The Yale expositor., 1915-03-04

she said she never saw tn beat.
Dresses! Well, her going-away suit
alone comes to eighty dollars, for it's
bein' made by Molkowsky, the little
Polish tailor. An her weddin dress is
satin, do yuh mind! Oh, it was a
real treat for my aunt, Mis- Null
cahy"
Birdie walked over to where Minnie
Wenzel sat, very white and still, and
pointed a stubby, red finger In her
face. "'Tis the grand manager ye are,
Miss Wenzel, gettin satins an tailor
mades on yer salary. 1t takes a
woman, Minnie Wenzel, to see through
a woman's thricks."
"Wen, I'll be dinged!" exploded 10
Haley
"Yuh'd better be-" retorted Birdie
Callahan.
Minnie Wenzel stood up. her lip
caught between her teeth.
"Am to understand, 10 Haley, that
you dare to accuse me of taking your
filthy money, instead of that miser-
able ex-con there who has done timer"
"Thatn do, Minnie" said 10 Haley
gently. That's a-plenty."
Prove it," went on Minnie, and then
! looked as though she wished she
hadn't.
"A business college edjication is a
grand, foine thing" observed Birdie.
Miss Wenzel is graduate av wan.
They teach you everything from
drawin' birds with tail feathers to
plain and fancy penmanship. In fact,
they teach everything in the writin'
line except forgery, an | amt so
sure they haven't a coorse in that"
Il don't care" whimpered Minnie
Wenzel suddenly, sinking in a limp
| heap on the floor. 81 had to do it. I'm
marrying a swell fellow and a girls
got to have some clothes that don't
| look like a Bird Center dressmaker's
work He's got three sisters. / saw
their pictures and they're coming to
| the wedding. They're the kind that
wear low-necked dresses in the eve
ming, and have their hair and nails
| done down town. haven't got a thing
! but my looks. Could l go to New
York dressed like a rube? On the
square, 10, l worked here six years
and never took a sou. But things got
away from me. The tailor wouldn't
finish my suit unless l paid him fifty
dollars down. | only took fifty at
first, intending to pay 1t back. Honest
to goodness, 10, did"
Cut it out" said 10 Haley, "and get
up. l was going to give you a check
for your wedding, though l hadn't
counted on no three hundred. Wen
call it square. And | hope you'll be
happy, but l don't gamble on it. You'll
be goin' through your mans pockets
before you're married a year. You
can take your hat and fade. I'd like
to know how I'm ever going to square
this thing with Ted and Birdie"
An me standin here gassin' while
them fool girls in the dinin'-room
can't set table decent, and dinner
in less than ten minutes cried Birdie,
rushing off. Ted mumbled something
unintelligible and was after her.
Birdie! l want to talk to you"
Say it quick, then," said Birdie,
over her shoulder The doors open in
three minutes"
Il can't tell you how grateful l am.
This is no place to talk to you. VIII
you let me walk home with you to-
night after your works done?"
"Will 2" said Birdie, turning to face
him. Il will not TIL swell mob has
shook you, an a good thing it is. You
was travelin' with bunch of racers,
when you was only built for medium
speed. Now you're got your chance to
a fresh start and don't you ever think
I'm going to be the one to let you
spoil 1t by beginnin' to walk out with
dinin'room Lizzie like me-"
Don't say that, Birdie" Ted put in.
IT'S the TRUTH" affirmed Birdie.
mot that l amt a perfectly respect
able girrul, and ye know it. I'm a
good slob, but folks would be tickled
for the chance to say that you had
nobody to go with but the likes av
me. If l was to let you walk home
with me tonight, yuh might be askin'
to call next week. Inside half year,
If yuh was lonesome enough, yuh'd ask
me to marry yuh. And b'gorra," she
said softly, looking down at her un-
lovely, red hands, I'm dead scared
I'd do it. Get back to work, Ted Ter
rill. and hold yer head up high, and
when yuh say your prayers tonight,
thank your lucky stars amt hussy."
1