Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-13

Why l first watched for that particu-
lar automobile 1 don't know-perhaps
because 1t was dark green instead of
red. perhaps because there was room
in 1t for only two people.
Perhaps. though, the real reason
why l watched the little green auto
mobile was because of the man who
drove it.
The hour after the green automobile
passed our porch was the best one
had all day, because, you see, 1 was
well and strong. like other people. and
I rode away in the green automobile.
Always L wore a pretty long coat
warm days it was soft and silky. and
cold days it was soft and furry-and
the prettiest hat and pale blue veil
with long ends. just like the other la
dies In their autos. Really. though.
after / once flew away round the cor
ner and along the smooth. broad road
beyond ! never once thought again OF
what I wore, for there was the coun-
try. Sometimes the road wound be-
tween beautiful wind blown meadows
Of daisies and tall grasses; sometimes
it lost itself in tangles of sweet. moist
woods; sometimes it ran down hills
and across bridges only to climb other
hills with other sunny spaces, other
patches of woodland and other hills
beyond.
OF course was too old to play such
things. But if one hasn't walked a
step in FIVE years and never can walk
again one has to imagine things some
times.
Then. came the day when Billy. the
little boy next door, fell asleep in the
middle of the road. called and called,
but couldn't wake him. nor make his
mother in the next house hear nor any
mother. nor any one. And then, just as
L knew it would, the green automobile
came flashing round the corner from
the city.
/ leaned out as far as 1 could.
waved my blue shawl. The man in
the automobile must have been look
ing my way that time, for almost at
once he stopped. l pointed to Billy.
He jumped out of the car, picked Billy
up just as carefully and laid him on
the grass under the maple tree. Then
he lifted his cap to me, and away he
went in the little green auto.
Well. the very next day the green
automobile ran so slowly past our
house l almost thought 1t was going to
stop. Billy was playing under the
tree. The man in the auto called to
him and handed him a large square
package. Then he lifted his cap to me
again, and away he went round the
corner out into the country.
Billy came running to me.
mister said" said Billy, handing
me the package. ter give this ter
you"
ITO meT'
Yep, fer the little goil on the porch.
mister said. An be guy me dime"
opened the package. There were
two beautiful books bound In blue and
full of colored pictures.
Three days later Billy brought me
another package. In it was the love-
Hest doll, all in soft blue. with forget
menot blue eyes and golden brown |
curls.
"You must give it back" said moth |
er. Her voice was so stern i scarcely !
knew it was mothers. Then l cried |
It was bad enough TO have no way of |
thanking the man in the automobile. |
couldn't bear to hurt his feelings by |
giving back the doll. And by and by |
mother said. well. well. Kathie. new
er mind this timer
Then one day. long before the usual |
time, when / was sitting in the sun. |
heard an auto coming. Somehow ! |
knew it was the auto. tried TO move
but 1 couldn't And Billy bad gone |
home. The next thing | knew the man
in the auto had stopped in front of
our house.
Hello. little biuebirdr' he cried |
Fly down here and have ride with
me"
/ shook my head.
You're not bluebird? Well, never i
mind. Run down. then. and take a
nice ride with me. like little girls"
But I'm not a little girl at ALL 1
cried. I'm eighteen years old. and
I'm taller than mother"
The mGn in the automobile laughed.
Jump up and show me-" he said,
ITS true 1 said. but I can't show /
you cause I'm lame"
What do you suppose happened?
The man jumped straight out of his
auto. He came up our narrow little /