The Washington herald., 1916-12-03

ing tongs IN hand. There was such
a rush Of trade her jealousy had to
be bottled during business hours and
when the shop closed and she went
with Monsieur to some OF the near
by table d'hotes for 9 beiated dinner.
she was unusually too tired to quarrel
After few weeks, however, busi-
ness routine had absorbed her 30
that she thought less about Monsieur
and more about the cash register. She
had natural talent for money max
ing. had Madame. She persuaded her
man that they were justified in en-
larging and modernizing the estab-
lishment, and while he continued to
run the shop she undertook to pring
about changes with economy. speed
and as little upheaval as possible. And
then when trade siumped. and she be-
gan to worry lest they had undertaken
too much. she actually found that her
skirt bands and even the armholes OF
her waists had to be taken In.
Perhaps MADAME would have let
herself drift along as a sort OF hu-
man cash register. growing less con-
cerned about Monsieur and more abb
i sorbed about their bank books. had 1t
not been for Francois. Francois was
one OF the few New York hairdressers
who had not laid down his curling
irons for a gun. The instinct for self
! preservation which kept him out OF
the trenches made him also look upon
Madame's talents with an appreciative
and acquisitive eye. The business. he
saw. was falling entirely into her
managing hands. Monsieur was be-
proprietor. And if some man could
win this model of force and shrewd-
ness away from Monsieur, what might
not that man hope for in the bust
ness line, II he could coast Of such
a helpmate?
| No longer could Madame fail to
notice that Francois was looking upon
her with languishing eyes. At first
she thought:
"Presumptuous puppy Why. I'm old
enough to be his mother"
| But Francois was too wise to pre-
sumo. His were delicate and subtle at
/ tentions; and Madame. neglected by
| the prosy Monsieur, remembering the
rose brocade and gilt days of loneli-
| ness and jealous suspicion. began to
bask in the youths admiration much
! like a purring pussy lying contentedly
in the sun.
II think. Madame" he suggested in
French one morning. that with your
queenly profile 1t is a shame that
you should let your head carry that
are Individual. You should let me do
| justice to you. II Madame will per-
NIT / should like to arrange her hair
so that the distinguished beauties of
/ her countenance might be brought out
for all to see"
Madame, blind to the amusement of
the rest OF the staff. consented. But
first she had Katie give her a facial
massage. Also she donned a deep
purple charmeuse gown with cuffs and
wide collar OF old lace and embroidery
that were regal in their richness. And
when she emerged from the booth. her
! black hair piled high so that one
streak of graywhite waved grandly
above her newly cold-creamed brow.
she was a picture. Rouge and Fran
Z cois's dramatic admiration had made
! her brilliant
! Monsieur looked. exclaimed and
went about his work that day like a
man in a daZe. Madame smiled on
] Francois until that youth began to plan
whether they should retain the rose
| brocade home or celebrate Me- DANES
divorce by founding a paradise on
turquoise blue and gilt. She patted
his hand once, when he made change
! at the register and stopped to whisper
compliment. but mostly his encour-
/ agement came from the fact that she