The midland journal., 1914-08-21
Walters DRAMA By THE SAME NAME


Soon after he returned she scented
the welcome aroma Of coffee and
brolling steak and In q minute he
called her.
With kitchen towel stuck under
his collar and face as red as sto-
ker's he held chair for her and bade
her to the board.
There, how is that, my lady?" he
asked proudly. ''Could the Waldorfs
famous Oscar do any better? Eat,
drink and be-"
Sleepy. she finished for him. Il
just know I'm going to collapse right
here when my hunger's satisfied. for
Bob, I'm tired. and it's such job to
put up bed"
''I'll fix that, honey. Never felt bet
ter in my life. Why, II had lantern
I'd go out and start my garden aftox
/ get you tucked away
They sat over the coffee talking and
planning.
There was knock at the door.
Good Lord, who's that?" eaid Bob.
Its nearly nine o'clock"
Il don't know, but If it's Dick or
any Of your friends l just know I'll
insult them, Bob. I'm nearly dead"
"Sh-h," he answered. 'I'll CO."
Good EVENING"" said "a CHEEKY.
though rather high-pitched voice as he
opened the door. 81 saw you moving
In and l thought I'd drop around to
see II there was anything could do.
I'm Mrs. Collins from up at the next
cottage. Bungalow, James called it,
when we came here, but that was
two years ago."
Its awfully kind Of you to call"
said Reynolds. Things are in a ter
rible mess here, but you won't mind,
I'm sure
He offered her chair. Mrs. Collins
opined she wouldn't mind. Her ap-
pearance buttressed her assertion that
she usually took things as they were.
She looked an easy-going, buxom sort;
of good figure, but slightly passe 9TH
erwise as to personal charms and con-
comitant adornment. Her skirt of
black serge was tight fitting and
rather modish in cut. but soiled in
places. Her white shirt-waist was
open at the collar and tucked under,
revealing a throat full and round, but
red. Her hands matched this color
and. were coarse in texture. Her
abundant hair was her chief attrac-
tion. It was done up in pompadour
fashion and foated wildly here and
there like some intrepid amazon's. But
it, too, despite the magnif1cence of its
growth. could not escape the general
tone Of dowdiness that embraced the
whole; for, in the greater part it was
a light gold, but in intervening strands
and at the roots it showed darker
hue. Her eyes were clear blue with
dark brows and laehes. Here nature
had been neither cheated nor cajoled.
Mrs. Collins eyes. II all other clues
were abandoned, pointed the way to
past beauty; beauty not extant, but
clouded; crossed by the lines of life;
hard life; toilsome life. Mrs. Collins
was forty-five and she looked her age.
Granted luxury of servants, social
pleasures, mental Responsibilities
and milk baths, she would have passed
for thirty.
DO you like it here?" asked Jane,
who had now come forward and met
her caller.
We'll, James likes it. Little old
New York and four-room fat was
good enough for me, but he wanted
a bit of the country, and put up with
it for his sake But, don't let me dis
courage you, dearie." she added quick
ly as she detected slight waning of
the younger woman's smile, "it has its
attractions here. too. 1t is mighty
fine for children, only-we haven't got
any"
81 must meet your husband" Bob
declared. Il guess we are kindred
spirits. wanted bit of the country.
too, and a place ! could call my own.
Does Mr.. Collins have garden?"
"Oh. Lordy. yes. That's what he
calls it, anyway. His speciality is po-
tatoes that mostly don't amount to
much But he gets plenty of fresh air
and exercise hoeing them and l guess
that's better for him than polishing
somebody's brass rail with his boot"
How about fiowers?" asked Jane.
Don't you enjoy having them?"
Goodness, child. don't find much
time for flowers. though am mighty
fond of geraniums. had a bed OF
them the first year, but found that
the water here was more useful for
washing dishes. Potatoes. you know,
don't need any watering, so / leave
the gardening to James"
Mrs. Collins arose. well, I'll be
going, dear. know how tired you
are after day like this. Don't for
get. now, If there's anything you need
In the morning. just run right over.
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