Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-09-27
The Maid and
the Manikin
~
BY BARBARA KERR
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)

This Is pretty time of night for
two respectable maiden schoolmarms
TO be prowlng 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 We're 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! Well, give me your
hand"
And In minute more of giggline
and c-ambering 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 a mans voice humming
softly, and the wind blowing aside the
curtain they beheld man at work
Both We're rooted to the spot, for il
was most unusual work.
Mr.. Reginald Santerre was drapinc
manikin with yellow gauze.
"Oh," breathed Louise. "How ador.
able"
"Sh-for the love of Mikew 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
smilingly 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 hurriedly 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 ynu ever tell it. Louise Laurent, I'll
murder you! Oh, Ohr
Tell it? OF course I won't. But
isn't 1t the sweetest thing you ever
SAW"
WHAT" demanded Bert. THAT
dress for me?"
Bert! That's the dearest dress I
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 I want with dress
like that? You know"
"Oh, yes, | know you'd rather get
into corduroy hunting suit and tramp
all over the country. But you'll have
to quit that and settle down. The wife
or Reginald Santerre-"
Hush. Ouida. Think of man
dreSsmaker,
"Shame on you, Bert! Think of
Worth"
WORTHLESS! OF course, not Just
that; but have 1 no ambition but to
he dummy tO-hang-things On-a
Christmas tree?"
"NOw. 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 gurg!e, 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
sfck" 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 OF
I'll bite the end off. and you know
what happened to Willy
Twas chilly day for Willy
When the mercury went down.
I'm not sick. You couldn't understand
In hundred years, Louise, but
couldn't any more marry Mr.. Santerre
Why was such fool as to think
could?"
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 remuneration. 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 It
So when morning came she felt lit.
tie panicky. but Bert was as cool as
though they were swapping sweaters
and things happened just as she had
planned. 1t was Sunday, and they met
at the breakfast table. The girls re-
lated to Reggie how they had gotten
in. and were afraid they might have
Weakened him. saying nothing Of the
dress.
swell, now, isn't that strange?
worked late last night" hesitating q
Birds Get No Fun Out Of Singing.
no. .L.x 81, t.le