The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-11-18
A MODERN
TALUS ~ -


r HE girls had come in from their
suburban home for days shop
ming in the great city, and having salts
factorily finished their errands, touno
themselves with an hour of leisure on
their hands before train time. Their
names were Alice Burton and Helen
Gray, aged, respectively, 16 and II, and
they were full of Astounding spirits, and
pne 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
q wonderful display of fine brasses re-
Gently imported. The merchants were
advertising their wares in many ways,
and had procured the services OF the
stModern 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 a material closely resembling
brass. His motions we're slow and me-
chanical, as he initiated the movements
of q figure run by machinery. 1t was
really wonderful not an eyelid quiv-
cred.
"How does he manage it," exclaimed
Alice
81 don't believe he's real" said Helen.
"I'll bet you a pound of candy that l
can make him laugh" said Alice, in a
spirit of mischief.
ooh, DON'T" Helen demonstrated
''Somebo6y will see you"
''Nobody in this crowd knows me, and,
besides, I'll be very careful. IN simply
dying to try it."
IT think we had better 60 on. What
would yourmothert think, and Tom?" pru-
dent Helen said, warningly.
"Oh, Tom! He never wants me to
do anything. See he's looking at us
now, so here goes," and thereupon Alice
''made face" of the most hideous and
laughter-inspiring kind.
The brass man was firm; the mechan-
teal movement continued; not a 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
thoughtless Alice.
'Just once more!" and again Alice
contorted htr features in a hideous
grimace. Tie effect was the same, so
she hurried on to join her friend who
had already started.
mot q soul saw me, and you see it
didn't make bit Of difference; besides,
1t was such fun" remarked Alice, laugh
Ing eleefully.
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 missive that set her heart beating
wildly. It was written on very loud"
stationery, in ''fourishy" hand, and
ran thus,
IF the pretty young lady who so
kindly noticed thu young gent who was
representing the Modern Talus'' on
State street, Thursday afternoon, at
about two p. M, will kindly appoint q
= meeting anywhere, and at any time,
the young gent will endeavor to con-
vince her that he has not at least a heart
of brass nor eyes of brass. He ad-
mired the dear young miss greatly, and
only the exigencies Of business pre-
vented him from responding to her evil
dent encouragement. Indeed, he would
have lost his job If he had given way
to the mirth her e1 .eedingly amusing
grimaces caused hi1u. However, he
will explain all when he sees her.
Address Mr.. Ralph Montmorency
Percy, General Delivery, Chicago, ILL.,"
A sickening feeling came over Alice.
her head swan. What should she do ?
The first thing to do was to see Helen.
ooh! that l had listened to her good
advice" she walled.
Helen received her news gravely, fully
realizing that this bright and lovable
girl needed lesson, but she did not say
nor act Il told you So" She listened
to the torrent of Idle regrets" for
awhile, and then sale, 1.-THE strangest
part of the whole thing, and the part
i that worries me most, is how he found
out your address. Burn this note right
now, and keep in de middle oh de road;
be sure to 60 in befor dark, and be very,
very careful7and I'll stanI by you, old
girl, if you are naughty"
IN Then Alice sobbed her heart out in
Helen's lap, and felt much injured-and
rather important Several days passed,
ssS5&E t:-r