Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18

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She hesttuted snodestlv tohen she saaU It's
low cut
self in her first Gne dress. Time and
again she had studied pictures from
the "outside" showing women arrayed
In the newest styles and had closed
her eyes to fancy herself dressed in
like manner.
Poleon's eye had been amazingly cor
rect for the gown fitted her neatly
more than an inch too large notwith-
standing thu fact that she had never
worn such corset as the we'll formed
Marie Bourgette was accustomed to.
She pondered long and hesitated
modestly when she saw its low cut,
Rhich exposed her neck and shoulders
In totally unaccustomed manner. for
1t struck her as amazingly indecent
until she scurried through her maya
zines again and saw that Its c0nstruc.
ton. as compared with others. was
most conservative. Even so she shrank
/
sunburn. for she was Hinged about like
blue winged teal. the demarcation
being more pronounced because of the
natural wilderness of her skin. She
! sat down. dress and all. In the thick
softness Of great brown bearskin
and thought 1t over.
How odd 1t was. now that she con-
sidered 1t, that she needed no aid with
these alien garments; that she knew
instinctively their every feature; that
there was no intricacy to cause her
more than an instant's trouble.
She was interrupted in her reverie
by the passing Of shadow across her
window and the stamp Of mans feet
on the planks ut the door. OF course
It was Poleon. who had come back to
see her. So she rose hastily, gave one
quick glance at the mirror above her
washstand, choosing the side that dis
torted her image the least, and, hear
ing him still stamping, perfunctorily
called:
"Come in! I'll be right out"
She kicked the train into place be-
hind her. looping the shawl carelessly
about her in way to veil her modesty
effectively. She crossed proudly to the
reading table to give him fair view
Of her splendor and was In the mid
die Of the room before she looked up
Taken aback she uttered Il little stran.
gled cry and made a quick movement
Of retreat. only to check herself and
stand with her chin high in the mir
while wave after wave Of color swept
over her face.
"Great lovely dove" calculated Bur
rell fervently, staring at her.
"Oh, IL thought you were Poleon
He In spite Of herself she glanced
toward her room as II to fee. She
writhed Mt the utter absurdity Of hel
appearance and knew the lieutenant
must be laughing at her. But flight
would only make 1t worse. Burrell
however. was not laughing.
II was looking for your father" he
said, wondering II this glorious thing
could be the quaint half breed girl OF
yesterday. There. was nothing Of the
|
young figure was drawn up to its
height and her head. upon which the
long black braids were coiled, was
tipped back in a naughty poise. She
had flung her hands out to grasp thu
table edge behind her. forgetful Of hel
shawl, which dropped traitorously and
showed such rounded lines as her or
binary dress scarce limited Mt. This
was no Indian maid. the soldier vowed
No blood but the purest could pulse In
such veins; 10 spirit save the highes
could fash in such eyes as these. "A
Jealous rnncor irked him at thu
thought Of this beauty intended fol-
the Frenchman's eyes.
"Can't you show yourself to mo al
we'll as to Poleon?" he said.
Certainly nOt!" she declared. III,
bought this dress for me. and put 4
ON to please him. After no secs II
will take It of. and
"Don't-don't take 1t ofr-eves," sale
Burreil. u thought you were boauti
full before because Of your quaintnes,
and simplicity, but now"-his ches
swelled-"why, this Is breath from
home. You're like my sister and thu
girls back In Kentucky. only MGR
wonderful"
"Am ~ she cried eagerly, Am
like other girls? DO really look as 1
I'd always worn clothes like these 2"
Born to them" said he,
Her warmth and unaffected frank
ness suffused him as she stood out
turning to show the beauties OF he
gown, her brown hands hutterinl
TREMENDOUSLY as she talked,
"It's my first party dress, you know
and I'm as proud OF 1t Us Molly Is o
her Vubber boots, It's too big In her
and too small right there, That giv