South Bend News-Times, Volume 37, Number 19, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 19 January 1920 — Page 8

So

TT Ob "Mother' i m m y eye By Elsie Endlcott

His

-VME3 MANCHESTER, on his I knees In the enow, fastened Jr the buckle on Dorothy's ski. made rure the other waa right and cot to fcla feet. ThftRY jrjti, Jimmy!" she said, -with a ciallft. "How docn It feel to get down cn your knws to a girl?" Jest right. Wait a minute and 111 do ft again." "Ncrer mind; once Is enough. Beciflca, jour mother la In the sun parlor aot looking any too cheerful at Begins her young hopeful ro attentive to the parson's visitor." James did not look around, but color guiltily. Dorothy laughed. "I upjiOM jduH rrt a talking to. Jlrany. It's too bad, too when ve are txch good frlen&a. I like you all to Sltccs, Jtrnniy!" "And 70a know how I feel," he retnrned Intensely, forgetful again of maternal cyea and tho promised talkin to, Ria tr&rape4 to the head of the steep dxtra, poised herself an Instant, a fhwih of rei sweater and cap, and she XT EOiw An Instant later sho waved

XHE adrertiament had read, "quiet country board for a lady," and aa Elsie Morton wa3 drlrm through the sleepy, treearchod etreeta of Melton she felt assurod 8J to tho Quiet And Quiet was what ahe desired, quiet In which to rot And forget about Roger. There waa no use In remembering, since he lud gone fron her life. Elsie was. by profession an artist. Sho epent her days In a tiny top floor studio, where, fib. designed postcards and advertisements for a living, and painted wonderful landscapes, which nobody bought, for her soul's satisfaction, She wondered whether Roger ever felt as she did, or whether Klsie'a reflections were brought to a sudden end aa her carryall drew up befort an old Iron fate In a moss crown wall. "Here jxm are!" said the lean, country driver, swinging down her tag. "This Is tho Thanet place!" 66 DONT care, I'll never marry i a man with black, curly JX hair," declared Betty Grey, turning her nose up at tho pretty face reflected la the mirror. I fuess you will, by the way things are looilnx now, laughed my brother Jack. "Things arcnt looking pleasant at til." replied Betty, tilting her dimpled chtn up In the air. 'What! Another flghtr cried Jack. "You do beat all the Jess Wlllards in the world for fighting. What is it about this timo?" "You know I was Invited to Cora's party the other night, and I wanted hlca to scort me. He said he had an engagement at S o'clock, but that he would call for me after the party. But as long as he wouldn't take me, I told hlca bo needn't call for me." "Oh, so there'? another girl?" teas S .he slowly closed the door A of her dre ary little room and fiung herstlf on the touch .-he looked the very personification cf ;h weather. Gray stormy the o.y had been; And now, lying in the gaitu ring twii?ht, di.Jalnln moist shoe; and clinging garments. Gertrude Tyler gave ay to a mood of minpl'.-d ettpressiun and rebellion. "I hat- it! The weather tho work. Such a div'." she mutter d. "And a:. at do I find at the -r.d? A dark. iu:..dy kh-':i a v: 1; 1 y as the of fie3. Nody to tali; to. Nowhere to go. .thiru. Oh. I'r.i .-o tir!-so sick anc! tir. 1 e f e .-ry 'hin;:! " "I "i;:;ht to h ai haired of my?' If." h arianc'd. kindling beptJi reac

up from the road, the only dot of color In all tho vast landscape of dazzling white. James waved back and wen; Into the house. Madam Manchester called him as he went whistling through the hall. ' Son. I want to talk with you a moment, please." "Yen, mother." He turned and went In, trying to look Indifferent and casually picking up a magazine o!T a stand aa he passed. "Sit down, please." He obeyed. "You like Dorothy; don't jou?" "You're right I do. She's true blue. Nicest girl I know." "Yea; she la nice. 111 admit that I'm fond of her in a way myself and grandma! Well. I never knew my mother to take such a fancy to any one as she has to that girl. The reason I'm telling you p.U this la that It's going to make it hard for me to talk to you about something I have. In mind." "You mean that other sirl. Geraldlnc Barlow."

The. House That Staye

Elsie thought the stone wall rather forbidding. Onco Inside, . however, there lay before her a green stretch of lawn, rather neglected, but altogether delighted. At one side It ran into a tangle of shrubbery, and far down ".he path was the soft red glow of an old brick house. The girl's artist soul thrilled with pleasure. "How perfectly delightful!" she exclaimed. A plump, motherly person stood in the door to receive her. This was Mrs. Crane, tho caretaker. She chatted volubly as ßhe led the girl through wide, cool halls to a pretty chintz living room. "You seo the family are all dead and gone the Thanets, that is. And their cousins that own the house now never come here; they just leave it to me. So they said they shouldn't mind at all If I took a boarder or two to keep me company." "But I should think they'd love it!" exclaimed the girl. "Imagine having

A Case of Misunderstanding

ed Jack. "I don't care." snapped Betty tearfully. A few minutes passed In a silence which was soon broken by Jack. "Say, Beth, do you know who's going to take Mr. Lee's place while he Is away?" "No," answered Betty shortly. Betty was a stenographer in the office of Loe & Co., and also acted as the private secretary of Mr. Lee. Ho liked her because -he was a good worker. Both her mother and father were dead, so she and Jack lived alone. Betty was now wondering who her new employer would be, but could not throw any light on the subject. "I hope he isn't an old crank." she thought. "I hate cranky people." The next morning nothing seemed to go right. In the first place, Betty got up a little later than usual, and had

An Appreciated Mistake

tion. "Think of the-untiring women in army service abroad. Think of the soldiers in the trenches and our own brave boys preparing to Join them. But if I was even helping in this great caucc. if I could be of service to even one to even" As if in answer to her thoughts, a printed paragraph seemed to leap tt her from a page of the evening paper. "If any young lady wants to do her bit in heartening a soldier far from home, let her write to one of the undersigned. Cheerful letters are a godnd in camp." The communication of which these words formed the substance had been sent from a southern training camp ar.d was signed wüh five masculine names. Gertrude read the nam r.

"Yea, I do. exactly. How did you know?" "It's been In the air far years. I've had a hunch the way the wind was blowing. Beg pardon, mother." 'It's just this way, James; the world Is full of nice girls like Dorothy. If you'd travel around a bit you'd probably be able- to pick out a dozen like her In every' hamlet and town in America pretty, refined and indifferently well educated. I'm taking the latter for granted, of course. Hut when you are as old as I, and able to discriminate, you'll find there ar only a dozen in the whole world like Geraldine Barlow. She was born with a God-given voice, and think of her at her age in grand opera! Music has always been, well, almost a.s sacred to me as my religion. It was to your father, too. So, although I haven't seen her in all these ytars she's been abroad, I know that she can't be anything else but perfect. Her bringing up has been ideal." "Yes, mother." "And now for the other. I'm going to Buenos Ayres. as you know, to give

such a place and not staying in it!" Mrs. Crane smiled, discreetly, and withdrew. She gave the impression that there was some m?tery about the place which she could not disclose. But as the quiet days slipped by there seemed nothing of mystery, only the peaceful atmosphere of a home in which happy people had lived and died. No other boarders came and P,lale wandered at will about the quaint old place. She spent long hours lylns in the deep grass with a book, she made sketches of the house and orchard from various angles, and she dreamed beside the lazy little brook that ran at the foot of the hill. Two happy weeks went by and still two remained of Elsie's vacation. She felt rested and more at peace with herself than she had for months, and yet, strangely enough, she had not accomplished her purpose to forget. Bather, sho had remembered. But the hard work trying to get the fire started. At last she managed to get a little breakfast and she and Jack sat down. "Why didn't you call me to make the fire?" inquired Jack. "I could have lit It the first thing." "You couldn't have lit It any better than I did," laughed Betty. "ou will have to hurry, dear, if you expect to g:et o work on time. It's twenty-five minutes past seven already. You can't get there in five minutes." "Mr. Lee said I wouldn't have to care if I got there a little after half past seven," answered Betty. "I know It," responded Jack, "but Mr. Lee isn't there now." Betty was out on the street in a second, but the car that she usually took was gone. She started on a brisk walk to the office, but did not reach flectiely, trying to visualize their distant owners. "Jeffrey Brlnsmade," she said ai last. "Jeffrey I knew one Jeffrey long ago. I wonder where he is now." A smile of tender recollection curved her lips, and her brown eyes gazed dreamily at the printed page. "If I were going to write to any of these soldier boys, it would certainly be to Jeffrey Brinsmade. If and why notr' The thought grew to a desire, fervent, compelling. Putting aside her own loneliness and wistfulness, might she not through the power of friendly sympathy and whimsical fancy contribute a little cheer and comfort to another lonely, wistful heart? It was that vrrv evenlne. wit th

instruction in the conservatory there. I'm not terribly young and the sea trip nearly kills me. fo if I go. I won't bo back In America for five years, perhaps. I leave in a month. Won't you marry Geraldine before I go?" "Mother!" This time without the "yes." a volume of tragedy in the tone that was enlightening. "Think it over. Jimmy." was her only comment. "You'll thank me some cay. Geraldine Barlow is going to bo the world's greatest soprano. Think of being her husband." "I'd rather have someone to be my wife!" In a few minutes, muffled against the cold, Madam Manchester was driving straight for tho rector's house, her Flcigh bells jingiin merrily. But she refused to get out when the good man himself, hearing tho noise, opened the door. "I'v come to trike your visitor for a ride!" sh called. "I wonder if she'd care to go?" "Indeed I should!" answered Dorothy herself. Til go get my sweater and cap and be out in a minute." Soon

memories became more and more like dreams creatures of the imagination and so the firl believed that they were losing their bitterness. She felt happy enough to sing softly as she went about the house. "The lark's on the wing. The hillside's dew pearled she carolled one morning as she' came into the sitting room where Mrs. Crane was often to be found. "Why, Mrs. Crane!" the girl cried, in astonishment. The middle-aged housekeeper sat by the table with her head burled In her arms, her shoulders shaking with convulsive sobs. "What is the matter?" asked Elsie. "Isn't there something I can do?" Mrs. Crane raised a red and tear marked face. "I've had a letter," she heaved; "they're going to tear the house down!" there until ten minutes before eight. She took off her hat and before she had time to sit down the bell rang. Picking up her notebook and pencil 3he opened the door of the private office and went in. The new employer turned around. Betty stared stupidly at him and a hot blush spread over her face. Who was it but Boy Thornton, the man with whom she had quarreled. "Miss Grey," he broke coldly In upon her surprise, "what time are you supposed to come to work?" "Half past seven," she replied weakly. "This isnt half past seven," he said sternly looking at the clock. "Please do not let this happen again. If you do, something may happen to you. Sit down and take the notes." He rattled the word off so Quickly that Betty's trembling fingers could not keep up with him. rain pattering on the window-panes, that Gertrude wrote her first letter to Jeffrey Brlnsmade. Gertrude was one of those persons who write better than they talk. As she wrote her first letter to this unknown Jeffrey, Gertrude's mind was turning to the days In a remote town; to the friends of those light-hearted years, and to Jeffrey Dunn. A slow and awkward cuitor for her girlish favor this farmer's son had been. And even when he went to work in the nw machine shop, ani began to show signs of inventive skill and cfnciency which made his employers speak well of him and his future prospects. Gertrude had seemed aloof and discouraging. "And I always liked Jeff rev best:

they were speeding ovo- the hard white roads through a country that locked lik a Christmas card. "I'll confess." tcgan the older woman, "that I wanted to have a little talk with you. Don't give me credit for too much courtesy." Dorothy laughed. "I think I knew It. I've rather been expecting it, in fact" "You were?" "Yes. It's about Jimmy, isn't It? And about me marrying him or rather not marrying him. Th.it's It, Isn't It?" Madam Manchester, with the wind taken out of her sails, fo to speak, did not instantly reply. Then, "Yes, to be frank, that is it. Don't misunderstand. Miss Brown. I like you. If it were not for a family compact made when my son and a certain lady were Quite young I should never object to his attention to you. But I well. I hope you understand." Dorothy nodded gravely. "You have nothing to fear from me," h!io promised. "I'll see that Jimmy docs as he's told."

"Tear it down!" echoed the girl, sinking Into a chair. "Why?"' "Somebody's going to buy the place and build a big summer hetel or somethin? like that Mr. Harry writes that It's only been a burden to them anyway, and they will bo glad to part with it. He or his brother 13 coming to look the place over some day this wool:, and they'll turn me out!" "There, there," said Elsie, comfortingly, patting the old woman's broad shoulders. "They'll see that you're taken care of, I'm sure of that." "But the house!" wailed Mrs. Crane. "I love it so. I'll never fed at home anywhere else!" "Perhaps when they come and see what a delightful place It really is they won't do It perhaps they'll decide to keep the house," soothed Elsie. Then she slipped away, with a fob in her throat, to look over the dear old place and grieve for its sake. How cruel it appeared to think of At last he said, "That is all." Betty picked up the notebook and hurried out. Her eyes were filled vlth tears but she brushed them backproudly. Such a day as It was! The hours dragged slowly and Betty uas thankful when 5 o'clock came. Her head was aching, but who cared about that But what about Roy? It was the first time she had ever seen him so cross lr. the two years thai she had known him. She was only 20 while Hoy was 22, the same age as her brother Jack. Beth put on her hat and coat and went home. "Well. Bet, how did you like your new employer?" asked Jack with a twinkle in his eye. "I didn't like him a bit." answered Betty, angrily. "He was Jus as cross as he could be You knew who he was all the time, didn't you." but I; was easier to get on with the others," Gertrude sighed regretfully. "I guess I never really appreciated Jeffrey then." So she wrote In her letter tonight: "I choso your name because I once knew a very nice young man called Jeffrey. And I never wrote him any letters either, only school-girl notes which he couldn't have thought very much of because I was aiwi.ys snubbing Lim. I didn't mean it though." In her later letters, for this new correspondence grew and flourished. Gertrude expressed every phase of her w himrical spirit. She had come to enJoy this pastime deeply. But when It came to receiving word from her soldier friend that he was starting for the city and would call to see her. she

"Then come back to the house with m?. won't you? I've Just had a talk with my son. but I'm afraid of grandma. Won't you come and tell her all about it? Tell her anything you like, but break it to her that Jimmy is going to marry Geraldine Barlow this month. We'd be glad to have you stay to luncheon, too." "Thank you," Dorothy accepted. "I'll be glad to go and I'll do my best to convince my dear old friend that Jimmy should do as he is told." Something In her tori made the older woman turn. "You 1;'-e James?" sho asked. "Yes, I love Lim'.' "Litterally:" "Yes I do." Ther..1 was silence to t.v .:d of the drive. Probably had it not already been extended, the invitation to dine would not now have been given. As It was It was too late to retract. A servant took Dorothy's wraps and she went straight up to grandma's rooms. She was fond of reading to the old lady and spent many hours with hr. She also often sat down to

ay Joclla Johnson 1 tm 11 m M,MMM Ml ,

tearing down such a house! It seemed to have a soul, almost to possess a soothing spirit of its own moreover it scorned to tho girl an intimate thing. as though it had been meant in some strange way for her. The next morning Elsie took a book and went down to th bank of the shady little brock. Installed comfortably with a pillow, she was soon lost in the story and was barely conscious of the sense of impending disaster that enveloped the place. Here it v as all so peaceful and quiet. A leaf dropped now and then or a squirrel stirred the branches. When a soft foot fall sounded on the path behind her Elsie did not turn, and the tall, brown young man who wls coming down the path stopped stock still and looked at her hesitant "Must be the boarder," he decided, and turned to go away. But fate, in the shape of a big loose stone, lay at his foot. Tho stone slipped and clat By Abncr Jack laughed heartily but said nothing. "I don't know how I am going to stand it for two weeks," saia netty after a slight pause. "Why don't you make up with him?'' inquired Jack. "You'd have a fine time then." "Do you think I would make up with him? I guess not." The next morning Betty was In the ofüce before Roy. "1 see you took notice of my warning. Miss Grey," he said stiffly as he entered. The day passed in agony for Betty and she was glad when the time came to go home. The rest of the weej; passed in like manner but when Saturday morning came she could stand it no longer. She picked up Ler notebook and pencil and threw tfccm on the floor. was seized with panic and dismay. There was no escape, Lowyer. One evening Gertrude, embarrassed and tremulous, crept down to the boarding house parlor to face a tall, stalwart figure in khaki. She raised timid eyes from thr brown outstretched hand to the bright, smiling face. That square jaw, that shock of red-brown hair, those keen gray eyes why should they all seem to familiar to her? Then, as the man's smile broadened, she knew. Jeffrey Dunn! But I never wrote to you." "Didn't you?" he answered heartily. "I gueps I've kept every one of your letters. I know I wrote to you." "But the other" faltered Gertrude. Brinsraade? Why. he got ntb"- in

9 By Phil Moore

the little old piano and crooned ov-old-fashioned sorgs. Today, MAdam, frcing through th hall stopped to listen. The door wa. fcjar, and soft sweet notes filtered through. Madam topped. "She sings well," was her first thought; "sh elngs wonderfully well." was her second, "Tho girl Is Ringing amazingly!" was her last comment as ehe pushed open the door and went In Jimmy, beside the piano, turned, and his mother's heart contracted at the look of misery in his eyes. Grandma at the window was complacently knitting. Dorothy turned as she finished, her eyes shining like stars. "You dear, .good people." she crtf. "Can't every" body understand? I'm Geraldine! I wanted you all to love mo for myself, so I came to visit the rector, an old friend of father, and l took another name." "Sweetheart," crid Jirrrmy, springing forward and crushing her in his arms. "Dear boy!" nhe breathed. And r.e. matter what Madam and grandma thought.

tered rigorously down the path to strike the boarder's unconscious back. "I beg your pardon!" cried the young man "Roger!" breathed the girl. "Elsie! You!" For a minute the two looked at earn other and then the man took tho hi tenderly In his arms. "It was all my fault, dearest." he said. "If you knew how I've suffered, how I've blamed myself. I haven't the right to ask you to forprlv m" "I did that long ago. There's just one thing, Hoger. Couldn't we stay here?" "In this house." "Ye?, dear. It's my house, really. I never told you. but last fall I bought my brother's share in it. Intending it to be ours. And when I thought that all was over I couldn't bear to kerp it. But now" "Now," breathed EIsi. "it !s ours." Anthony "You horrid o!d cranky bachelor," she sobbed angrily. "I hate you. Please den't touch mo," she added ap he w nt to put his ana around her. "Betty dear, what !s the matter with you?" he askt-d gently. "Nothing Is the matter with m she stormd, "what L? the matter wit!, you?" "Well, you gxt angry at m tx-r.-au.-I couldn't escort you to the party, hu what could I do? My business neap inent was with Mr. I- II" wa:u-d me to take charge of tho business while he was away and I had to g:v him my answer that night. I didn't you because I wanted to givf- you a surprise and now, Betty darling, sir. I have explained, will you co::.c-r.t to marry that man with the black, ;:';; hair?" "Ych," answered Betty, en;(!:ng happily. ters. And when he showed me your.-. I appropriated it for myself. You s I was lonesome, too. So all your letters csane to me and I answered th But I didn't show your letters. Gertrude." "And 30U didn't sign your or-; name," she reported. "It was so piea.-ant rettlng acquaii;'ed with an old friend." "Then you knew. You remember me Jeffrey Dunn looked at her earaesly. "I remember jou. but I think I never knew you before. GertrudYour letters were wonderful to me " . . . . J w - 1 Her cheeks were pink, her eyes so 1 v V shining. "Oh." ?he said impulsively "I'm r'ar! it wa ion T"-r-t T;r.- '