The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-05-27
Whittier the
" Fates Call.

By MARTHA COBB SANFORD.

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now that the train was carrying her
back to the east, which she loved, she
wondered how she could have even
half pledged herself to return in the
fall But she had, and at length she
admitted to herself the reason for 1t.
1t was not the work. Work she must
have somewhere, to be sure, but it was
not necessary to seek 1t at so great
distance from home. No, 1t was not
the work, but the friends she had
made or, rather, to be strictly truthful
and spare herself no bushes, 1t was
one friend. Gilbert Chandler.
The admission came as a revelation.
For six months she and Gilbert had
been good comrades. and they had part
ed as comrades, exchanging promises
to write to each other during the long
summer vacation If It were not too hot
and If they were not too busy, etc.
But Elsie had made the Identical prom
lse to half dozen other men, more or
less, who had come to the train to see
her off. for Elsie was pretty and pop
ular and Gilbert Chandler had by no
means a clear field.
Had the truth been told him (by any
one save Elsie) he would have dismiss
ed 1t with a smile of incredulity.
But Elsie had no Intention of telling
him-indeed, having discovered the
state Of her feelings, she had no ipten-
ton Of favoring him with information
Of any kind. Gilbert must write first.
On that point she was inflexible, even
after a month of anxious waiting.
Other men wrote, but the seals Of
their letters she broke listlessly and
answered them only in the hope that
through them she might hear some
thing Of Gilbert. At length they serv-
ed her purpose.
Over and over again Elsie read the
unbelievable words. You've doubtless
heard about Chambers Illness" the
letter ran. Pneumonia has now set
in, and that, with the typhoid compli-
cations, knocks his chances for recov-
cry about out, and just as he was be-
ginning to be looked upon as a young
lawyer who must be reckoned with.
Tough luckw
Elsie crumpled up the letter and
sobbed her heart out. There was no
one to comfort her. no one who would
even understand.
The summer was nearly gone before
Elsie received further news. GLIDE t
had lived through the awful crisis, ~
not to receive his full health. In fact,
the doctors had ordered an entire
change of climate and occupation, and
in consequence he had given up all his
youthful ambitions, said goodby to the
world of friends and activities and
taken up life with his sister, na small
ranch il-Texas.
Then to all who knew her Elsie
Reynolds did surprising and unac-
countable thing. She resigned her DO.
sition in the western boarding school
and accepted the thankless task OF
teacher in district school in Texas.
Her alleged reason-that she was
tired of civilization and hungered fol
primitive experlence-was termed sheel
madness. Yet there was no one to hold
her back. She was fatherless and
motherless and perforce self support
ing.
For the next two years there were
two very small institutions in the Lone
Star State that prospered amazingly
One was forlorn, one room school
house. the other pocket handkerchief
ranch which surrounded a brave but
unpretentious little bungalow. In both
daily miracles were happening. The
schoolhouse knew all about the bunga
low. but the latter had never guessed
the existence of its wide awake neigh
Dor TO the west.
And when a letter arrived there one
summer morning announcing that Ell
sic Reynolds was passing through Tex
, as on her way east and If convenient
would like to stop off for a few days t.
visit old friends the bungalow opened
wide its doors and windows with as
constituent and let the sun In like somt
: unexpected guest come to warm anC
cheer its lonely heart
During the days that must pass be
fore she should come all was one bus.
whirl Of anticipation. TO .Gilber
Chandler and his sister the actual pres
ence Of friend from their old aban
doned world would seem nothing shor
of glimpse of heaven.
Arrayed in its sudden acquisition o
muslin ruffies and chintz flowers ant
quite consciously proud Of its honey
suckle perfume. the little house fiut
tered and beamed with expectation.
At last the great day arrived. Gil
bert rose early. his Drowned face ra
diant with happiness. saddled the tw,
horses and went to meet her
The ride back over the rolling prairie
/ which for each Of them held lis specia
meaning. was tremulous with thing
unspoken From full hearts little say,
commonplace reached the lips
"You have been travelling, Elsier
II traveling?" She laughed back a
him merrily. mo; same old story, Gil
bert-teaching."
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