Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-05-07
CHAPTER Ill.
WITHOUT BENEFIT OF CLERGY

brought Never had there been s-%h
gorgeous presents for little folks.
The elder girl laughed gladly US TO
leon entered. though her eyes were wei
with the pity of il
You seem to Uring sunshine whc".
ever you co." she said They have
never had things to play with like
other children, and it makes me cry 10
watch them"
"Ho. no." he chuckled. dis ain Dc
time for cryin'. la gosh! | guess YOU
don have so much present Wen you
was liz gal you;sef. wat? Mebh"
you tink forget you. Waal, ! didn't
He began to undo the fastenings nf
a parcel he carried in his arms
Don't you dare open it!' cried Ne
cia. "Why. that's half the fun" She
was Child herself now. her face
flushed and her hands a-trernble. Tax
Ing the package to the table. she bur
riedlv united the knots while he stood
watching her. his teeth showing white
against his dark face and his eyes half
smut as II UiZZitu ID! INV HiS"' W. ~ -
"Oh. why didn't you tie more knots
IN it?" she breathed as she undid the
last, and then, opening the wrappings
slowly, she gasped in astonishnlent
She shook it out gently. revercntly, q
clilging black lace gown of Paris
make. Next she opened a box and
a..
Jet plumes. which she stroked and
pressed fondly against her face. There
were other garments also-a silken
petticoat. silk stockings and a pair or
Sigh heeled shoes to match, with GER
tain other delicate and dainty things
which she modestly forbOre to inspect
before the Frenchman. who said no
word, but only gazed at her, and for
whom she had no eyes as yet. Finally
she laid her presents aside and, turn
ing TO him. said in a hushed, awe
stricken voice:
"It's all there. everything complete!
Oh, Poleon-you dear, dear Poleon!
She took his two big hands by the
thumbs. as had been her custom ever
since she was child, and looked up
at him, her eyes wet with emotion
But she could not keep away from the
dress for long and returned to feast
her eyes upon it.
"You lax it. eh?" pressed Poleon, hun
gry for more demonstrative expression
"Oh.h!" she sighed. "Where on eartl
did you get it3 Why. it must have
cost fortune.'
swan night I gamble in beeg saloon
Yes. sir! ! gamble good dat night too
For vile I play roulette, den | dance
den play some more. an by an by
see q new dance gal. She's Francht
gal, from Montreal. OATS de one
toll you bout. Ba gar, she's swell
dress too She's name Marie Bour
gette."
"Oh, I've heard about her." said Ne
cia. "She owns claim on Bonanza
creek"
"Sure. she's friens wit Charlie Nc
Cormack, dat richie Teller. but l don
know it dis tam, so l ask her fo
dance wit me. Den we drink bottl'
of champagne-twenty dollar
"'Mamselle.' say, how much yo'
charge for sell me dat dressT
"'For wy shall sell i'm? she say
4 don wear i'm before till tonight, an
I dom get no more dress lax dis TO
t'ousan' dollar"
Necja exclaimed eycitedly.
"For wy you sell imp say. Bic
cause I'll TAX i'm down to Flambeal
for Necia Gale. wat never had N
dress lax dat in all her life WAL
sir, dat Marie Bourgette she's hear o
you before. an your dad, too-mos' al
dose Cheechakos know bout Old MAJ
Gale-so she say:
await lookin' kind Of gal is dis Ne
ciaY An tell her all bout you. WEI
I'm trough she say:
"'But maybe your little frien' i
more bigger as am. Maybe de dres
won't fit
CHA, you don know me, mamselle!
say. 4 can guess de weight Of car
ibou to five poun'. She'll be same siz
la'kin' one inch rOun' de waiS'.'
"'Poleon Doret,' she say, you air
no Franchemans to talk lax dat. LOol
here! ! can sell dis dress for t'ousan
dollar tonight, or | can trade i'm TO
goP mine on FL Dorado creek to SOM
dose Swede wat want to catch gal
but I'm goin' sell i'm to you for tire,
hondred dollar. JUS wat pay for lin
You wait here till come back
"'No, no. Mamselle Marie, I'll g.
long, too for so you don change you
min',' | say. An ! STAN outside he
door till she pass me de whole works.
"Don't forget de little Shoes say
an dat's how it come"
Sand you paid $500 for It'll! Neci
said. aghast. The Canadian shrugged.
"Only for de good heart OF Mari
Bourgette pay wan tousan',' sal
he. 81 maxi seven hondred dollar clea
profit"
ut was very nice Of both Of you. blu
Il can't wear it. I've never seen
dress like 1t except in pictures. and
couldn't She saw his face fall an
said impulsively:
"Tll wear it once anyhow, Poleor
Just for you. Go away quick now an
let me put it on"
Oats good" he nodded rs he move
away. 81 bet you max dose dance ha
women look lax sucker"
No man may understand the girl
feelings as she set about clothing bel
self In her first fine dress. Time an
again she had studied pictures frol
tho "outside" showing women arraye