Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-06-20
ZONE OPERA
!, CLOAK, $780,
l Copyright, 1902, by the
y g. g. Mcclure Company
GO
BY FRANCES CROFT

Miss Lillian Fairweather's state Of
mind was far from pleasant as she sat
fin 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
have asked you so often | sail on the
Mesaba for Europe. Remember, at
signal from you 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
gave current issue among her friends
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 q 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 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 1t started, the car lines leading
to II and the time 1t took to get there
She certainly would not give In to him,
especially after the insolent tone Of
the letter. Yet 1t 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 q 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 its 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 few by! Half
an hour now,
She pounded on the door. Miss Macy
hustled In. Ppm so sorry, Miss Fair
weather. I've been delayed with some
customers. You shall have your dress
shortly"
"But must have 1t at once"
Impossibe" And Miss Macy bus
tied off.
Lillian was now frantic.
She caught the next girl that passed.
"Give me dress. any kind Of n
dress!
A moment later she was tearing n
price mark off sloppy dress Of dirty
chocolate color She rushed into 1t
quite unmindful of the fact that 1t was
two sizes too large, long walstcd and
bulglng 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. Five dol
lars If you get me to pier IL 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 1t when
It was withdrawn. No Nicholas was
In sight. She approached the steward
and asked him where Mr.. Purdys
stateroom was. He replied that no
such party was booked.
Then Lillian gave gasp. She ran to
the end OF the steamer nearest the
dock only to find that the vessel had
begun to move. She uttered cry
which attracted the attention Of Il
younglsh man sitting on the piles at
the corner of the pier hanging his
heels over the water.
He jumped up and whistled, for he
realized the full enormity of the situa-
ton She was going. and he was to be
left behind. The ocean would separate
them. besides sen of misunderstanding
ings. His bluff had worked beyond
his expectations.
He ran to the steamers starting place
and found a stout commercial looking
man In n state of great excitement bar
gaining with the owner Of small tug
to take him to the outgoing steamer.
Nicholas joined forces with him. A
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.
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