Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-03-09
HER RESERVE.
By ELENoRA E. REBER.

Q
the trimmest, ncatest and most per.
feet fitting Of tailor-made suits. There
was nothing particular remarkable
about this fact, unless 1t was remarka.
bic that every morning Of the week,
except Sunday, she did the same thing
OF course, it was not always the same
suit. She had variety of them and
never allowed one 10 become the least
bit shabby before it was replaced by
another. DR.. Gaillard had taken note
OF this fact
The fact is, in surprisingly short
time he had fallen deeply in love with
Gwyn, and on those occasional times
that he walked along the street with
her, or met her in the hall, he thought
OF a dozen pretty, complimentary
things he would like to have said to
her, but they never framed themselves
into words, for somehow the woman
beside him, in her trim, businesslike
costume, was clothed with a reserva-
ton of manner, which Gwyn unCon-
sCiously assumed with the d"nning OF
her suit, and through which he could
not penetrate.
Credit the doctor with keen insight,
Tor he perceived that this was so from
the few--very few-times he had seen
her in different garb. He resolved
many times that he would break
through this "tailor-made reserve" but
that was, for him, more easily thought
than accomplished.
And neither was Gwyn wanting In
penetration, for though "Dr. Harry
her private way of naming him-had
never said word of what was in his
mind, she knew II was there just from
the way he looked at her. But because
she was very proud, she would not help
him a bit to begin to tell the love he
was so anxious to tell and which she
acknowledged to herself she would like
10 hear. l cannot say whether or not
the supreme moment would ever have
arrived If Baby Beard had not fallen
out OF bed.
This is how it happened. Mrs.
Boards rooms were just across the hall
from Gwyn's and of an evening when
Mrs. Beard desired to spend it out,
Gwyn often offered to put Baby Beard
20 bed She had done It so many times
that Mrs Beard had formed the habit
nj expecting her to do it, and as Baby
Beard was a very good baby and
dropped right off to sleep at the proper
time, Gwyn did not object, but rather
enjoyed it. When baby was safely
sleeping in his bed. she would turn the
gas down. slip out Of the room quietly
leaving the doors open, and go into
her own sitting room, drawing n screen
before the open door. Then she donned
q wrapper and read or scwed with no
care on her mind, for If Baby Beard
moved or made the least noise she
could hear him and slip across the hall
If anything was the matter.
She did all this tonight, just as she
had done before SO many times, then
settled herself in front Of the crate
with new magazine, and had just be.
come interested in the serial when she
was startled by a loud thud, coming
from the next room. She knew at once,
instinctively what had happened. The
baby had fallen out Of bed.
In the noise and excitement, it was
not surprising that Gwyn did not hear
Dr.. Gailiard enter the sitting room
from the hall, and step in to look
through the doorway into the bedroom
and gaze upon the scene that confront
cd him-first anXiously, then amusedly
ard then tenderly. There stood his
tailor-made love in u loose wrapper
her dark hair in 4 low coil on her neck
and holding in her arms the little
night-sowned figure. Could anything
be more unconventional. Verify, here
was his chance
A moment later Gwyn turned, with
the baby in her arms, and made a
startled exclamation at sight of him.
"Dr. Gaillard!"
Fl heard the baby fail ard cry" he
apClogi22d.
1T isn't hurt" she replied.
Il am glad Of that" he said, with
out moving.
She hesitated a moment, then ex-
claimed impatiently:
Then why don't you go out again?"
Because | am coming in" suiting
the action to the word. Il have some.
thing to tell you"
She did not need to be told what that
something" was; she knew as certain.
ly as though he had already told her
and she became painfully conscious of
her negligee appearance.
"Dr. Gaillard, some other time" she
implored.
NO" he answered, 81 don't know
when | should ever get another chance.
simply can't tell you in your tailor
made. our whole mein says cool, cal
culating business SO plainly that the
words freeze on my lips"
But | can't have you see me in this
way" she faltered; 81 shall never dare
to look you in the face again"
DR.. Harry smiled to himself, as he
turned directly around, with his back
to her, and said:
well, Gwyn, II you won't let me
look at you, still I'll have to say what
wanted 20. love you"
She commenced to tremble violently
but said nothing.
"Do you love me?" asked he.
Still she was silent.
you must answer or I'll have To
turn around" he threatened.
IF tell you, will you go?" she
asked, trembling more.