The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-05-15
Q GOO 90
: CONE OPERA
; CLOAK, $780,
BY FRANCES CROFT
Copyright, 1909, by the

Miss Lillian Fairweather's state of
mind was far from pleasant as she sat
in one of Schenck & Schenck's stuffy
little fitting rooms. Nicholas the Meek,
Nicholas the Downtrodden, had turned.
The words of his letter stood out vivid
ly before her eyes:
Jacob served seven years for Rachel
and then got her sister. l have served
five years, see no hope of getting you in
seven, and you have no sister. Unless
you say yes in week to the question I
have asked you so often I sail on the
Mesaba for Europe. Remember at a
signal from you I shall turn back at the
last moment, but my terms are uncondi-
tional surrender.
Nicholas had been the subject Of
gibes, both to his face and behind his
back. One that she had coined she
because she fancied it was clever:
Church on Sunday, theater Monday,
flowers Tuesday, candy Wednesday,
new book Thursday, dinner Friday,
dead sick On Saturday of Nicholas
Purdy."
1t did not seem so clever to her now,
after a week during which there had
been no one to carry her prayer book
to church, no one to take her to first
night performances, no flowers, no
candy, no books, no dinners, no Nicho-
las Purdy, but there had been a wea-
ried feeling. Much to her own surprise.
she found that she missed the man
more than his attentions
This was the day of sailing for the
Mesaba. From some feeling curios-
ity, of course-she knew the pier from
which it started, the car lines leading
to ii and the time it took to get there.
She certainly would not give in to him,
especially after the insolent tone of
the letter. Yet it was from fear that
she might so far forget herself as to go
down to the dock and lose her suprem-
acy over Nicholas forever that had
brought her here. Her suit very OPP
portunely needed alteration. Miss
Macy, the head filter. had hurried off
with it, promising to send something
to throw around her for the few min
utes till it was ready.
Then a girl had appeared with IL
gorgeous pink opera cape. Such raj
ment was far beyond the slender means
Of the struggling artist, but for once
she forgot to revel in it's richness. She
was looking anXiously at her watch.
Three-quarters of an hour and then the
Mesaba would clear her docks.
How fast the minutes flew by! Half
an hour now!
She pounded on the door. Miss Macy
hustled in. I'm SO sorry, Miss Fair
weather. I've been delayed with some
customers. You shall have your dress
shortly"
But must have it at oncev'
"Impossiblev' And Miss Macy bus
tied off
Lillian was now frantic.
She caught the next girl that passed.
"Give me a dress, any kind of a
dress!''
A moment later she was tearing a
chocolate color. She rushed into it
quite unmindful of the fact that it was
two sizes too large, long wasted and
bullying at the hips. Throwing the
opera cape around her, she stuck on her
| blue hat and rushed madly from the
store
She hailed passing cab. give dol
lars if you get me to pier II before the
Mesaba sails!'
1t seemed an eternity until she was
rushing down the long wooden shed.
Pushing aside the man who demanded
her ticket, she ran up the gangplank,
and her feet had scarcely left it when
it was withdrawn. No Nicholas was
in sight. She approached the steward
and asked him where Mr.. Purdy's
stateroom was. He replied that no
such party was booked.
Then Lillian gave a gasp. She ran to
the end of the steamer nearest the
dock only to find that the vessel had
| begun to move. She uttered a cry
which attracted the attention of d
youngish man sitting on the piles al
the corner Of the pier hanging his
heels over the water.
He jumped up and whistled, for he
realized the full enormdty of the situa
ton. She was going, and he was to be
left behind. The ocean would separate
/
ings. His bluff had worked beyond
his expectations.
He ran to the steamers starting place
and found stout commercial looking
man in state of great excitement bar
gaining with the owner Of small tug
to take him to the outgoing steamer
Nicholas joined forces with him.
common object-to catch the steamer
bound them together.
The thing was all arranged in few
minutes. They quickly got alongside
and hailed the steamer.
There was already great eNcitemen
aboard the Mesaba. A woman in i;
dirty brown gown. a pink opera cloal
and blue hat was begging hysterical
ly to be taken back to land.
The captain saw peace for him whel
he perceived the tug. The steamer
stopped, and Lillian was transferred t.
meet her shameless lover and the just
ly indignant costulner. She bean t.
upbraid the former when the CONNER
cial man interjected:
easy now. easy. What about nj.
two hundred and fifty dollar wrap. no
to mention the dress? l see you hav'
damaged the cloak so we can't take i
back. Now, how do know you cal
pay for it?"
Poor Lillian! Two hundred and fit,
dollars on demand! Her cheeks burn
ed as she faltered. 81 can't"
"Well, then, will have you arrested
for grand larcenyv' cried the irate Mr.
Schenck.
But Nicholas now interrupted angri
ly. "How do you dare, sir, to speak 81
to my wifeY'
"Your wife? She is Miss Fairweath
er, anu we have her name on on
books"
"My wife. We were starting for Eu
rope today, but were both detained, a
you see."
Despair and rage and thankfulnes
mingled in poor Lilian's mind. But sh
| H. H. L Y41I~ IL