The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-15
THE EVENING STORY
Her Bisque Doll.
(By Philip Kean.)

Fleurette was an apprentice in
millinery shop. Now and then little
Fleurette sighed for luxuries.
Il have never really had a good
time, you know, mother" she would
say, and her mother would kiss her
and sigh. IF your father had lived,
F'leurette.''
The future seemed to hold nothing
for them except the possibility of
Fleurette's success as a milliner. She
had been promised three dollars a
week, as son as she learned the first
principles of her trade.
When, therefore, she came home
one night with a sore throat, there
was CONSERVATION. 81 simply can't
be sick" Fleurette said, desperately.
| Madame will get some one else in my
place if stay away"
She went to bed that night with her
| throat wrapped up. and when she
struggled to her feet, in the early
dawn, her head was hot with fever
But must CO., she insisted, and at
last her mother helped her into her
clothes, and started her on her way.
The day was one of deadly and ex-
cruciating effort. F1eurette'S hot head
and heavy eyes seemed to weigh her
down. Her needle in her trembling
hand seemed to take stitches that ac-
complished nothing. Madame spoke to
her sharply several times, and, at last
sent her nOul0s ana QOnL come DaCk
until you are rid of that cough" she
said.
Fleurette, staggering homeward, felt
that she didn't care if some lone else
did take her place. She wanted only
to get to her mother, to lay her hot
head on the pillow and sleep.
Her feet were so heavy that at last
she stopped, and held on to the rail-
ing that ran in front of one of the big
windows of the shop where there was
displayed box after box of blonde and
brunette bisaue dolls.
oh, you pretty babies Fleurette
enough to curl up in that pink crib,
how nice it would be-
She said it out loud, and a man who
had stopped beside her looked down
Hello" he said quickly. as she
swayed, and would have fallen, but for
his helping hand. LOOK here, kidGie,
you re in bad way"
81 think said Fleurette, looking up
at him with fever-bright eyes, 7 think
[ am very 81. But if I am going II
die, I think I'd just as soon do it right
here, please You-see. I've never had
You're rot going to die" he said
brlskly. You tell me where you live.
and III have you home and in bed
before you can say Jack Robinson"
I don't want to say Jack Robin
son. Fleurette protested, weakly, but
she gave him her number, and lean
Ing OH Ills stIIll, was leu down a SIDE
street to her waiting and anxious
mother.
The big man stayed in the front room, |
while the girls mother made her COM
rette could hear him humming like q
big bee as she went off into dream |
land.
She had iapsed into Inconsistencies
by the time the big man had introduc-
ed himself to her mother. my name |
is Jack Rodman,'' he said. My boat |
came in this morning after d weeks |
fishing en- the banks. I own my own |
find plenty of people who'd tell you
that I come of honest folks, and the /
haven't gone back on my name. [ |
walked uptown this afternoon. and I /
saw the little Eirl talking to the dolls. |
She seemed too big for that sort of /
thing. so 1 listened, and I saw she was |
out of her head-but, say, is it true t
that she never had a doll?'
Not since she can rememb er," said /
F1eurett's mother.
Rodinan locked around the plain
room. Il see, he said briefly. Look T
here, may I come again and find out
how she Is?"
Mrs. DUBOIS knew that she could
trust those frank, blue eyes. Yes
she said, END thank you very much +
for bringing my little girl back to me-
He came in an hour later with some
fruit. 81 thought if she was feverish
the oranges might taste good to her."
he said. Let me help YOU" he went
on eagerly Here I am in this old
town, my boat has to go to the dry
dock for repairs and my time hangs
on my hands
IN her extremity Mrs. Dubois turned
to him gratefully. I'VE have no friends
and 1 can't leave Fleurette for a mo-
ment.'' she said q must have a doc
tor and medicine at once"
He was up and away in a moment,
coming back with a kindly, competent
physician, and running out again to
fill prescriptions to get a chicken for
broth and milk and eggs.
Look here he said to Mrs. Du-
Bois, 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-
Bois often asked anxiously. isn't your
boat ready to sail?" and Jack Rod
laugh. There's a lot more to do on
her.
It was not until Fleurette began to
come back to life that he spoke of his
return voyage In another week
must be getting home" he said.
How can we ever repay you?" Mrs
Dubois said.
''Foget it, said Jack slangily, but I
his eyes were wet You must remem-
Der that you are my adopted mother
now that 1 haven't one of my own
IF you were half as good to her as
been proud of you" said the grateful
little lady. :
Forget it repeated Jack. with :
some EN- barrassment, 'and-Oh, look
here. there's just one thing I want to ]
get FIeurette before I go
But he wouldn't tell what It was I'M
ii he came back with a long box and S