for five minute about noon, and did two
days work, especially On my nose. You
see it had been raining, and my nose was
all wet, and then the steam, when the sun
struck me, sort of parboiled me, you under
stand"
Howard, m boy, be frank with me. If
l can help you
"Oh dear, no; a little cold cream and a
good deal of patience, and l shall be all
right"
gan Mr.. Riggs, with such deep sorrow in
his voice that Maude burst into tears.
"By everything I hold sacred" 1 ex-
claimed, springing to my feet, 'this nose is
a mysterious dispensation of providence,
for which no act of mine is responsible"
II trust SO. indeed" said the Rev. Mr..
Riggs, dubiously, "for I should regret to
bear any but favorable tidings home"
"Oh. You mustn't; you really mustn't"
cried Maude. II will confess everything. It
is the bloom Of eternal YOUTH
"Tha blush of everlasting shame, you
mean" said Mr.. Riggs.
mo, no; you don't understand" inter-
rupted Maude. 9TH bloom Of eternal
youth is a nasty. horrid preparation for the
complexion. In a moment Of imbecility I
bought a bottle and brought it home. Then
Howdy frightened mo so about using it
that | didn't dare put it on my face. But
still hated to waste it, after spending rs
cents for the bottle. SO T decided to try an
experiment. 1 said to myself. this prepara-
tlon WAS made for women. and mems skin
is ever SO much thicker than theirs, SO it
surely won't hurt if put a little bit on
Howdy's nose when he's asleep, Just to see
what it would do"
But why in the name of Beolzebub's
grandmother yelled, "did you keep on
doing it, for of course one dose didn't bring
your experiment to the gorgeous and gilt
tering success it has now attained?"
II just followed directions on the bot
tle," sobbed Maude. ut says that if the
first application is not entirely successful.
you must try again, and keep right at it,
for unless six bottles have been taken,
Madame Jicger will not be responsible for
the result. She says that one must not be
discouraged If the skin at first assumes a
burned and inflamed appearance. for that
is only the diseased blood coming to the
surface to eyaporate. Oh, dear; 1 know
these directions by heart. And, Howdy,
I have felt so guilty-you can't know how
wretched criminal carrying his secret in
his breast; and every night when l put the
bloom on it seemed as If l were commit
ting murder. And my conscience has been
blistered--blistered like your poor. dear
old nose. Oh, Howdy, oan you forgive
me?'
She fell upon her knees at my feet. Thu
Rev. Mr.. Riggs, perceiving that a domestic
crisis was upon us, discreetly withdrew.
"Maude, 1 can forgive you," said /, ''but
something or somebody must be the victim
OF my revenge. Where is the bottle of Eter-
nal YOUTH"
She brought it with trembling hands, and
I dashed it out of the window. 1t lit on "A
bydrant and was shattered. Then / put on
a mask and tried to forget what was behind
it,
Since that day my nose has steadily i'm
proved and my reputation with it; but I de-
clare to you, on my word as an honorable
man, that the weather proof paint on that
hydrant has shriveled and cracked and
peeled off in n way that a hundred winters
could not counterfeit. And there the poor,
cast non thing stands, In the sight of ali
men. with its complexion utterly and ire
trieyably ruined, a monument to the eff
cacy OF Madame Jigger's Eternal Bloom.
HowARD FIELDING.