Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-11-12


comes you have an awful time think
ing which one he'd like best. cause
you've got so many. But when you
haven't one good dress to your name
and things go wrong at the factory
and. well. I said few things and he
said some. and he threw me down"
For a few moments Natalie Bargess
sat quietly stroking the head Of Der
newly acquired acquaintance and who
had once more retired to the ques-
tionable comfort of the cushion. Then
very gently she said:
Don't cry any more. Maggie. guess
being thrown down Is something most
women have to bear some time In their
lives. Ii was not q question Of dress
with me. and | am quite sure | had
said nothing. We never had a word.
He just left town and never even said
goodby."
Maggie stared at her, speechless with
wonder. Her own troubles were for
gotten. Some man had thrown down"
this radiant creature In soft gray silk
and shimmery plumes!
1--WE are going TO my house. Maggie,
and find a dress for you that will quite
Outshlne Polly's organdie. because II
will be much more appropriate. and
then we are going to the picnic. and
you are going to mingle with the
young people as II Tom Deyery did
Lei h.s 10 oil n
up with you. as he surely will, you are
going to meet him halfway. Do yod
understand"
Talk about Cinderella and the ball.
Her experiences were as nothing when
compared to Maggie Connolly's trip
that afternoon. The wonderful rows
of clotbes-presses which open when
Miss Burgess maid touched a button,
the many linen frocks from which 1t
was hard to select just the trimmest
one for Maggie, and then the selection
of shoes and hats and gloves, for the
two girls were nearly Of one size.
And at last the spin to the beach In
Miss Burgess car, the routing of Polly
Mcguire and the recapture of Tom
Devery! In her excitement Maggie
almost forgot her benefactress.
But Natalie did not forget Maggie
and traced her through the Neighbor-
hood House to her home.
Maggie's Tom had come back, and
Maggie loved the whole world! So
when Miss Burgess questioned her
N hnuf xuorlfnn syfrlo apd thar privo
lions Maggie glowed and dllated on
the good the Neighborhood House had
done them all.
From the Neighborhood House and
Its privileges 1t was a short step to ehe
need of a vacation hotel for girls, and
pened she and Tom, now her abject
slave, were whirled away one Satur-
day In Miss Burgess machine to look
over neglected hotel estate In a once
seaside colony.
Natalie Burgess knew the value of
value Of a shrewd assistant like Mag
gle. who understood girls and their
problems. So it happened that the
House opened q sum-
mer annex at West Shore. and Mag
gle Connolly resigned her post at the
factory to become Natalie's represent
alive In the new establishment.
Natalie of the Neighborhood House,"
her friends called her now and laugh
ed at her caprice. And at the summer
annex OF the Neighborhood House
Thomas Witherspoon Brainard found
her one lovely fall day. shortly after
his return from Vienna. where he had
gone abruptly to complete his medical
studies.
The Idea of Natalie. the self centered.
hobnobbing with factory girls rather
tickled his fancy.
Maggie was packing the summer fit |
tings. Natalie was sitting in an open
swinging her trim feet and |
aughing at Maggie's enthusiasm. But
she had been helping. too. and her |
sleeves were rolled up, her eyes bright,
her cheeks flushed, as she turned to |
meet Brainard.
Feminine intuition told Maggie that |
his was the psychological moment for |
Ter to pack up what few groceries |
we're left In the storeroom. What hap
'ened during her absence is not neces-
AIRY to set forth here. but as she slip
BED back to remind her patron that |
wilight was falling and the car was
waiting to take them back to town she
heard Thomas witherspoon Brainard
'ay contritely:
Can you ever forgive me for imagin- |
ng that you were vain, selfish, use
ess sort of doll that could never I'M
ierstand or help struggling physi.
ian? don't deserve you, dearest. |
vas thick headed fool''-
Maggie went out on the porch and
'ank upon the top step.
Does the man live who throws you
Town that can't be won back?" she
asked herself happily. for how could |
Maggie know that the glorious Natalie
lad won happiness through her hum
Die self?