The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-06

he lnNueQCe enleEeQ lLtii AFNo
slowly, but it worked none the
less surely. perhaps a little more
surely than they knew, certainly
than they would have openly admitted
prone as they both were TO turn the
most serious things into jest before
conversation had advanced far me
story Of this influence Is. indeed, only
the record Of a mood, a mood singularly
sustained and almost identical for two
on the whole, rather differently consti-
tuted young men. In New York city
to be possessed of a mood, grave OF
CAV. for more than the passing mo-
ment. is 10 be in daily peril of a public
verdict of insanity, or at any rate, OF
being considered queer" Something
Of this they doubtless felt themselves,
and il gave them a certain Pharisaical
pleasure TO have a fresh proof that
their earlier academical sensitiveness
was not frozen over by the chill OF
metropolitan routine
The influence. Of course, was femln-
inc From their apartment carefully
! selected in the quiet part of town ADA
/ cent to Washington Square north, they
went for breakfast every morning TO
weII-known bakeshop restaurant, usu-
ter Of their employment, which de-
manded their labors till midnight Along
/ one side of the large. Old-fashionsd
dining room stretched a counter laden
with baskets Of buns, ioaves of bread,
and other specimens of the bakers
skill At the upper end of this counter.
near the entrance. sat the cashier. a
woman Of tremendous size-hOrizOntally
and of apparently corresponding good
nature They noticed her at once, and
they were also vaguely aware Of others
behind the counter. But they paid
scant attention TO this part of the es-
tabliahment at first, selecting and
breaking in" a waiter TO their peculiar
/ ideas of breakfast and eying. as Is
the wont of normal man. the numerous
pretty girls and more or less attract
i've women who sat around them, for
itifying themselves for a renewed attack
on the eternal bargain counter Then,
one day. they made tie great discov-
/ err.
] Which OF them was the true "Colum-
/ bus of Dolly" as they put it, was al
ways a matter of dispute, conducted
/ with amused warmth on many occasions
/ to the mystidcation OF their friends,
who were never enlightened as to the
/ character or location of this Fl Dorado
1 of all girlish charms. But between them
/ there was a silent agreement that who
Z discovered Dolly did not matter, so long
/ as the discovery was made.
! Bowling to this agreement. then, Dolly
/ was discovered one morning behind the
/ bun laden counter. where she had doubt
/ less been busted during all the mis-
spent weeks previously passed in eye
/ ing the customers. She was small OF
I stature, dainUily developed i'm figure. per-
I haps nineteen years of age, and Of
| doubtful nationality. Her little face was
round, yet her features were piquantIy
! regular. and she had hint of the
sentimental pointed chin so dear TO the
/ Lombardy painters. Her eyes were black
/ and big and roguish and tender, and her
cheeks glowed with the deep rose OF
I havvIass health Above this snare for
mans eyes mass OF black hair was
coileG on top of her head. and came re-
/ belIiously down over her brows, part
I ing adorabIy on one side.
The two discoveries looked ut her long
! in uno.sguised admiration. not unmixed
with establishment. Something far more
| delertaDle than a new planet had, in
| deed. swung into their ken. She became
! conscious Of their glanCes presently
/ flashed back a response. disclosing be-
/ tween the sweet bows Of her lips row
of pearls. and then turned away
Did Ne~ York city produce herr" one
! OF them exclaimed.
No" said the other. some artist n
century or more ago fell asleep and
dreamed her, and his dream has just
come true"
Was it Watteau?" asked the first
NO, said the other again. 1T was
| lions marble, this china ideal has won
! her way TO life"
! Then her name shall be Dolly" the
first announced. And so Dolly was dis
! covered and taken possession of in the
name of Romance, a monarch to whom
! these two young men at birth had sworn
/ secret allegiance. Her nationality must
remain forever unknown. For them.
she was born of a Dresden poet-wOrk-
mans dream, and. like true art, she
transcribed racial distinctions
From the day Dolly was discovered.
you may readily guess, their eyes
sought her first of all upon entering
the restaurant. and there were few
| breakfasts eaten elsewhere. On the
second morning Dolly would not so
much as give them a glance, though
she gave to the waiter the buns they
ordered. which they ate with senti-
mental relish, declaring her fingers had
lsweetened them. They agreed that she
was something OF a coquette. not ad-
hitting the possibility that they had
not interested her on the previous day.
And they We're not far from right, for
on the third day sh b,ushingly smiled
upon them; and from that day on, with
craftily placed times Jr Indifference or
coldness, she greeted tHem with her
adorable smile or noCted her captivat-