Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-03-27
G%ERALDINE's GOWNS.
BY Dorothy DOUGLAS.

BY Dorothy Douglas.
copyright, 1914. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
Geraldine locke over her artistic
wardrobe and made her selections. 1t
vas Geraldine's habit to sell all of the
gowns that h had appeared in more
than three times. She had won her
reputation partly because of her ex-
q'ulslte dressing, and partly because
she was just naturally clever at reci-
tatlon and unduly beautiful to look
upon.
1t was economy that had first
prompted Gerry to dispose of her
gowns. She was not especially fond
or her profession as a society enter
talner N could retire on the small
sum that was gradually augmenting
in value in the bank.
me gowns, expensive necessarily,
brought in an attractive sum Of
money every six months when they
were sold to private customers. Some
went to theatrical women, some to
artists models and many to women
who scorned The second hand shops,
vet took advantage of Geraldine's adj
vertisement.
Geraldine sighed softly as she no
ticed the slight rim IF dust that
the train of her old gold
Chiffon. 1t was one Of her %favorites,
yet that dusty train signitied it's
about the Fifth e and liver
side drive homes with that untidy
mark.
IN gazed longingly at the gown
with its tunic of old gold lace and
sable. but put it determinedly with the
ones for sale.
II hope" mused Gerry, that Miss
Vale will fancy that gown. 1t would
look wonderful with her Titan color
ing
Miss Vale was the model If a mod
ern illustrator and had more than once
renewed her wardrobe from Geraldine's
sales.
Vance Gray is the most critical
artist I nave ever posed for" the
model had once informed Gerry. He
demands new costumes at every sit
ting. 1t all but keeps me broke" she
added. Guess he thinks I got moth
ing to do but buy new rags
And it happened that Miss Vale did
pounce upon the old gold gown the
moment her eyes beheld it.
That's a sumner she cried de-
iightedly. Gray will go right up in
the air over that color. He raves
over clothes worse than a woman"
Il hope he will like that" Gerry
laughed. 1T is my own favorite."
well. you will probably see it IL
lustrating one of the best sellers
Gray is reading the manuscript
now. Jim Donovan and l are going
to pose for eight Illustrations of it,
The girl blushed prettily. 'Jim's
gotta wear evening clothes and Gray
has given him IN old one of his"
Good luck to all Of YOU" laughed
Gerry as the model departed with her
precious bundle.
Another sigh fell from Gerry's lips.
She had let the frock go at absurdly
low figures because h thought Miss
Vale had little enough money to
spend on anything.
My castle of retirement is slightly
nearer. anyway she unused.
That evening h was to entertain
the dinner guests of the Smedley-
Browns. Geraldine decided to wear
gray.
When during the evening Vance
Gray, the noted illustrator, saw her, he
thought he had never seen any one so
ethereally lovely. Her pale gold hair
was like a moonbeam framing her DEL
"Who is she:" he questioned his
nearest neighbor.
Geraldine Innes," the other replied.
Rather n stunner. is she not?"
'Stunner is not the word" answered
Gray. She is the most perfect speci-
11tSlI vi l1lC 6Cl10S1 j xldS0
eve looked upon."
She is noted for her Clothes said
the other. las we'll as her lever i'm
presentations and song recitations."
Vance Gray continued to study Ger
ny from the artistic point Of view.
When he met her later in the evening
and saw the peculiar little smile in her
eyes he wondered at 1t.
Vance Gray" unused Gerry. II
suppose he will recognize my costumes
on his model-if he is observing Int If
we are to meet from time to time"
Il will be delighted If you will come
to tea in my studio, Miss Innes," the
artist said.
Gerry laughed. 1T will be a great
pleasure" she replied. MY gowns
have already been in your studio she
added, with smiling lips.
Some one called her away end, before
Gray could fathom her meaning, she !
nodded adieu to him and was gone. !
He watched the graceful lines Of her |
gown as h crossed the room, and the |
artist in him longed to paint her. |
During the following months Geral-
dine and Vance Gray met from time to |
time. She purposely avoided being
much with him, whether from caprice 4!
or merely because h did not want to !
answer the question in his eyes, she
knew not.
She continued, however. to sell her
gowns to his fav0rite model, and some
how Geraldine took infinite pleasure IN !
the knowledge: that he wa finding /