The Monte Vista journal., 1900-05-26
A QUEER GIRL
By Q. Il. James
HOuALL / invite her."

Can help you. Stellar" asked Mrs..
Reeves, from the depths OF her easy
chair by the fire.
II was thinking, mother" responded
Stella, whether should invite Myra
Garland to spend week here. You
know that Patty Harper, Nellie Camp
bell and Jennie Stagg nrc coming"
why not invite Myra:" asked Mrs.
Reeves, cycling her daughter curiously.
well, l don't know" said Stella.
slowly. "She is ever SO nice girl, but
she's queer"
How queer?"
VERY quiet, and not at all like other
girls. Sometimes ! ikc her. and some
times | do not, and that is the way
with all the girls. She is not good com
pany, | am afraid, and yet want to
invite her for that very reason. She
never goes home except during the
summer, and it is so dreary in the a-a'i-
envy during Christmas and Easter hol-
idays. But | dare say she will not
come, anyhow"
Invite her, Stella" said Mrs. Reeves
quietly. And Stella did.
1t was night when Myra came, the
train being late. and Mrs. Reeves did
not see her until they all sat at the
breakfast table next morning.
All the girls were there. and at first
Mrs. Reeves mentally decided that
Myra was only u homely girl with
brown hair and hazel eyes. and much
like other girls, but before the meal
was ended she found herself watching
the girl with increasing curiosity. She
was queer, in her reversed, almost mo.
rose, manner, in her hnbitu;L silence
and her grave, sweet smile.
''She is queer" said Mrs. Reeves T.
herself, but | like her.
Before the day was out she liked
Myra more than ever. When the other
girls went out for walk, Myra stayed
indoors, fed the canary, busted the
bric-a-brnc, and shook up the sofa and
chair pillows, and did several other
little tasks which Stella generally for,
got.
Within three days Myra was firmly
established in the Reeve. household.
She was SO handy and so helpful and
so good naturcd. everybody said. that
t"N'sah ss'A Aii' -
Gus to discover why they had called
her queer, and failed To find "a cause.
On the evening Of the third day Ar
thur Reeves came home ON leave from
the naval school, where lac was n cadet.
Arthur Was only is. but such big,
burly fellow, especially in his cape
yvercoat, that you would have taken
him for - at least-nt u distance.
You shall be our cavalier, Arthur"
said Stella, "and promise you shall
have your hands full"
AN right" asserted Arthur, care
lcssly. Bring ON your girls; you can't
frightcn sailor"
Then began round of gayeiy such
as fairly took away the girls breath.
They made trips to the old mill and
she abandouel powder magazine. they
went hunting and skating. and Arthur
was the guiding spirit in all their
pranlls.
Myra revived her reputation for
qucerncss in these expeditions.
"By the great hoop-block." cried
Arthur, with undisguised admiration.
To his mother, rs he was eating u late
breakfast. Il call her jolly girl. and
no mistake"
The girls say she is queer" said Mrs.
Reeves.
Queer" he burst out. well, yes,
perhaps she is. but l wish there were
more queer girls like her. 10 she rich,
mothcr?"
Il believe not, Arthur"
That's lGcky."
Lucky"
For her. She will have TO work, and
she is sure To make her mark, and 1t
viii Ice "a big one. Mother. ! think"
Arthur" called Stella. outside. III
You ever get through eating. We girls
would like To have you driv. us To the
post Office"
pu Tuesday Arthur's leave would ex-
pifc, and 50 1t was arranged that on
Monday there should is u picnic. II
was Arthurs idea.
why not"' he asked. ITS mere
nonsense TO suppose that you can't
have picnic cnly In summer. What's
the matter with taking tn. big sleigh.
lnhding II up with picnic grub. includ-
ing rubber blankets, in case We want
to sit on the ground. and having first
class time gtnerally?"
1t was unanimously voted that there
was nothing the matter with it," and
On Monday morning the picnic sleigh
Jinglcd on.
Mlrn was there, even more quiet
than usual. aud her only response TO
the general chatter was u grave smile.
.Anlut Ia Nh ..r.. L.. l.