The Washburn leader., 1910-10-07
THE LITTLE
BLUE SCARF

Il e.Sss s.s.s- -s.s.s. S-t
Telka believed that she should have
been happy sitting on the doorstep
that lovely Sunday afternoon.
The large family of children up
stairs had gone on an excursion fol
one day, taking Telka's noisy brothers
with them, so there was none to dis
pute her possession OF the narro"
doorway. Inside, her mother anc
father had ceased their quarreling anc
were doing In their chairs. So the
house and even the street We're un
usually quiet. and Telka felt that she
should have been we'll content.
But she wasn't happy at ALL Indeed
she was almost In tears.
A bimonthly dance at the settlement
house was near at hand, and there
was no one to take her to that festiv
ity. To be sure, she could go with
some Of the girls; but her heart anC
her pride called for the company OF
big John.
So attentive had he been until foul
months ago that even now none OF the
other boys would dream of inviting
her. Telka almost wished that big
Johns great good luck had not come
for before he had been appointed tc
the small political job as part of the
ward organizations distinction
which spelled the acme of success OF
their street.-the would have been eager
to take Telka anywhere. Now, how
ever, with plenty of money In his
pocket, he scorned to 90 to the dances
at the settlement house-even callet
them "charity"-and spent his dollars
freely each Saturday night at the sa
loon dance halls.
1t is true that at first he had invited
Telka to these dance halls, but after
suade him not to go he ceased asking
her to accompany him and went gayly
with crowd of boon companions. Al
times she had to struggle with herself
for the fear that big John might fine
some girl he liked who would MOI
SCIup1C " uduCS III odAOOuo dlIlO6
overcame her instructive dread of such
places and her love for the settle
ment lady," who would be grieved al
her lack of prudence.
So, though the day was fair and un
usually quiet, Telka could not bt
happy.
And as she sat and brooded she saw
down in the next block John and his
adniring friends sauntering in her di
rection. She darted into the house
rummaged under the staircase ant
dragged out a pasteboard box. 1t was
not exactly a treasure chest, but its
contents were very dear to Telka.
Out Of a tissue paper covering she
shook blue scarf. Burying her face
In its folds, she kissed it. And If the
settlement lady" could have seen the
rapture on her face, any doubts as tC
the suitability of her Easter gift woulG
have vanished. She had felt that g
pair of shoes would have been better
for her charge, but the blue of the silL
was SO like the blue of Telka's eyes
that she had not been able to resist
buying 1t for her.
The girl hastily draped the scarf
over her shoulders, nearly hiding her
poor gown. and slipped down again to
her seat on the steps.
Big John and his friends had reached
the corner. Telka, seemingly preoc
cupied, could see out of the corner OF
her eye that big John was staring al
her.
He passed her with scant ''Hello!'
but she observed that he kept looking
back at her as he went down the
street.
In few minutes he returned alone
He sank down on the steps beside hel
as nonchalantly as though he'd seen
her daily for the last four months.
Gee, you're lookin' fine today
Telk." he said. "Where'd you get that
blue thing? Let's git out to the park
an show It off,"
Telka was radiant. Here was he,.
John, back again! And as she walked
through the park with him her admlra
tion grew. He was so worldly and
had seen so much of influential people
since he had had his new Job" And
yet he was so kind to her-he even
told her that her scarf wasn't so blue
as her eyes! Oh. John had i'm
proved!
Before he left her at her doorstep
some hours afterward he promised tc
take her to the settlement house
dance. Then Telka's heart leaped, In.
deed, for she felt that IL he ever went
there the saloon dance hall would lose
It's charm for him
AS she carefully folded away the
blue silk she kissed 1t again.
you did it, little blue scarf" she
whispered. You brought my John
back to me-"
To c%on Aireonohe