The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-02-24
Her Bisque Doll

-
By PHILIP KEAN

ssOcizted Literary Press)
say, is it true that she never had a
doll?"
Not since she can remember" said
F1eurette's mother.
ROdman looked around the plain
room I see,' he said briefly. Look
here, may l come again and find out
how she is?"
Mrs. Dubois knew that she could
trust those frank. blue eyes Yes -
she said. and thank you very much
for bringing my little girl back to
me-"
| . He came in an hour later with
! some fruit. L thought if she was
! feverish the oranges might taste
! good TO her." he said. Let me help
you" he went on eagerly. Here 1
am IN this old town, my boat mas to
go to the drydock for repairs and
my time hangs on my hands"
In her extremity Mrs Dubois
! turned 10 him gratefully I'VE have
: no friends and l can't leave Fleurette-
| for a moment" she said. Il must
have a doctor and medicine at once"
He was up and away in a moment,
/
petent physician.
Look here" he said to Mrs. Du-
Bots, you let me do the cooking.
I've done it lots of times on my boat
and you let me watch when you get
worn out
In the days that followed Mrs. Du-
Bots often asked anxiously: Isn't
your boat ready to sail?'' AMI Jack
Rodman always answered with his
big laugh, There's a lot more to
do on her.
1t was not until F1eurette began
to come back to life that he spoke
of his return voyage. In another
week 1 must be getting home he
said
How can we ever repay you?"
Mrs. Dubois said.
Forget it." said Jack slangily.
but his eyes were wet You must
remember that you are my adopted
mother-now that I haven't one Of
my own"
IF you were half as good to her
as you have been to us, she must
have been proud of you" said the
grateful little lady.
Forget it," repeated Jack with
some embarrassment, "and-or. look
here. there's just one thing I want
to get F1eurette before go"
But he wouldn't tell what it was
until he came back with long box.
and Unfolded from many wrappings
of tissue paper a bisque doll
F1eurette held out weak hands for
her
OH" she gasped, "oh!"
81 thought you'd like her, kiddie."
said Jack, somewhat awkwardly.
It was a happy little F1eurette who
lay back on her pillows You
wouldn't think l was really almost
nineteen" she asked, would you2
1t seems such baby thing to want a
doll, but then you see when you've
always wanted 4 thing
you ought to have it? Of course
you should, kiddie. And now there's
something else 1 want you to have"
''What?" asked Fleurette, and Mrs.
Dubois looked at him curiously
"A sea voyage" said Jack Rodman.
Unexpectedly. I've asked the doctor,
and he says it would be the best
thing that could happen to F1eu-
rette. The fshing's over and I've a
good cook, and a couple of other men
on my boat, and while things are a
bit rough, we should certainly try to
make you comfortable
a week later Fleurette lay on the
deck of the White Gull and watched
the real gulls overhead. Beside her
lay the bisque doll.
Jack Rodman, seated at Fleurette's
feet. watched her with adoring eyes.
eff 1 hadn't stopped to look at those
bisque babies 1 shouldn't have met
you" he said
Fleurette laughed. You must
have thought me a perfect child
L thought you perfect" Jack
got up suddenly and went over to
he told that lady, and his voice
foated back to Fleurette.
"What?" asked Mrs. Dubois
smiling.
I've got to tell her 1 love her."
said Jack explosiyely, but 1 sup
pose I'd better tell you first that 1
want you for a real mother, not for
an adopted one"
Dear boy" said Mrs Dubois, and
he kissed her
Then he went back to FIeurette. !
'T want you tc be first mate of the |
White Gull, dear" he said, steadily, !
but I'm afraid to ask
Why" said F1eurette. the color |
flaming into her cheeks.
Because 1 don't see how you can /
love a big rough chap like me
I don't love a big rough chap" |
said Fleurette with shining ewes
but 1 love a man with the kindest !
heart in the whole world-and the |
name of that man is-Jack."