Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-02-09
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
1t was a Bebe such as he had not
seen before; and but for the Joyous
smile, half shy, half triumphant, that
shone in her blue eyes as She marked
his bewilderment, he would have failed
to recognize his woebegone little friend
of less than an hour back.
Bebe was all in white-the softest.
finest white cambria, made very simple
indeed, with no color or lace or fripperies
about it, only broad sailor collar of
the same transparent material, turned
back over her shoulders from the pretty
open throat, and knotted with a soft
white silk tie, while the delicate fullness
of the cambria was gathered in closely
round the waist by an antique girdle of
wrought Normandy silver work, and
flowed outwards from the hips in grace
full, sweeping folds which just touched the
ground and seemed to add an inch of
womanly stature to her height-a Bebe
whose sunburnt little hands We're en-
cased in long, tan suede gloves, and
whose wavy nut brown hair and charm
ing face were shaded by broad leghorn
hat, with for trimming a single cluster
OF pale pink roses, knotted together by
a black velvet ribbon the ends of which
were tied in a dainty bow under the soft
childish chin. Bebe was no longer the
shabby, fearful little foster daughter of
the old verger Of St Etienne, but glor-
fed, idealized, transmogritied into an eX-
quisite young lady, dainty and distinguee
enough to do honor to a garden party
at Marlborough house, and make any
man proud to show himself in her com
pany.
''Nademoiselle!" GARNER stammered.
as this really you? for the moment
II did not know you'll"
Bebe laughed delightedly. His eyes
had been even more eloquent than his
words.
''Do | look so nice, zen?" she asked.
81 did hope you would sink so, since you
are so kind as to take me. l tried to
be as qvick as | could, so as not to keep
you Waiting; but you see now" she went
on with deliciously naive gesture
which comprehended the whole of her
brave attire. would it not have been a
pity to be obliged to stay at home, when
l had taken such pains, oh, such pains.
to prepare a toilette altogezzer CONNIE il
faut, Won Eat would make garden himself
say, 'Hola, zen it is true, Bebe is grown
up? She has become a demoiselle! We
must begin to take her about more. We
may even take her to England" All,
viz every stitch Eat l put in my frock |
hoped Eat he might say zat!"
A sudden rush of color to her cheeks
interrupted her, and she added very
shyly Would monsieur have guessed zat
| made my frock myself? l had not
meant to confess it, and Mere Margot
pretends Eat it looks just as if it came
down from re modistes; but / have be-
trayed myself, and perhaps zere is some
sing about it not qvite of re shop and
monsieur would have guessed?"
Her naivete, so Characteristic of the old
Bebe, had the effect of dissipating the
confusing sense of strangeness which had
come over GARNER at first, and he
laughed gaily.
'Well, if it had come to guessing, l
should have guessed that so elegant a
costume came straight from the work
shop of Monsieur Worth in Paris; but if
you tell me that you made it, mad
emoiselle, | am not in the least sur
prised; because, after seeing the beauti-
full way in which you mended my coat,
/ could believe those little hands capable
of anything. All l feel is that / am not
in the least worthy to walk with such
an exquisite young lady, while at the
same time | am very grateful to your
absent guardian for having given me the
opportunity of doing so. BY the wav.
you did not have as much difficulty as
you thought, in persuading old Margot to
let me take his place?"
Bebe blushed violently.
ooh, as to Eat, l am more fortunate
zan l had hoped; had no difficulty at
all. You see, had forgot Eat when gar
dien wrote to say he vas not coming
Mere Margot said she would give re day
to getting up all her caps and dentelles.
and as monsieur can see"-she nodded
towards three women who were passing.
wearing the quaint, picturesque head
gear of the Normandy peasants of these
parts-"ze caps of re danes de Calvados
are a serious business. In effect, when
vent back re starch pot it vas boiling and
re kitchen all in a steam, and she and
Neighbor Mere Papillote too busy even
to look up. Mere Margot call out, DO
not come in here. Bebe-it is too hot for
you, and you viii distract me. Where is
Antoine?' And l answered, 'Pere An
tome is departed to re hospital for re
insane; and am going to re races, after
all. A friend of NJ. ie pasteur has offered
to take me, if you will permit oh. Ia
bonnie ehance!' cried Mere Margot. Zen
you viii have Messing more to cry about
and shall have you out of my way. l
permit it? What do / know of your
Huguenot pastors friends? I am too
good Catholic to have anysing to do viz
him. If Antoine finds zem conyenable-
zey are English, I suppose, zese friends
of his p"