Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-04-07

playing With the younger
Gales, who reveled in the gifts he had
brought. Never had there been such
gorgeous presents for little folks.
The elder girl laughed gladly as Po-
leon entered. though her eyes were wet
with the pity of it.
You seem to bring sunshine wher-
ever you CO." she said. "They have
never had things to play with like
other children, and 1t makes me cry to
watch them"
"Ho. no." he chuckled, "dis aim no
time for cryin', ba gosh! guess you
don have so much present Wen you
was III gal you'se'f, wat? Mebbe
you t'ink forget you. WAL, didn't"
He began to undo the fastenings of
a parcel he carried in his arms.
Don't you dare open I'll" cried Ne
cia. "Why, that's half the fun She
was child herself now, her face
flushed and her hands a-tremble. TAX
ing the package to the table, she hur-
riedly united the knots while he stood
watching her, his teeth showing white
against his dark face and his eyes half
shut us If dazzled by the sight Of her.
ooh. why didn't you tie more knots
in Ut" she breathed as she undid the
last, and then, opening the wrappings
slowly, she gasped in establishment.
She shook it out gently, reverently, a
clinging black lace gown of Paris
make. Next she opened a box and
took from it Il picture hat with long
jet plumes, which she stroked and
pressed fondly against her face. There
We're other garments also-a silken
petticoat, silk stockings and pair Of
high 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 vet. Finally
she laid her presents aside and, turn
ing to him, said In hushed. awe
stricken voice:
..'lt's all there, everything complete!
oh, Poleon-you dear, dear Poleonw
She took his two big hands by the
thumbs, as had been her custom ever
since she was a 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. }e
You lax it, eh?" pressed Poleon, nun
CRY for more demonstrative expression.
"Oh-h!" she sighed. Where on earth
did you get it? Why, it must have
cost a fortune.'
IVAN night gamble in bceg saloon.
Yes, sir! l gamble good dat night too.
For vile play roulette, den 1 dance,
den play some more, an by an by 1
see new dance gal. She's Franche
gal, from Montreal. OATS de one 1
tot 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 frien's wit Charlie Nc
Cormack, dat richie Teller, but l dom
know it dis tam, so l ask her for
dance wit me- Den we drink bottle
of champagne-twenty dollar.
Mamselle,' ! say, how much you
charge for sell me dat dress?
'''For wy shall l sell 'im?' she say.
i don wear i'm before till tonight, an
dom get no more dress lax dis for
t'ousan' dollar"
Necia exclaimed excitedly.
"sFor WY you sell 'im?' say. Bic
cause I'll talk i'm down to Flambeau
for Necia Gale, wat never had no
dress lax dat in all her life Waal.
sir, dat Marie Bourgette she's hear Of
you before, an your dad, too-mos' all
dose Cheechakos know bout Old Man
Gale-so she say:
"'W'at lookin' kind of gal is dis Ne
ella? An tell her all bout you. Wen
I'm trough she say:
"'But maybe your little frien' is
more bigger as am. Maybe de dress
won't fit
ella, you don know me, mamselle"
say. 1 can guess de weight of a car
ibou to five poun'. She'll be same size
la'lsin one inch roun' de wais'.'
'Poleon Doret,' she say, you ain
no Franchemans to talk LAX dat. Look
here! can sell dis dress for t'ousan'
dollar tonight, or can trade i'm for
gol mine on El Dorado creek to some
dose Swede wat want to catch gal.
but I'm goin sell i'm to you for tree
hondred dollar, jus wat pay for i'm.
You wait here till come back
"'No, no, Mamselle Marie, I'll go
long, too, for so you dom change your
MINI say. An stan outside her
door till she pass me de whole works.
"'Don't forget de little shoes say.
an OATS how it come"
".And you paid $500 for itn Necia
said, aghast. The Canadian shrugged.
only for de good heart of Marie
Bourgette l pay wan tousan'." said
he. Il max seven hondred dollar clean
profit
1T was very nice of both of you. but
Il can't wear it. I've never seen Il
dress like it except in pictures. and
Couldn't She saw his face fall and
said impulsively:
I'll wear it once anyhow. Poleon.
Just for you, Go away quick now and
let me put it on"
Oats good" he nodded us he moved
away. II bet you maxi dose dance hall
women look lax sucker"
No man may understand the girls
feelings as she set about clothing her.
self In her first fine dress Time and
again she had studied pictures from
the 'outside' showing women arrayed
in ii,c newest styles and had closed
lias eyes 40 fancy herself dressed in
like manner.
Polcon's eye had been amazingly cor
rect. for the gown fitted her neatly
save ut the waist. which was even