Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-12

deep voice he uses to Billy and me
when we are really sick or stump
toed. You know 1 was only teasing
you, and | won't stand for
But [ sobbed some more. / like him
when his eyes come out from under
his bushy brows and are all tender
and full of sorry for us.
81 can't help it," I gulped in my
sleeve. "I did used to like Alfred
Bennett. My heart almost broke when
he went away. / used to be beau
tiful and slim, and now I feel as if
my own fat ghost has come to haunt
me all my life. ! am so ashamed! If
woman can't cry over her own dead
beauty, what can she cry over?' BY
this time ] was really crying.
Then what happened to me was
that Doctor John took me by the
shoulders and gave me one good
shake and then made me look him
right in tho eyes through the tears
and all.
"You foolish child, he said in the
deepest voice l almost ever heard Linn
use. You are just a lovely, round,
luscious pc each, but If you will be
happier to have AL Bennett come AND
find you as slim as string bean |
can show you how to do it. VIII
you do Just as I tell YOU"
Yes, I WILL" l shifted in a COM
forted voice. What woman wouldn't
be comforted by being called a
luscious peach" I looked out be-
tween my fingers to see what more
he was going to say. but ne had
turned to a shelf and taken down
two books.
Now" he said in his most busi-
ness-like voice, as cool as bucket Of
water fresh from the spring, 'Ht is
no trouble at all to tnke off your
surplus avoirdupois at the rate of two
and a half pounds a week if you will
fellow these directions. AS 1 take 1t
you are abot twenty-five pounds over
your normal weight. 1t will take
over two months to reduce you and
we will allow an extra month for
further identifying, so that when
Mr.. Bennett arrives he will find the
lady of his alteration in proper trim
to be adored. Yes, just be still until
I copy these directions in this little,
red leather blank-boolS for you, and
every day l want you to keep an
exact record of the conditions of
which l make note. No, don'T talk
while I make out these diet lists: !
wish you would go across the hall
and see il you don't think we ought
to get Bill thinner set of night
drawers. 1t seems to me he must
be too warm in the ones he is wear
ing"
When he speaks to me in that tone
of voice / always do it. And | needed
Billy badly at that very moment. 1
took him out of his little cot by Doctor
Johns big bed and sat down with
him in my arms over by the window,
through which the early moon came
streaming. Billy is so little, little
not to have mother to rock him all
the times he needs it that ] take
every opportunity to give it to him
find-when he's unconscious and
can't help himself. She died before
she ever even saw him and I've al
ways tried to do what | could to
make it up to him,
Poor Mr. Carter said when Billy
can be worse than twins of your
own. He didn't like children and the
babys crying disturbed him, so many
a night I walked Billy out in the gar
den until daylight while Mr.. Carter
and Doctor John both slept. Always
his little, warm, witty body has com
forted me for the emptiness of not
having baby of my own. And he's
very congenial, too, for he's slim and
howery, pink and dimply, and as
mannish as his father, in funny little
flashes.
cit a stick to punch it, Molly" he
was murmuring in his sleep. Then L
heard the doctor call me and / had
to kiss him. put him back in his bed
and go across the hall
Doctor John was standing by the
table with this horrid small book in
his hand and his mouth was set in q
straight line and his eyes were deep
back under their brows. / hate
him that way, too, and [ would
like to get up so close to him
that he couldn't hit me or
have a door locked between us.
It's strange how the thought of taxi
ing a beating from a man can make
a womans heart jump. Mine jumped
so it was hard to look as meek as |
felt best under the circumstances; but
I looked it out from under my lashes
cautiously.
There you are, Mrs. Molly" he said
briskly as he handed me this book.
"Get weighed and measured and
sized up generally in the morning and
follow all the directions. Also make
every record I have noted SO that |
can have the proper data to help you
as you go along--or rather down. And
if you will be faithful about it to me,
or rather Al, ] think we can be sure
OF huttoning that blue muslin dress
without even the aid of the button
hook" His voice had the ''if you cam
note in it that always sets me off.
Had we better get the l1iddie some
thinner night-rigging? he fastened
to ask, as / was just about to explode.
He knows the signs.
THANK you, DR. Moore. / hate the
very ground you walk on and I'll at
tend to those night-clothes myself to-
morrow | answered, and sailed out
of that office and down the path
toward my own house beyond his
hedge. But ] carried this book tight
in my hand and / made up my mind
that would do it all if it killed me.
/ would show him ! could be faithful
Ito whom would decide later on.
But I hadn't read far into this book
when I committed myself to myself
like that!
| don't know just how long | sat on
the front steps all by myself bathed
in a perfect flood Of moonlight and
loneliness. 1t was not a bit OF COM
fort to hear Aunt Adeline snoring