The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-04-25
the room, still without a word


donium, and it began at once to figure
In our lives. 1t was for use before
\ breakfast, and it had to be nailed to
a wall. Della had it nailed to her
bedroom door, where she was using
1t, 1t resisted the efforts of any of her
family to enter. 1t consisted of cords
and pieces of wood to hold by, and
when Della was at work in her airy
morning costume she looked like a
dangerous Amazon. She stood upright
with set expression on her face, then
suddenly plunged out at you with fe-
rocity, stopped, made sally in an
other direction, recovered herself, and
then dived for her toes. 1t was an in
teresting but alarming performance.
The first time she went through it
in strict privacy, but after one or two
| trials she got confidence, and invited
me to witness it. 1t was unfortunate
that the nails should have given on
that particular occasion, because it
was, as | have said, interesting, and
should like to have seen more of it.
But Della was so strenuous and fierce
that they did give, and she went into
the cold tub which she had already
used some time before.
AS | picked her out | comforted her
with the thought that it was a good
thing she had not been fully dressed,
but she was very cross, and seemed to
think it was my fault.
You ought to have tested them"
she told me, as she wrung out her gar
ments; and when | asked if she were
going to resume she called me horrid,
and told me to go.
Nothing daunted, Della went on with
her exercises next morning, (the nails
having been replaced), but | was not
admitted. From time to time all that
going, as it creaked and ratified and
sroaned behind her eXertions. Once in
passing on the landing | gathered that
our rather deaf cook, mistaking the
groaning, no doubt for a permissible
answer to her knock, had opened the
door and caused a mishap. | heard
Delia's voice Grossly. THE door-my
leg" and on that cooks "Yesm, the
leg has just come"
On another occasion the shrill
screams of our pug summoned me in
hot haste and some anxiety to the up
per regions, when | found he had
been indistreetly curious enough to
venture too close TO his mistress in
the abandon of her exercitations. The
result was a severe blow on what
ought to have been his nose.
But the work was kept UP with
ruthless conscientiousness, and at the
end of a fortnight l was once more
called in, not this time to watch, but
to report on results. 1t was at once
obvious to me that reports were eX-
pected to be favorable.
do you know, Edward, that my
waist is distinctly smaller?" l was
told triumphantly. My dress is quite
loose"
| did not see the object of having
loose dress, but I didn't dare to say
so. Feel my muscles" she urged.
felt her beautifully rounded arm but
frankly | did not feel for muscles.
Don't you think they've improved?"
she asked, observing them critically.
Much" said |, in a cowardly man.
ner. She cast glance of suspicion at
me, but my face was very serious.
"Much!" she repeated coldly, 81 sup
pose you thought me skinny before"
"Oh, dear no." said | hastily. Il
thought you were perfection"
She looked Modified. Then could
not have improved much" she re-
marked.
well, little is a lot in the case
of beauty" l explained.
She was still contemplating herself
in the glass. 81 can distinctly see
signs of Improvement" she said. You
see, as they say in the advertisement,
it fills you out where you ought to be
filled, and it takes you down where
you oughtn't to be filled out"
Yes, it's a wonderful thing Il
agreed.
Where do you think it's affected me
most?" she inquired.
We'll, from the necessarily limited
nature of my inspection, | am hardly
in position to Judge" said hesitat-
ingly. But | should hazard a guess
that your complexion had improved
most"
Il always had good complexion, as
you ought to know" she remarked de-
cidedly.
Il know" / explained with acidity.
But it's the exercise that gives you
color, perhaps"
Della was silent, thoughtfully. do
you mean I'm getting blowZy?" she
asked anxiously. Il should just hate
to be like bouncing milkmaid."
There is no danger of that" l as
sured her; but l left her peering into
the glass.
The next morning Della sought me
in my study with determined express
sion on her face. Edward" said she,
'T want your honest opinion. rs the
pulchritudonium making my nose
red?"
| was tired of the pulchritudonium;