The Irish standard., 1904-12-03
A MODERN
TALUS - -
By MRS. J. r. MURRAY

r HE s4s.: naa come i'll from their
suburban home tor days shop
ping in the great city, ard having salts
factorily finished their erranos, found
themselves with an hour of leisure on
their hands before train time. Their
flames were Alice Burton and Helen
Gray, aged, respectively, l6 and II, and
they were full of Astounding spirits, and
one of them at least was characterized
by all the thoughtlessness OF youth.
The brother of Alice accompanied them.
AS they were leaving one of the great
department stores they paused to admire
. wonderful display of fine brasses re-
Gently imported. The merchants were
advertising their wares in many ways,
tModern Talus the Man of Brass" as
being particularly representative. The
\ brass man was seated upon platform
in front of the store. He was young
fellow Of about 20, and was entirely COW
cred with material closely resembling
brass. His motions were slow and me-
chanical, as he initiated the movements
of figure run by machinery. 1t was
really wonderful not an eyelid quiz
cred.
Glow does he manage it?" exclaimed
Alice.
Il don't believe he's real" said Helen.
"1ll bet you a pound Of candy that
can make him laugh said Alice, in a
spirit of mischief.
ooh. don't" Helen demonstrated.
Somebody will see you"
Nobody in this crowd knows me. and
besides, I'll be very careful, I'm simply
dying to try it,"
81 think We had better go on. What
wouldy ourmotherth think and Tom?' pru-
dent Helen said. warnin2ly.
ooh, Toni He never wants me to
do anything. See he's looking at us
now, so here goes and thereupon Alice
made a face" of the most hileous and
1aughter-inspiring kind.
The brass man was firm; the mechan-
ical movement continued; not mus
Gle of his face twitched
"Now we must go on" Helen urged
annoyed and worried, and earnestly
wishing she had not come to town with
thoughtess Alice.
Gust once more!" and again Alice
contorted her features in a hideous
grimace. The effect was the same, so
she hurried on to join her friend who
had already started.
Not a soul saw me, and you see it
didn't make bit OF difference; besides,
1t was such fun remarked Alice laugh
ing gleefully.
I'm afraid | don't see anything very
funny about it, and we must hurry on
home" Helen replied.
The girls reached their homes in
safety, and possibly the incident would
have passed from their minds had not
Alice on the following afternoon received
q mssve that set her heart beating
wildly 1t was written on very loud"
stationery, in a 'iluurishy" hand, and
ran thus:
eff the pretty young lady who so
kindly noticed the young gent who was
representing the Modern Talus" on
State street, Thursday afternoon, at
about two p. m. will kindly appoint a
meeting anywhere, and at any time.
the young gent will erdeavcr to con-
vince her that he has not at least heart
OF brass nor eyes Of brass He ad-
mlred the Gear young miss greatly. and
only the eXi2encies of business pre-
vented him rom responding TO he l. evil
dent encouragement. Indeed. be would
have lost his job il he had given way
to the mirth her exceedingly Amusing
grlmaces caused him. However. he
will explain all when he sees her.
Address Mr.. Ralph Montmorencv
Percy, General Delivery, Chicago. ILL.,
A sicllening feeling came over Alice,
her head swan. What should she Lo?
The first thing to do was to see Helen.
rob! that | had listened to her aQod
advice" she walled
Helen received her news sravely, fully
realizing that this bright and luyable
girl needed a lesson, but she Gid not say
nor act 81 told you So She listened
to the torrent of idle regrets" for
awhile and then said: The strancest
part of the whole thing, and the part
that worries me most, is how he found
out your address. Burn this note right
now, and keep in de middle Oh dc road
be sure to go i'll before dark, and be very,
very careful-and I'll stand by you, old
GIRL if you are naughty"