Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-12-12
A DOLL FOR JENNY.
BY r. 8. sh.,.er.

ne was passing one of the big department
stores when a limousine whirled up to-
me Curb and out stepped Constance Long. |
Sne crossed the curb and stepped through
the stores main entrance. In a second
freuoy was through that door also, and
trying to catch up with her. 1t was only
when she had stopped at a counter in the
10Y department in the rear of the first
moor that Freddy finally succeeded in
reaching her side.
On, now de do. Mr.. Ainsworth,'' said
constance, looking at him with one of
those bewtldering smiles OF hers. What
brings you here?'
HAD Freddy answered truthfully 1t
would nave been q brief YOU But Con-
stance was still smiling in that disarming
Iasnion, and 1T was borne to Freddy sud
ueniy and uncomfortable that he did not
Know constance Long any too we'll, sure
~ not we'll enough to admit he had fol-
lowed her In here from the street.
I'm after a doll" said Freddy, as his
their pastboard boxes ranged on a shelf.
"A doll for q little GIRL he added.
Tn so glad 1t isn't for a little boy"
Uttered Constance.
Freddy seemed not to hear this last re-
mark. ITS lucky I found you here"
said he. What cerulean bluet''
"Why?"
"Well. that's That the dolls eyes must
be. And she must be dressed in pale Law
ender silk-the kind of pale lavender
that's pinky purple, but isn't" 8.
Your little girl seems very fussy.'' said
Constance.
.'She's in he hospital said ne.
"Oh." said the girl quickly. "And she's
commissioned you to get. her the doll? 1t
must be just right Of course. Tell me
about her."
It's the gardeners little girl up at
the river place. he said. ''she's got to
have an operation they think-hip.'
"Oh." said Constance again.
.Queerest. most lovable, quaintest-mind-
Cd child you ever say" Freddy went OF
with his imaginings-went on with them
because he saw he was holding the girls
attention. Imagine telling me about hat
dress-the kind of lavender that's pinky
purple. but isn't"
Just walt until I leave this order for
q part OF Bob's engine that's broken. n
I'll see that you get that doll with cerulean
blue eyes and the right colored dress. too
Was she to have light hair?"
"Uh-huh!' Freddy admitted.
They U q doll, after looking at many
with eyes that Constance said were true
cerulean blue. but the pinky purple dress
was elusive. {. There were none of them
among the stock of dolls clothing in the
toy department.
Nov look" she said. laying q hand on
Freddy's arm. whereat Freddy thrilled.
we've got to have that dress. You come
with me to the silk department and well
find the goods there. you have the
doll sent up to me. I'd love to dress 1t
for Jenny. You can come evenings to see
that it's going right. Come tonight. Wen
have II just as she ANTS 1t. You seem to
a an idea what she anti although
you can't seem to put it into words"
That's mighty good of you. You bet
I'll come.' said Freddy, with certain mem
tai reservations about making the work
hold out.
So to the silk department they went,
and after much elaboration they found Q
pale lavender which Appropriated what
he wanted.
Those were wonderful evenings for
Freddy Ainsworth In the Longs big IL
brary, with q fire burning on the hearth
and Constance more lovely than ever az
she sewed away on the dainty fabric. and
asked his advice about this and that: And
he suggested every change he could that
the work might last ~ long az possible.
Five evenings he sat there with her be-
fore the library nRe before h work was
done. and Freddy Ainswortn improved
every shining moment Of that time.
But ct last It was all done. The doll
was dressed Just az It would best suit
Jenny.
And I'm going With you tomorrow
when you take It to her" raid the GIRL
.'Oh, / can't wait to see her eyes,"
Freddy looked distressed. 81 want to
tell you something" said he Ct last.
There Isn't any. Jenny"
''What7"
He shook his head. ..Iook! That day
I met you at Brown 4 Farwel's I-well,
/ nay - well own up-I saw you get out
of the limousine and I followed you In,
just to zee o ana talk to you: n then.
when I came face to face with you at the
toy counter and you asked mo 90 coolly
what I Was doing there. Il came to ms
admit I'd followed you In. Il didn't seem
very dignined. nor nice. 80 I thought UP
the doll On the spur Of The moment. and
i thought up Jenny Afterward, and
/ found you were interested ana 1t was
going to give me . chance to know you
better. why-why. ! thought up :il those
attributes Of the mythical Jenny"
"What q splendid Imagination you have,
MI. Ainsworth.s said she cOldly.
Freddy WINGED. He looked at her. Her
face was very hard. The lips were drawn
tightly together.
I'm sorry" he said simply. II zee my
mistake now. It was just because-be-
go into oil the details. I imagine you un-
derstand why I did II. and I'm mighty
sorry you're 80 angry with me. Good
night"
she let him get to the han door.
.sWait . moment" h said ~ he
opened Il.
IT knew on along there wasn't any
Jenny she said softly.
"You - he cried In unhellel.
''The day after that 1rst night you were
here-if you'll remember. you told me
Jenny Was not 20 we'll that day--I tele-
phoned to st. Marks hospital. There
wasn't any Jenny Rand there. That made
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