The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-12-06
Tl1e Maid and
the Manikin


two respectable maiden ,schoolmarms
20 be prowling 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.
II never knew that we were her
1netically sealed up from the rest Of
the world. once we were inside this
castle. Let's ring the bell"
~Oh, no; this is so funnyl Here, we
can stand on this stool, reach that roof
md walk right along to the verandah."
~And get shot Well, give me your
hand"
And In 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 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-
ableI"
"Sh-for the love of Mikel" whis-
pered Bert, as the draper backed
gracefully away from his work, walked
to the dresser and picked up photo
graph. "Mei" again whispered Bert,
when the draper leaned the photograph
up against the face of the maniIkin and
smilingly eyed It in mental perspec-
tive. She tried to keep Louise from
seeing. Was he coming to the WIN
dow7 Hastily they turned the corner
and climbed hurriedly into their own
room.
ooh! Obi Ohw laughed Bert as
she rocked back and forth on the floor.
~0h, wasn't that the funniest thing?
II you ever tell it, Louise Laurent, I'll
murder youi Oh! Ohw
sTell it, OF course / won't. But
Isn't 1t the sweetest thing you ever
,sawY
"WhatT demanded Bert. "That
dress for mef'
Berti That's the dearest dress I
ever laid eyes on. always knew Reg
gle was wizard In dry goods. You
are the luckiest thing i ever saw |
Think of him. working all his evenings
designing dress for you'll Aren't you
crazy to get into it,"
= mol What do 1 want with a dress
like that2 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, Ouida. Think of a man
dressmakerl"
"shame on you, Berti Think OF
Worth"
"Worth-lessi OF course, not just
that; but have no ambition but to
be dummy to-hang--things on-a
Christmas treeT'
Snow, Bert wainwright, ever since we
were in school In No. 9 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 laugh, escaped
her. Don't talk to NEEDN'T. I'm
going to bed"
"Are you crying, Berthe? Are you
sickr came softly out Of the darkness
mo, / 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 q
fever. Open your mouth"
STudgei 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 q hundred years, Louise, but
couldn't any more marry Mr.. Santerrt
why was such fool as to think
couldfv
you'll be all right in the morning.
ssYOu listen to me-"
And then and there Bert unfoldet
the scheme Of presenting her lover t.
her lifelong friend. arranging all thu
details Of the reconciliation. Louise lis
tened, at first to humor her, but as sh'
went on planning In the darkness sh'
knew that she meant every word Of s.
60 when morning came she felt q lit
tie poniclky. but Bert was as cool Al
though they were swapping sweaters