The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-02-28

That was the first OF the complaints.
Others followed. The designer was
blamed first, but she was apparently
putting out as good Ideas as ever.
The workmanship was the same, anu
the same quality Of material was 60
ing into the dresses.
One day Ned came into his brothers
Office with a pale but relieved face.
II know what's the matter; Hilda's
lost twenty pounds. She's been doing
1t gradually. / knew something was
wrong, for the models looked so dowdy
on her. I knew she must be getting
thin. You know, never could fall In
love with fat girl. And, anyway, ]
got her on the scales today. She
wouldn't get on, so lifted her on. |
couldn't have lifted her when she first
came. And l found out what was the
matter"
Does that help matters any"
snapped Stone.
well, not so much, only that we
know what the matter is. And, be-
sides"
But we ought to have woman
here that can show the dresses. She
is running the business now. The buy
ers say something Is the matter with
the models. Couldn't she take anti
thin, or something, or drink milk"
"She says 1t doesn't do any good. 1
knew you'd say that, so l suggested 1t
to her." Ned laughed at the humor OF
the situation, that was not apparent
to his brother. "And. besides, there
was something wanted to tell you"
swell, hate to say 1t, but Hildn Is
not doing any good II she can't get fat
again. She's clever, but that isn't
enough. And yet / hate to let her go.
Can you think Of anything else we
might get her to dO2 Is there some
thing in your department you might
get her to do so we wouldn't have to
cut down her salaryT
Suddenly the two men sat up very
straight and began to talk about two
entirely different orders animatedly in
an effort to persuade Hllda Clark, who
had just entered, that they had not
been talking about her.
"IIas Ned told you" she smiled,
putting sisterly hand on Stones
arm.
"Yes, Hilda, and I'm sorry; but may
be we can do something about IT,"
"Sorry? Because Pm going to be
your sister-in-law, or because I've lost
twenty pounds?'
my sister-in-law Why didn't some
one tell me?" cried Stone.
II did try to tell you" laughed his
brother.
And / have something to tell Du
both" announced Hilda. "You knO "
that first day came here. saw NeG
and after ! left his office he showed
me to the hall and-well, got mixed
up and went the wrong way. Ned
must have come In here 10 talk to you,
for / heard quite distinctly what he
said. He said: We're both safe. I
never could get sentimental over such
an heavyweight. and you couldn't
stand the intellect So / knew right
away that If | wanted either Of you
men to fall in love with me I'd either
have to diet or become brainless. At
first | ate all the potatoes and sugar
l could. / knew this hard work would
naturally pull me down, and then
well, Ned and / seemed to hit 1t off
from the first. Besides, 1t was easier
losing pounds than brains, and I'd
rather part with them. / may need
my brains later on. So then l began
to diet. That's why / wouldn't have
lunch with you-because didn't want
you to see what ] was abOut-no sugar.
no potatoes, no bread. | told my best
friends / was Hooverizing. And so |
lost twenty pounds. I knew It was the
ruination Of my business career"
"Do you mean you honestly did
that?" demanded Stone. "Would any
woman really do that much for NedT"
Hilda shook her head strongly In the
affirmative.
"Well, suppose after you had got
thin he hadn't happened to like you
you'd have lost out both ways?"
Ned had endured his brothers ban
tering long enough. He stood behind
Hilda and put his arm around her now
shapely waist.
"rd have married her IL she was a
perfect forty-six," he said. "Stone Is
only jealous because you didn't decide
to lose your brains for him."