The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-11-21
The Maid and
the Manikin
@>~
BY BARBARA KERR

per Syndicate.)
"This is n pretty time of night for
two respectable maiden schoolmarms
to be providing around looking for lost
keyholes," giggled Bert Wainwright to
! Louise Laurent, as they were vainly
trying to get into their roOming house
without waking the other Inhabitants.
81 never knew that we were her
metically sealed up from the rest of
| the world, once we were inside this
castle Let's ring the bell"
"Oh, no; this is so funny! Here, we
can stand on this stool, reach that roof
and walk right along to the verandah."
"And get shot Wen, give me your
hand
And in n minute more Of giggling
and clambering they both stood on the
upper verandah, when just ahead of
them blind ran up and the window
opened, but evidently merely for air,
as they heard mans voice humming
softly, and the wind blowing aside the
curtain they beheld a man at work.
Both were rooted to the spot, for 1t
was most unusual work.
Mr.. Reginald Santerre was draping
manikin with yellow gauze.
"Oh," breathed Louise. "How ador-
able!"
"Sh-for the love of Mixer whis-
pered Bert, as the draper backed
gracefully away from his work, walked
| to the dresser and picked up photo
graph. Me" again whispered Bert,
when the draper leaned the photograph
up against the face Of the manikin and
smilngly eyed it in mental perspec-
tive She tried to keep Louise from
seeing. Was he coming to the win
dow? Hastily they turned the corner
and climbed hurrledly into their own
room.
"Oh! Oh Oh" laughed Bert as
she rocked back and forth on the floor.
"Oh, wasn't that the funniest thing?
If you ever tell it, Louise Laurent, I'll
murder you! Oh! OH"
"Tell it? OF course / won't. But
isn't it the sweetest thing you ever
saw"
"What?" demanded Bert. "That
dress for me?"
Bert That's the dearest dress 1
ever laid eyes on. always knew Reg
gle was a wizard in dry goods. You
are the luckiest thing l ever saw!
Think of him, working all his evenings
designing IA dress for you! Aren't you
crazy to get into it?"
No! What do l want with a dress
like that? You know"
"Oh, yes, know you'd rather get
into a corduroy hunting suit and tramp
| all over the country. But you'll have
to quit that and settle down. The wife
Of Reginald Santerre-"
"Hush Oulda. Think of a man
dressmaker :"
"Shame on you, Berti Think of
Worth"
"Worth-lessl OF course, not just
that; but have | no ambition but to
be a dummy tO-hang-things On-a
Christmas tree"
Nov, Bert wainwright, ever since we
were in school in No. 6 I've thought
sometimes that you were cOnceited.
You ought to be the proudest girl in
the world
But Bert put her hands before her
face, and a hard, dry gurgle, much
more like "A sob than "A laugh, escaped
her. Don't talk to NEEDN'T. I'm
going to bed"
"Are you crying, BERTHE? Are you
sickf came softly out of the darkness.
NO, l was just telling Reggie good
bye, l was giving him to you"
Louise bounded out of bed, turned
on the light and got the thermometer.
"You are sick, Bert. You've got a
fever, Open your mouth
"Fudge! Take that thing away or
I'll bite the end off, and you know
what happened to Willy
Twas a chilly day for Willy
When the mercury went down.
I'm not sick. You couldn't understand
in hundred years, Louise, but l
couldn't any more marry Mr.. Santerre
Why was / such a fool as to think |
| couldT
you'll be all right in the morning"
"You listen to me-"
And then and there Bert unfolded
the scheme of presenting her lover to
her lifelong friend, arranging all the
details Of the renunciation Louise lis.
tened, at first to humor her, but as she
went on planning in the darkness she
knew that she meant every word Of 1t.
So when morning came she felt Il lit
tie panicky but Bert was ms cool as
though they were swapping sweaters
and things happened just as she had
planned. It was Sunday, and they met
at the breakfast table. The girls re-
lated to Reggie how they had gotten
In, ana were afraid they might have
Weakened him, saying nothing Of the
dress.
well, now, isn't that strange? |
worked late last night" hesltating a
moment. 81 had an inspiration for Il
! gown for Miss wainwright"
Adorable! Lucky Bertl Could we
see it,"
"Rippingw smiled Bert. "And here
| am all logged out for hike. Is 1t
as nice as this" smoothing out her
old brown corduroy.
The faintest frown appeared on Reg
gie's brow, but the girls hastily arose
from the table and all proceeded into
his designing room, ana the manlkip
!, | was wheeled into view MILAN, linton.