The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-17
THE IMAGE OF ELMY.
BY L0RENA M. FACE. 'nnvri ohf 1QaA hu nailu Eforu p


 Co.)
 The front of the World of Won ders" was decorated with banners. bandrols and bunting. On the side walk, before the place, a mixed miscel- lany of mankind crushed and swarmed to see the free show in the big win dow. !
 Say, Snipe, youse don't want ter scare yerseif out here till youse has to his fellow craftsman who was be- coming tired of the buffeting of the restless swirl of the human current. She's a dead bute. I'm gone on Ter myself. Sure. She's de slickest piece of machinery ever made. Oats right And dat real dat youse ud sware dat she'd met youse somewheres and was winkin' at youse ter let youse know dat she remembered it. Hon est l ain't a kiddin.'"
 "Aw. como on, Reddy," growlej the one addressed as Snipe.
 'Naw. I won't" Reddy stood his ground. braoed against the window. 'Dey just pulls back de two curtains inside here, an dere she is. Den. dey winds up de buzzar at Ter back and she begins. I've seen Ger twice now and I'm goin' to see CT agin. Sure She's wort 1t fer shes like one of de gang on de stage, only she's de hull ting-and all made out a wax. an wheels, an springs, an electricity 'stead of de real stun. I'm givin it to youse straight. snipe. Oats right"
 Up the street came an old woman, lank, and lean, and tall and tottering. Ehe wore a faded red calico dress, her face was shaded by a limp sIat sun bonnet; her stopped shoulders were wrapped ina tattered, plaid shawl; her feet shuffled forward in a pair of nilapidated cowhide shoes. She, too, was swept into the eddying crowd and presently stranded beside the two bootblacks. Her eyes, sunk deep in cavernous sockets and hid in the som bre depths of her bonnet, roamed here and there over the faces around her the women's faces: the men might have been so many sticks or so much straw for all the notice she gave them
 Why's the folks all a-waitin' round this away. sonny" she asked Reddy. who was damned close beside her. What be they aimin' to do?"
 "All waitin' to git squint at de wax lady what walks and-every- ting" Reddy explained.
 "Whart might she be at?" the old woman questioned, vaguely.
 Behind de curtains in dc winder. Youse1n see Fer in a minute, ef youse don't drive yerself off," Then he turned and whispered in a stage aside to Snipe: "Reg'lar hayseeder."
 The country woman leaned against the window. evidently more to gain a moments rest than through curiosity, and drew long. bony hand across her brow to push back a stray whisp of grey haid. Her eyes never stopped their restless rowing
 we ought ter git nearer de main gates ter de fair grounds CT we won't git a shine de hull Snipes be- gan.
 Hold yer jaw Will yerr' Reddy broke in. I'll never take yer 10 an- nudder show. Dere. Don't yer see de curtains move? l kin make out de bottom ot Ter dress and de end of 'er little w'ite shoe. Sure She's comin |, Stop yer shovin' back dere. will youser
 The plush curtains drew back slow ly, The crowd murmured it's admira- tion as the beautiful figure of a young girl, clothed In white satin, was re- vealed. lackey in blue and black, standing In the background, wound up the mechanism between her shoulders. This done he took one of the waxy hands and walked the automaton be- fore the draperies, Then he disap- peared behind the heavy folds and the wax work statue stood alone. It seem ed full minute before the slightest movement stirred the puppet; then one white, rounded arm raised with A Jerk ey motion, and the jeweled fingers waited kiss from the lips of smtll- ing scarlet. where the tips of a double row of pearly teeth were revealed to the staring assemblage; the other hand