Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-12-05
Their
Prettiest Girl.
BY HENRY BERLINGHOFF.
Copyrighted. 1905. by Associated
Literary Press.
By HENRY BERLINCHOFF.

cred the girl across the way. eros.
that she was the dalntlest and most
wholly lovable young woman on the
globe.
Ned retortcd with some heat. and
the result was that then and there the
domestic partnership was threatened
with dissolution.
set up housekeeping In bachelor
apartment three years before that they
had had disagreement.
Maurer had flung himself out of the
room with never a goodby. and Ned
had sat himself down ut his drawing
board 10 make the girl across the
way the central figure In n set of H.
Illustrations he was doing for story.
blissfully ignoring the fact that the
authors heroine was tall. above the
ordinary. IA fair haired goddess Of the
Norseland. while the girl across the
way was petite and decidedly dark
Maurer did not return to dress for
dinner. and Ned was fast asleep by
the time he did come in. There was
no reopenlng Of the discussion. and in
the morning the clash Of the day be
fore was tacitly ignored.
More than week passed and the
cloud had blown away when Maurer
waiting for his breakfast 10 be sent
up from the restaurant In the build
ing. approached the window and gave
low whistle Of surprise.
You're right, old man" he cried,
land I'll eat all the humble pie you
care 10 feed me. That girl Is god
dess in miniature"
Ned sprang To the window. a pleased
smile of triumph on his face. But the
smile faded when he looked closely.
IT'S awfully good Of you to say SO.
old chap" he said gratefully. but I'll
eat that pie myself. Funny | should
have thought her such Il sumner.
She's good locker, but nothing like
the goddess I've been raving about"
Don't be a beastly fool" urged
Maurer politely You're an artist.
You must know that she's one woman
In u thousand"
do you mean IT." demanded Ned
wondcringly. Il thought you We're
saying II to please me Funny that
you should like her. Usually your
taste is very good"
Good" echoed Maurer "Of course
It's good. and 1t tells me that that girl
Is Il remarkable beauty"
NONSENSE" scoffed Ned She's
good looking. but commonplace. There
are hundreds like her
Maurcr turned n look of ineffable
scorn upon his friend and silently
made his way to the table. where the
breakfast now was spread.
The meal was eaten In silence. and
for a second time within ten days
Maurer departed for his office without
the good luck in your work. old man"
which started Ned on his drawings In
proper humor with himself.
Instead OF going to his drawing
board Ned went to the window. and
FOR long half hour he studied the
dainty figure sewing by the window
across the street
He turned away with II sigh. then
regarded the half completed sketch
tackled to hts drawing board. II was
remarkably good likeness of the girl
opposite; but. kncadlng his rubber
afresh. Ned started to efface the figure
with another sigh for his lost ideal.
He took melancholy pleasure In
drawing In n girl who was tall and
plump and whose hair glinted yellowy
against crimson curtain. This was
10 be the frontispiece of Il magazine.
and he had wondered the afternoon
before II the girl would see Il and rec
ognize her likeness lie had drawn
nothing else but pictures Of her since
that first morning. and now he Won
dercd how he had ever been such
fool
That evening Maurer smoked his
pipe In front Of the window where he
could watch his new divinity. and
Ned To avoid further rupture, clapped
on his hat and went out for IA street
car ride form Of amusement he de-
uul NuttU WAS btNtti Alihn
watching Maurer make a fool Of him
self.
Ever since he had come Ia the city
he and Crosby Maurer had been the
firmcst OF friends For three years
they had lived together In the little
four room apartment that had become
real home To them, and so closely
had they studied each others peculiar
tiles there were none Of the outbreaks
Of III humor that had spoiled many
such arrangements. This was the first
time that there had come Il real clash,
and Belliigham felt II kecnly.
In time the edge Of the trouble wore
away. but there was no real tesump-
ton Of the old friendship Maurer was
still too hurt 10 forget all that had
been said In the heat Of passion,
though he had forgotten the things he
had said to Ned nj the first disagree