Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1919 — A Little Journey [ARTICLE]

A Little Journey

By WALTER J. DELANEY

(Copyright. ISIB. Woofers Nowopopor Calos.) | “I shall be home by nine o’clock at the latest, Mildred. This is Marvin’* evening, isn’t it? So he will keep you company till, I come.” •'Oh, I shall not be lonesome," spok* Mildred Lane to her mother, who was 1 bound on a day’s visit to her sister in l a town a few miles distant. “And don’t forget to go over to Rua*, sells’ and attend to the birds and al* out the house well.” The Russells were near neighbor!,: living in u mnnslonllke structure justl across lots from the humble Lan* home. They were absent on a two weeks’ pleasure trip and left Mildred: and her mother to look after the plac* while they were away. The service would be well paid for,, which meant) something to tl>4 Lanes, who were r®stricted in a money way. Blythe and cheerful, as was usual) with her, Mildred tripped across th* lawn, singing from sheer happiness a* she thought of the young man t®, whom she was to be married within aH year, Marvin Ward. She let herselft Into the Russell house, opened up th* doors to waft the sweet morning! breeze through, attended to canarie* and then went upstairs, airing th* rooms there. Then with a species oft awe and admiration always present during these visits, she entered th* boudoir of stately Miss Adele RusseliJ the acknowledged beauty and social queen of the district. The room was artistically decorated and furnished. Mildred surveyed her* self in the great long mirror, ingly admired the toilet articles on ■ dressing table and with a longing ey< glanced at a bracelet set with bril* Hants carelessly left open to "view ont a pincushion. Then with a great long* Ing sigh Mildred opened the door of ■ wardrobe to view half a dozen suits, capes and wraps belonging to the for* tunnte daughter of the family. ShS could not resist trying on a prettys Jacket, and it was a rare pleasure t* survey herself in the mirror in this) rich and fashionable attire. Her eye* sparkled and her 1 reath came qulcM as she fluttered awesomely: “Oh, if I dared! What a day f* would be to see the world and plajn the grand lady! Dare I. Who woulcs know?" and a tempting spirit sent he* hurrying back home where she ss4 cured a two-dollar bill, her month’* savings. She locked up the house,) sped back to the Russell home an® within an hour was arrayed in an e»* quisite suit. She wore the bracelet, she had even delved into powder, rouge, and so down the llpt of cos* inetics, dabbing the pretty face that needed no fairer adornment than th* pearly tints nature had given her. He* attlrq fitted her exquisitely, and sb* felt like some fairy going forth Into at new world to dazzle and win

Mildred planned to take the electrld cur to Alton, a small city ten mile* away. She wore a doubled veil fear she would be recognized while Ira her home town or its vicinity. Wheel she reached the city, however, she removed the veil. It was like treadin* on air to promenade the principal street. Naturally her grace and beau-J ty, even with the latter marred by co»s metlcs, attracted attention, and thtf adulation enticed her. She refreshed herself with soda water and ic«

cream, she mingled with ladles of< fashion In a leading dry goods storey Inspected silks and Velvets, looked over the stock of a jewelry store, all the time acting the grand lady and up* parently accepted as such. | Mildred followed some seeming ladies of consequence into a stylish restaurant. She dawdled with a bill- of fare, made a languid selection and left the table The bill took the balance of her little savings fund except Just enough to pay her fare half way home. On her way to the electric car an Insolent, overdressed y.oung man ‘rudely accosted her, and breathless and affronted Mildred reached the cur. Five mileA from home she left it wltii a good long tramp before her. It was getting on toward dusk a* she reached a lonely path fringing a ravine almost a mile from her home town. At its loneliest pipt a roughly dressed man stepped directly in her path.

•‘I want that!” he growled out, made a dash for the bracelet on her wrist and wrenched it loose. It fell to ther ground. He stooped over to recover it. Mildred Was country bred and strong. She gave him'a push that sent him rolling down a fifty-foot incline, seized the bracelet and fled like the wind. “Oh, never again 1” she shuddered, as she restored gijrb and jewelry to their place in the Russell home. “And no more of that hideous rouge 1” she pledged herself, as back in the home kitchen she washed the disfiguring stains from her face. . How cozy and safe the humble cottage seemed. Her soul was singing as she bustled about and prepared the evening meal and put aside a portion for her mother. Marfin Ward arrived about eight o’clock. He was wrapped in happiness at his welcome greeting. He was delighted as with new spirit Mildred entered into his modest plans for starting housekeeping. Mildred never explained the reason of her new access of emotion. She had learned her lesson and wished never again to plajr “the grand lady.”