Orange County observer., 1904-01-28

lE}s !AIj or. rather picture of
4 DeuuuIul woman with little cal
endar in one corner Of the card It is
what might be called haunting face
that beamed down upon Mr.. Winkle-
horst as he sat there looking over his
mail. He could not. for some reason,
keep from glancing up every little
While and drawing deep sigh.
1t may have been that something
which he ate or drank at the banquet
the night before had put him into a
romantic mood. At all events, he dis
covered some new charm in the lady
every time he looked up. He marvelled
at the splendor OF her figure. clad in
rich robes that suggested wonderful
outlines, and the soft tints upon her
cheeks were so indicative of perfect
became possessed of the idea that if
he were to touch them with his fingers
he would find them warm and Yield
inc.
Presently he noticed that the lady of
the calendar was bending forward to-
ward him and assuming .ifelike pro-
portions. One of her dainty feet pro-
truded over the edge of the card and
a faint. delicious perfume emanated
from her rich attire Just how she
got down to the floor he did not know,
but he suddenly found that she was
sitting beside him and looking gladly
into his eyes.
1 can never hope to show you how
grateful l am" she said in soft, en-
chanting tones. ''for releasing me-"
For releasing you?'' he asked. "How
did l release you?'
Why she answered with wonder
in her deep. splendid eyes. ''don't you
Know: l was Under a spell. I had
Ioollshly sold myself to q great soap
maker. You see these fine clothes I
am wearing? They got me into all
my trouble"
Tell me about it, he urged.
she drew long. deep sigh and said
L was only poor girl, working as
stenographer in his office. Every
year he got up splendid calendar as
an advertisement. He hired great art
ISIS to paint pictures of beautiful wo
men, and l used to think I would be
so happy if one of them would paint
HE. richly dressed, so that my picture
would be hung up in thousands, OF
PAGES for men to admire. I lOngeC
!or beautiful clothes. l used to stand
III front Of the big store windows wher
'hey were getting ready for the horse
SHOWS and wish I could have the ele
CANT things saw there
"One day as fingered before a win
Cow looking in and thinking how han
pE the women must be who coul(
wear such things as I saw there, tn,
.lcn soap man came along and. point
ins to one Of the finest costumes, asket
ne now would like to have it. Hoy
n!y heart leaped at his words! I tol.
nllh l would be the happiest girl il
'ne world if that dress could be mine
You shall have it, he said. 4 vii
ooy 1t for you-on one condition. /
you will consent to be painted in j
'nu let me use your picture for a cal
eilaar the dress shall be yours
imagine how joyful 1 was Th
oless was bought for me and I pose
III IL Tor the artist. I am sure I wa
'le happiest girl in the world, and th
proudest. But one day, as the finisl
ins touches were being given to th
picture. [ noticed that the artist ha
turned into horrible old woman, wit
"rlnkled face, with one long, yelloy
iang-llke tooth, and with hands thu
looked like claws. I was filled wit
rear and tried to run away, but
couldn't. couldn't make noise whe
called for help. was pressed bac
"aro against something and then
louhd l was the picture for the 500
calendar.
Inc horrible old woman grinned
me and said:
you see what love for fine cloth
has brought you to. You were willi1
10 give up your soul for that dress
you know it. So you deserve just
niuch punishment as if you had real
uone what you were willing to do t
Tue sake of being dressed in finer