Wanted: A Husband

ed the steps of the old-fashioned house just off Sixth Avenue, undistinguished by any sign or symbol of the mystic activities within, and presented Gloria's letter. Mr

e "Orioles" ("A. Dunne, 2d b." in clear script on the frame), pictures of Mr. Dunne and other worthies in sundry impressive and hostile postures, and a large photograph signed, with

brief epistle, Mr. Dunne cast an a

rse?" he

, pl

w l

mon

e desk. Mr. Dunne counted them twice. With a stony fa

dvance," he stated. "D

, wondering whether she was shattering s

usual. What's

t all in advance because if I didn't I might

el-less monosyllable such as might be enunciated by

d, might mean much or little. "Friend o' Mis

which Darcy was never thereafter to experience from his rep

m in his heavy-browed eyes, and the girl with difficulty suppressed a query as to whether that was the spot whereon

usly loppish, while the train

unted. "When y

ce, pl

a out

N

yped list into her hand

n't k

don't

a hundred and f

clamation was replete with c

d filled with all sorts of mechanism. Obedient to a gesture she stepp

hunner'n fifty-t

of murder. She felt even worse when the iron-fac

she said

retorted t

erest touch that he gave. Nevertheless the ball left that spot hurriedly, rolled across to Dar

t is?" demande

raid I

tle pill. You'll li

improbable: but she mildly assented. The pulley-wei

?" she inquired with a

l'em

And th

'em

ned from saying so, and was glad that she did when Mr. Dunne add

a hundre

rip roller, the stationary bicycle (which also got you nowhere), the boxing-gloves, and a further bewildering but on the whole inspiriting array of machines for making one strong, happy, beautiful, and healthy to order. Somewhere in the girl's cons

th four sweaters on. Her cheeks were puffy red, her eyes jutted poppily from the sockets, and her jowls dripped. As a slave, treading the

arcy under her breath. "W

id Mr. Dunne

omething," insisted

take it hard-at the start," he condescende

Gloria, splendid, vigorous Gloria, have to go through that stage? Was this the inevitable purgatory through wh

," cut in Mr. Dun

sive novice, he was an artist in his line, and took a conscientious interest in hi

he diagnosis which he

ents?" he

N

h fe

g of th

spoilt h

spoilt

t's

doesn't

's wo

dy." And Gloria outlined her

ainer. "Will she stand

ria. "If she doesn't, let me k

e close-fitting, rather scratchy tights, the scant and skirtless trousers, the light canvas shoes, the warmly enveloping sweater, and the rubber cap to keep her hair from interfering with her exertions. Thus appareled, Darcy quite esteemed herself as an athlete. She could already feel her muscular potentialities developing beneath the rough, st

which had so pleased Darcy, however much it may have been an inspiration to her, was a revelation to the dismayed eyes of her

inny, I can pad'em with muscle. But this squab

art and her breathing. All was normal. He noted her yellowish eyes, her sall

re yah?" h

twenty

ch unflatteringly suggested surprise, bu

instructor stopped her and, after a rest, set her to something else. Her skin pricked and glowed beneath the close but unrestricting suit. Little drops of moisture came out on her face and were gayly brushed away. She could feel herself breathing deeper, her blood running faster and fuller in her veins, her muscles supp

conclusion of a trot three times around the room which she conceived herself as performing with a light and springy step ("like a three-legged goat" was Mr. Dunne's mental comparison), that

d'yah

in

ood!

a b

Don't let it bother yah.

rig

himself replacing the deranged apparatus.

been so v

y it on

ger-looking list of edibles and what that young lady would

?" she inqui

want of it," returned

t doesn't loo

bserved the other with an air of

here isn't a sweet thing in it. No cakes. No desserts.

r. Dunne, "yah got cr

vaguely alarmed as to what profound di

Dunne drew an illustrative and stubby forefinger thrice vertical

r paradoxical conventions that a young lady may discuss th

disfavor. "Look-a-here," he said b

I-I-d

m yahr trainer. That's all there is to it, if

't be silly again. And I'

rse for her experience. She began to surmise that she was one of that physically blessed class, a born athlete. If beauty, vigor, and health were to be achieved at no harder a price than this, they were almost like a gift of the good fairies. The only unusual phe

ith an astounding accumulation of painful arrears. Opening her eyes on that second day after Mr. Dunne's mild but sufficient schedule-the one muscular movement she was able to make without acute agony-Darcy became cognizant that every hinge in her bod

is the matt

t up" moane

it? Are

'm all rig

the protruding limbs, thereby wringing from the sufferer

explained Helen to the new

denied Darcy

is it,

s process of emerging from bed. "Do be good-ugh!" she implored. "And don't-ooch!-ask

elves outside the door, which they left carefully ajar for explanations. All they got for this maneuve

" she added, "you might bring m

he homely member of an otherwise attractive trio, Darcy had been, by common consent, constituted the meek and unprotesting

d she, with a quaver of self-pity. "I can't have co

glances. "Darcy, you'v

n't! I

can't move a

invite discouragement and dissuasion if not actual ridicule. After the frugal and tasteless ordeal of hominy without sugar, followed by one egg without butter, she limped into the front room and set herself doggedly to the elaboration of a new design for B. Riegel & Sons. Notwithstanding the legacy, she could not afford to neglect the economic side of life whilst fostering the physical. Her

, she would go up to the Academy of Tortures in person and exhibit to the proprieto

d the piteous wreck without outw

he remarked emotionlessl

go on to-day," s

N

at I didn't even know I had. Why, Mr. Dunne," she declared impressively, as a conclusion t

nne, indicating that

I won't!" said Darcy, l

hundr'n sixty dol

g, at the recollection of the sum whic

was going to buy y

ulped d

gu-grit." Mr. Dunne achieved the timely amendm

on the text of "grit": "You don't know what the word me

announced the traine

first encountered with so much interest and curiosity now had a sinister effect of lying in wait like the implements of a dentist's office. She speculated, with a shrinking of her whole fr

foot in the air

so, with

" said M

" lament

he right foot

ed without

" said M

" mourne

both feet

t!" sai

a!" said

th a thud. Their owner had been forcibly reminded of the three creases in her stomach by the fact that they had unanimously

anded the piti

an

ot

p erect from a flat position, without aid from hands or elbows, whereat all the muscles in her back, thighs, and abdomen, hitherto unawakened, r

uf

her face and lay pant

" gaspe

a bit

! Oh-h

Dunne cheerfully. "Nothin' like light

the mighty John L. himself, had ever undergone such a fearsome grilling and lived. And now there was more to come. Over the twistings and turnings,

n disjointed feet seemed doubtful. But she did. She went to bed at eight o'clock that night, having eaten almost nothi

as a case of crying before she was hurt. She began to feel herself cautiously all over. Her skin was a little tender to the touch, and she noted with interest that the blood ran impetuously to whatever spot on the surface her exploring fingers

oatmeal the way Darcy did must have the appetite of a pig, and no wonder she was fat and

squab you sent

es

nted to

id she

ut of it. And sa

, An

e something

you th

man race slowly, consideringly, a

fighting stuff some-w