Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1918 — FAIRY GODMOTHER [ARTICLE]

FAIRY GODMOTHER

By MILDRED WHITE.

leupyritftp, Western .'iewspaper onion.> Mollie raised her face from the gayly colored book to look at the child. Eagerly the young-old eyes regarded her. “You may take this home and keep it, dear,” said Mollie, “a voyage into the pleasant unrealities will not hurt you. When I was a little girl, I loved the story of the fairy godmother w’ho brings to the poor maiden all that her heart could desire.” She smiled as the shabby little figures went joyously down the street. “It takes so little to make them happy,” murmurgd Mollie. Whimsically her thoughts went back to the fairy godmother. What convenient old creatures they . were, happening along at the opportune moment, returning some passing kindness by changing a hut into a castle, or bringing a fairy prince to claim his own. In real life all was so different. Here she was, after years of faithful attendance upon Aunt Drusilla, left alone in the small cottage, it being her own only upon condition that she remain as tenant. “Oh! for a fairy godmother,” sighed Mollie to the yellow cat, then she went to open the door. A bent old figure stood knocking, and Mollie smiled at her own fanciful thought as the wrinkled face peered into her own. “Does Miss Drusilla Wentworth live here?” quavered a sweet old voice. “No,” Mollie answered hesitatingly. In quick comprehension the woman nodded.

“Gone, I suppose,” she said, “like all the rest.” “Yes,” murmured Mollie. “She was a friend of mine years ago,” the woman explained; “we went to school together.” “Won’t you come in?" urged the girl. The visitor sighed as she sat before the sitting room fire. “It has been a tiresome journey,” she said; “I ought not to have come alone. But —they were all so against my coming. Who are you, my dear?” she asked abruptly, and Mollie told her. “Well, if you are Drusilla’s niece,” the soft voice went on, “you must have heard of Martha Manton?” “I heard,” Mollie said, “that she went away long years ago, to be married.” The old lady laughed softly. “And now,”’ she said, “she wants to come back.” Again the keen eyes searched the girl’s face. “I think I 1 will tell you about it. “£ly son has to go to war. He’s my baby, if he is thirty years old —and it’s very hard. Tom thought that I would be comfortable, during his absence at my married son’s home, but —” The old lady threw out her wrinkled hands and smiled. “I didn’t seem to fit in. At least, I could not fit, in a bedroom where the steam heat does not work. And It’s lonely spending evenings with your thoughts, while all the others are at dances or theaters, so I told them I was going back to my home town to stay with an old friend; and the only friend I could think of was Drusilla.” The girl arose briskly. “Well, take off your cloak,” she said, “and give your bag to me. Perhaps you will stay, say, for a week with Drusilla’s niece. I am. lonely, too, and if we find «we like each other —” “Oh!” cried the visitor rellevedly; “may I really stay for awhile, could you bear with an old body like me? You could call up my son in the city and find out all about me, dearie —” Impulsively Mollie bent and clasped the trembling hands. “Why,” she laughed, “I don’t need to find out the first thing about you; you’re going to be my fairy godmother!” It was pleasant coming In of an evening to find the lamp burning and the silvery head bent busily over Mollie’s own sewing. Or to sing at the piano to a joyously appreciative listener. Pleasant, too, for the young and old faces to smile at each other across the White-spread table. “Why, this Is home at last,” breathed the girl. “This is my home,” said the older woman. “And you will stay?” begged Mollie, when the first week was up. The answer was Interrupted by a summons to the front door. Past Mollie, Into the parlor strode a man’s sol-dier-clad figure. “Mother 1” burst out the man; “whatever did you mean by running away? John wired to camp, and I had leave of absence to come back. Why, mother!” "Dearie,” she entreated, "don’t make me go to John’s home Again; here lam loved and wanted.” “I want her very much,” agreed Mollie. And so, miraculously, during the soldier’s three days of absence, Mollie had two guests. “We had to dismiss our city servants and close up our big place,” the man told her; “too much of a care for mother.” Mollie stared. “You must come and stay with us some time —after the war Is over,” he went on. “You don’t know what a load you have lifted from my heart Leaving her happy makes it so much easier, and—” steadily his eyes looked Into her, “I want gnu to write to me often, will you,? That will help, too—the thought of coming back —to you both.” With her arm about the little old mother, the girl watched him go striding down the road. “It is cold, dear,” said Mollie; “you had better go inside.” And as the man turned for. one last long lock. Mollie waved. fairy godmother," she whispered. “you have brought to me rnj prince”