The Washington herald., 1913-11-22
DAILY SHORT STORY

| we've got to have that dress. You
come with me to the silk department and
we'll md the goods there. Then you have
the doll sent up to me. I'd love to dress
II for Jenny. You can come evenings TO
see that it's going right. Come tonight
seem to have an idea what she wants.
although you can't seem to put IL into
words"
That's mighty good OF you. You bet
I'll come" said Freddy, with certain
mental reservations about making the
work hold out.
So to the silk department they went.
and after much deliberation they found
a pale lavender which approximated what
he wanted.
, Those were wonderful evenings for
Freddy Afnsworth in the Longs big H.
brary, with a fire burning on the hearth
and Constance more lovely than ever as
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 as long as pos
sible.
Five evenings he sat there with her
before the library fire before the work.
was done, and Freddy Ainsworth i'm
proved every shining moment Of thai
| time.
But at last Il was all done. The doll
was dressed just as he had seemed to
think II would best suit Jenny. There
was no excuse for any pnore change.
"And I'm going with you tomorrow
when you take II to her" said the girl.
"oh. can't wait to see her eyes"
Freddy looked distressed. II want to
tell you something" said he at last.
! He poked at an ember which had snap
ped far out on the wide hearth.
| sHThara isn't anV- JennY,'
"what?''
4 He shook his head Look That day
met you at Brown & Farwrelrs L
well, I may as well own up-I saw you
EST out Of the limousine and I followed
you in, Just to see you and talk to you;
and then, when / came face to face with
YOU at the toy counter and you asked
me 80 coldly what I was doing there. it
came to me IT would be pretty awkward
to have to admit I'd followed you in.
II didn't seem very dignifed. nor nice
| So / thought up the doll on the spur Of
the moment, and I thought up Jenny
lafterward, and when I found you were
interested and It was going to give me
a chance to know you better, why-why.
thought up all those attributes Of the
mythical Jenny"
What a splendid Imagination you have
Mr.. Ainsworth," 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. Il see
my mistake now II was just because
lbecause-oh, well of course. 1 don't have
TO go into all the details. I imagine you
understand why did II, and I'm mighty
sorry you're, so angry with me. Good
night!'
She let him get to the hall door.
| wait a moment" she said as he
opened it.
II knew all along there wasn't any
Jenny" she said softly.
You did?'' he cried in unbelief.
THE day after that first night you
were here-h you'll remember. you told
me Jenny was not so well that day.
ltelephoned to st. Marks Hospital There
wasn't any Jenny Rand there. That made
me suspicious. Then 1 teIephoned your
mothers place up the river. / found
that Rand, the gardener there, wasn't
married.
And yet you went right on with the
doll-why?" he cried jubilantly.
| Don't take too much fer granted.
said she. II did it for the Jenny that
might have been"
Well. wen find that Jenny somewhere
and give her the. .dolI-only Just now
just now, Constance, dear. that is a sec
ondsry matter. isn't it?''
| He held out his arms to her. Con-
lstsnee seemed to think it was.