Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-19
Copyright, 1908, by Thomas II. Mckee


all over, and then she said What nice little
ears she hast and old Mrs. Morris remarked
in comforting sort OF way: But I've always noticed
the ugliest children make the prettiest grown peo-
pe."
They're Just a pair Of cackling geese. they don't
know a fine youngster whom they see one. I'm sure
she weighed nine and a half pounds! As for her
looks all babies are exactly alike can't be told apart
Goodness, Enc you aren't crying again.
II am afraid I don't think she is pretty either"
confessed bis wife between sobs II cannot under
stand why I should have daughter with red hair
But red IL was and straight 1t was in spite OF Mrs
WAITS frantic efforts to the contrary She brushed
Il backwards fifty times every morning yet it re-
manned as Hasrantly straight It was ndisputaoly
red When Madeline was older her mother braided 1t
into innumerable small plaits At night to make it
ripple next day.
Trying to fall asleep one night process hindereu
in spite of her perfect health by the discomfort
caused by the many braids, Madeline overheard her
mother in plaintive monologue Her name, by the
way was OF her mothers choosing: her father called
her Lima
John just don't know what to do about dancing
school took Madeline this afternoon and dressed
her as sweetly could be- though 1t is very hard TO
find anything becoming to her (now l could always
wear any color) and the boys simply wouldn't dance
with her. Madeline seemed absorbed in the music,
and stood there unconscious as II she In or
back yard, swaying with the music and taking all
sorts of queer steps she must have made up hersst.
Some Of the girls began to laugh, and Gus Behman
said: think her dancing looks real pretty and they
oil do II ~ he ilted
sreen-eyed girls and teased him wouldn't dance
with her and none OF the boys dld-and SO NOR
tiAed"
Il hope she had enough no. to let a fool row
Of giggling boys spoil her good time"
She will never be a BELLE moaned Mrs Wyatt
Belle" echoed Mr Wyatt with something
sembng snort I'm GLAD she won't. If MY front
steps were always swarming with small boys like
Major Bridgers' ibid insect powder to scatter
EN-"
"Annabe Bridgers has way with her, all the
boys like her." pursued Mrs. Wyatt. at is strange
that my niece should resemble more than my
ovn daughter From the time l fourteen. it
was just that way with All the boys in Bakers
Vile"
Yes, yes. know" interrupted her husband, has
BELLE don't to be the father Of one
Alas, Madeline never again heard urged this point
Of view which would have contributed so much %
her peace OF mind in the years that followed! For
Mr. Wyatt died and his widows narrowed interests
concentrated her daughter.
The years before her marriage. when It was fore
gone conclusion that any voting contest for the pref
test girl in Bakersve. 1.-The most popular young
lady In town" would register an additional triumph
for Efie Bridgers shone In undimmed glory in Enc
Wyatts remembrance
All that earnest maternal effort could do TO give
An equally radiant period to her daughter. she I'M
hinchingly attempted.
Mrs Wyatt. had been plump. blus-eyed brown
haired sycheeked. indeed. poppy checked might be
morn exact In spite Of the din,cuy OF her material.
she tried to bring Madeline to this standard. The
girls height and sl!mness were sasened by number
less rufles her skirts. Madeline's queer walk
changed into the Bakersve fashionable gait by the
simple means OF inordinately high-heeed shoes.
Madeline's hair was Marceled and pompadoured. and
adorned at the back with bunch Of curs.
But no loving effort could make Msdeline's eyes
any color but that strange sesgreen. and the only
method of making Madelines checks rosy would have
been to resort to those external applications which
Mrs Wyatt did not consider reputable for church
member IN good standing. Though she tabooed paint
and powder mechanical besutiners invariably tempt
ed her There was memorable July In which she
insisted that Madeline should sleep In rubber face
mask but mask flesh brushes and electric appliances
failed to give the girls cheeks the famous color
that characterized the erstwhile Belle OF Baskerville
Madeline bore these experiments patiently ant
passvely, because she loved her mother dearly Her
was a sweet nature. for even the realization OF hope
, less homelinees. which had allied her soul with hu
mility, had not embittered her. Her chief source
pleasure lay in those village epidemcs called amateu
performances
why is Madeline always given the incest part'
Annabel complained not recognizing that her cous
had redeemed the character from the commonplace.
The one drop OF comfort In Mrs Wyatt's cup wa
that Gus Behman came regularly to see her daughter