The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-07-11
CHAPTER XIII.
The Department of Correspondence.

I simply couldn't manage to dress
IA five minutes, although Celie. like
The jewel she is, mad put out the
yfmples. gown Mrs Hazard allowed
me and began throwfng my clothes at
me the minute l appeared. I collapsed
into a chair and she pulled the pins
from my hair. My face was streaked
with tearstains where | had cried.
my eyes were red, my nose worse.
Celie looked at me in despair while
the clock licked of the seconds ftend-
ahly-ticked of two minutes. to be
sxact-and chatter from the drawing
room floated up to me through the
open windows. That punctual dinner
gong would sound In Just three min
utes.
."Ah, Mademoiselle, you are ILL.,"
Celie cried alarmed. "You have been
crying II you please, will Mademoi-
selle allow me the time for massage?
MadaIaoisesie Is most :.
Eyes, Celie, I'm wreck" inter
Tupted in English. "and there's no
woman In the world can dress In
three minutes: VIII you ask Mrs.
Hazard to excuse me for this one
evening-if she hasn't already gone
down? Tell her | have headache;
my head does ache, Cene. Run! II
she has gone down come back quickly
and hook me every other hook and
trust to luck. I'll do my hair while
you're gone"
She was already across the corridor
and | gave my hair a twist, a loop,
stuck pins in. blessed the Lord for
che curls he had given me, and tried
to repair my damaged face with a
smear Of cold cream. had always
read Of shining eyes and glowing
cheeks after what had Just been
through: when man had given me
his heart. and had kissed me into &C.
knowledging that l loved him, besides
making me promise all sorts Of won.
derful promises knew I couldn't
keep. couldn't, l couldn't, I couldn't.
began to cry again. but I didn't
have time to cry. winked back the
tears and smeared on more cream;
Mrs. Hazard appeared.
"My dear child" she exclaimed.
What Is the matter? Celie says you
are III"
"Oh, It's nothing. but I've been cry
fng-as you know" l added hastily,
"and I'm fright. and l can't get
dressed before that gong sounds. |
don't feel like talking. Would 1t be
TOO much TO ask II l might have a
headache and stay here for once?"
"of course, you may" she replied
alphabetically. Il should have been
the one to suggest 1t. My dear, don't
worry, don't-there's the gong! Send
Celie for your dinner, and II you need
me. send for me. Remember there's
nothing to cry about"
She hustled out In her dear, fat
way. heard her speak to Hap in the
corridor. and my fingers, smearing
ths cold cream, trembled against my
face at the sound of his voice. He
aoved me; he loved me; he loved me,
Suddenly something Inside me gave
way, either In my brain or my heart,
4 don't know which, and | went for
ward across my dressing-table, my
greasy face against the dainty pink
and white covering, and had a real
cry, jofiy, soul-refreshing weep.
"Ah, Mademoiselle ees In ze grand
deestress!" Celie exclaimed: Mad.
emoiselle ees Ill. Mademoiselle as
aevaire-"
knew Cehe was In re grand dee
stress" herself when she lapsed into
English. / sat up again, wiping the
tears from my eyes and the grease
from my face.
Get ma my dinner, Celie," said
between sobs. I'm so hungry. I'll
feel better when eat something"
She looked at me astonished. She
ANEW ! was not quite hopeless as long
10 was hungry.