Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-09-28
Z POSSIBLE
MAN
Copyright, 1904, by Keith Gordon
BY KEITH GORDON

1AE 1ASptag III lAe NlndoHs VI BefE ~
Co. with kindling eyes. There really
was no excuse for her to linger at that
Particular window, for Berg & Co. as
everybody knows, are haberdashers,
and Miss Van Orden was fatherless
brotherless and unmarried.
'"TaIk about women's Clothes" ran
her thoughts as she reluctantly pre-
pared 70 move onward. why. there
isn't window Ia town that compares
with this for charm. DresSes-ugh,
Rufiles, tucks. plaits, French knots and
fussiness But this-it's a poem. Just
imagine some big creature in that pink
bathrobe or
With a silent laugh, she caught her
hip between her teeth and moved down
the street toward the dry goods shops.
But the windows appeared cheap. over
loaded and tawdry Berg's store with
its display of masculine attire whose
severity sometimes verged Just near
enough to softness and beauty to be
fascinating. kept rising before her eyes.
and almost automatically she retraced
her steps in that direction.
ny AAt1 iAAAt sit Hs-sklu AEatAAAtzA AhN}
& Co.'S she had an idea that made hcr
giggle though her eyes were bright
and her cheeks went pink. Some girls,
she reflected, boarded china aud silver
others linen and still others old ma
hogany against the day when time
and chance" should bring the man
whom they all confidently expected
IN rf in.
Travelled ways and do something equal
~ practical, though more unusual.
She entered the store rather timidly,
but the sight of portly dowager at
one of the counters treasured her, ana
she was soon examining bathrobes
with an ease and assurance thar might
have been acquired by years Of shop
Ping for masculine relatives.
What size?" asked the clerk when.
.fter much hesitation between a pink
Ehd blue one, she had finally decided
ON the former
. At The question she stared at him in
Hank amazement THAT is, how tall
Is he?" he went on. Judging from her
look that she failed TO understand.
AAGA SliS TeCbAtAGH herself
six feet" she answered, with non
chalant, you-should- have dissemination
granted air And then. remembering
her preference in the matter, she add
ell. And broad--very broad Shout
dered. you know" in manner so de-
Hibernate ana composed that without
further question the clerk made out
~
and solicitously begged her to look at
their spring shirtiugs and the newest
eravats.
Il don't think he needs anything in
that line just now" she remarked.
with well assumed doubtfulness, as
she languidly viewed the stock,
DO they-would my husband have
TO be measured for these shirtsT' she
demanded. The clerk nodded
But We'll send a man IN any time"
he explained, with polite desire to be
accommodating, The lady shook her
head
"You see, that wouldn't do. He isn't
here-yet! But couldn't give you his
collar measure and couldn't you 5ust
make them proportionatelyF
The clerk thought they might
though they couldn't guarantee the lit
under those circumstances. and when
his customer announced airily that that
wouldn't maize any difference he looked
trifle mystifed
Eloise meanwhile emerged into the
street agiow with the eagerness of a
rather bored young woman who has
found a new and interesting occupa-
ton. Her grandmother Castles carved
chest would be the very place 10 keep
the things. and fortunately it stood in
her room and had good strong lock-
No one but the man, whoever and
Wherever he was. should ever know
about this escapade of hers. She won
dered, after all, If men really wore
bathrobes like that-pink, all softest
wool, lined with thin silk and shock
ingly expensive. Then she absolutely
chuckled aloud What if the man
should happen TO have red hair? In
this world you never know who carries
Jbe key to your heart until he arrives
on the scene some fine day and
Her meditations We're cut short by
the salutation Of a man who was pass
ing and whose glance carried some
thing that arrested her attention It
was something indescribable, elusive
a quick, keen lighting up of his face
at the sight of her, as instantly vanish
ing In the calm, passive glance of a
well bred acquaintance. But she had
seen it-that strange, telltaie look
and her heart beat more quickly be
cause of it.
She had met him but twice-once at
a dinner ar Mrs. Lorimer's and after
ward at the Baneker cotillon-hut he
was the cousin of her dearest friend,
and she had heard more or less about
"Philip' for years.
When at last the little fiutter of the
meeting had subsidized she remarked 10
ss9infsfHanpa