The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-07
DOLLY, A BAKE SHOP IDYL

The influence entered their lives slow
~, but il worked none the less surely,
perhaps a little more surely than they
knew, certainly than they would have
openly admitted, prone as they botn
were to turn the most serious Things
into jest before conversation had ad-
vanced far. The 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 constituted young men IN
New York city, to be possessed OF d
mood, grave or gay, for more than the
passing moment, is to be in daily peril
of public verdict of insanity or at any
rate. of being considered queer Some
thing of this they doubtless felt them
selves, and it gave them certain
Pharisaical pleasure to have fresh
proof that their earlier academical SEN
sitiveness was not frozen over by the
chill Of metropolitan routine.
The influence, of course, was feminine
From their apartment, carefully select
ed in the quiet part of town adjacent to
Washington Square north, they went
Tor breakfast every morning to a wen
known bakeshop restaurant, usually at
the noon hour, from the character OF
their employment, which demanded
their labOrs till midnight. Along one
side of the large, old fashioned dining
room stretched a counter, laden with
baskets of buns, loaves 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-a 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
20 this part Of the establishment at first,
selecting and breaking in" a waiter 10
their peculiar ideas of breakfast and
eying, as is the wont Of normal man,
the numerous pretty girls and more or
a
them, fortifying themselves for a re-
newed attack on the eternal bargain
counter. Then, one day. they made the
great discovery.
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 mystificatiOn of their friends,
who were never enlightened as to the
character or location of this Ell Dorado
of all girliiSh charms. But between
them there was silent agreement that
who 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
doubtless been busted during all the
misspent weeks previously passed in
eyeing the customers. She was small
of stature, daintily developed in figure.
perhaps 10 years of age, and of doubt
full nationality. Her little face was
round, yet her features were piquantly
regular, and she had a hint of the SEN
timental 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 flawless health. Above this snare
for mans eyes a mass of black hair was
coiled on top of her head. and came re-
belliously down over her brows. part
ing adorably on one side.
The two discoveries looked at her long
in undisguised admiration, not unmixed
with establishment. Something far more
delectable 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 New York city produce her?' one
of them exclaimed.
y st'No," said the other, some artist a
century or more ago fell asleep and
dreamed her, and his dream has just
some true"
WAS it Watteau2" asked the first.
mo" said the other again. 1T was
some lover in Dresden. Like Pygma-
lions marble. this china ideal has won
her way to life"
"Then her name shall be Dolly" the
first announced. And so Dolly was
discovered and taken possession of il