The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-04
BY o. HENRY.

| give II up. hear OF wonderful
bargains In fabrics and or miracles
performed with needle and thread
but am in doubt | hold my pen
poised In vain when | would add to
Dulcie's life some of those joys that
belong to woman by virtue Of all the
unwritteD, sacred, natural, inactive
ordinances OF the equity of heaven.
Twice she had been to Coney Island
and had ridden the hobby horses. It's
Il weary thing 10 count your pleasures
by summers instead of by hours
Piggy needs but word When the
girls named him, an undeserving stig-
ma was cast upon the noble family
OF swine. The observation-disclosures
lesson in the old blue spelling book
begins with Piggy's biography. He
was fat; he had the soul OF rat, the
habits OF a bat, and the magnanimity
OF cat He wore expensive
clothes; and was connoisseur in
starvation He could look at a shop
girl and tell you TO an hour how long
IL had been since she had eaten any
hing more nourishing than marsh
mallows and tea He hung about the
shipping districts, and prowled around
in department stores with his invita-
tons to dinner Men who escort dogs
upon the streets at the end OF a string
look down upon him. He is a type;
can dwell upon him no longer my pen
is not the kind intended for him ] am
no carpenter.
At 10 minutes TO Dulcie was
ready She looked AT herself in the
wrinkly mirror. The reflection was
satisfactory. The dark blue dress,
fitting without wrinkle. the hat
with its jaunty black feather, the but
slightly-soiled gloves-all represent
ing self-denial, even OF food itself
were vastly becoming
Dulcie forgot everything else for
moment except that she was beauu-
ful and that life was about to lift a
corner OF its mysterious veil for her
10 observe its wonders. No gentleman
had ever had her out before. Now
she was going FOR brief moment
into the glitter and exalted show.
The girls said that Piggy was
"spender" There would be a grand
dinner, and music. and splendidly
dressed ladies' to look at. and things
10 eat that strangely twisted the girls
jaws when they tried to tell about
them. No doubt she would be asked
out again.
There was a blue pongee suit in a
window that she knew-by saving ~
cents week instead Of TO- in-let's
see--oh, il would run into years But
there was a secondhand store In Sew
enth-ave. where
Somebody knocked at the door.
Dulcie opened IT, The landlady stood
there with spurious smile, smiling
for cooking by stolen gas.
"A gentleman's downstairs to see
YOU" she said Name is Mr.. Wig
gins"
BY such epithet was Piggy known
to unfortunate ones who had to take
him seriously.
Dulcie turned TO the dresser 10 get
her handkerchief; and then she
stopped still. and bit her under lii
hard. While looking in her mirror
she had seen fairyland and herself, d
princess, just awakening from long
slumber. She had forgotten one thai
was watching her with sad, beautiful
stern eyes-the only one there was -
approve or condemn what she did
Straight and slender and tall, with
look Of sorrowful reproach on his
handsome. melancholy face, Gen
Kitchener fixed his wonderful eyes on
her out Of his-vsilt photograph frame
on the dresser.
Dulcie turned like an automatic doll
to the landlady.
TEL him | can't CO." she SAID
duly Tell him I'm sick, or some
tyxu Tell Il
After the door was closed ana