The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-11-21
The Maid and
the Manikin
SCopyrishi. 1914 by tho Mcclure NewspA
per syndics,st
IN
BY BARBARA KERR

two respectable maiden schoolmarms
20 BE- proving around looking for lost
heyholes," giggled bert Wainwright TO
Louise Laurent. as they were yainly
trying to get into their roomIng house
without waking the other Inhabitants.
Il never knew that We were her
medically scaled up from the rest Of
the world, once we were inside this
castle. Let's ring the bell"
-0h. no this Is No funny! Here. we
can stand on this stool. reach tina, roof
and walk right along to the vernndah. .
and get sho, Well. give me your
hand
And In minute more Of giggiing
and clambering they both stood on the
upper yerandah. when Just ahead Of
them a blind rnn up and the window
opened. but evidently merely for air.
~ they heard a 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
q manikIn with yellow gauze.
"Oh," breathed Louise. How ador-
able
"Sh-for the love OF Mike!" whls-
pered Bert, as the draper backed
gracefully away from his work, walked
10 the dresser and picked up a photo.
graph. "Mel" again whispered Bert,
when the draper leaned the photograph
up against the face Of the manikin and
smllingly eyed IL In mental perspec-
tive. She tried 10 keep Louise from
seeing. Was he coming to the win
dow? Hastily they turned the corner
and climbed hurrledy 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?
II you ever tell il. Louise Laurent, III
murder you Oh orr
"Tell III OF course won't. But
isn't 1t the sweetest thing you ever
saw7"
what demanded Bert. "That
dress for mel"
Bert That's the dearest dress /
ever laid eyes on. always knew Reg
gle was wizard in dry goods. You
nre the luckiest thing ever saw!
Think Of him, working all his evenings
designing d dress for you Aren't you
crazy to get into IT'D"
"No What do | want with dress
like that? You know"
"Oh, yes, ! know you'd rather get
into corduroy hunting suit and tramp
nll over the country. But you'll have
10 quit that and settle down. The wife
of Reginald Santerre--"
flush, Ouida. Think of man
dressmakerl"
"Shame on you, Bert! Think of
Worth"
WORTHLESS OF course, not just
TINT; but have ! no ambition but to
be dummy to--hang-things On--a
Christmas treef"
snow, 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 hard, dry gurgle, much
more like sob than a laugh. escaped
her. Don't talk to NEEDN'T. I'm
going to bed"
Are you crying Bertie7 Are you
dckr came softly out Of the darkness.
mo. was just telling Reggie good,
bye. ] 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"
"Fudgel Take that thing away OF
I'll bite the end of. 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 a hundred years, Louise. hut |
couldn't any more marry Mr., Santerre
Why was such fool ms to think |
could?"
'Youll be all right in the morning"
"You listen to me-"
And then and there Bert unfolied
the scheme Of presenting her l0ver to
her lifelong friend arranging an the
details Of the remuneration. Louise lis.
tened, at first TO hunor her but as she
went on planning IN The darkness she
knew that she meant every word Of It,
So when morning came she felt a lit
tie panicky, hut Bert was as cool as
though they were swapping sweaters
and things happened just as she had
planned. IL was Sunday, and they met
NJ the breakfast table. The girls re.
lated 10 Reggie how they had gotten
IN, and were afraid they might have
Weakened him. saying nothing 81 IA,
dress.
well, now, isn't that stranger
worked late last night hesitniing
moment II had an inspiration for .
gown FOR Miss WnlnriglH"
Adorable! Lucky Bert! Could We
see ny
Ripping" smiled Bert And her,