The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-06-09
LONELY Mr.. HODGE
BY cLsRIssA nAckIE.

lls next lEE aILeE MISS LUZ = Al :
Selected School for Girls opened for
the fall term. Roblna Judd. the new
est zfrl OF all. walked bout the spa
cious grounds With her roommate
Let Us 90 through this cunning
gate and see What is on the other
sidel- suggested Robins. when they
had come TO the end OF the evergreen
path.
Grace Barney glanced up at the for
bidding stone wall and shook her
sunny head.
out Of bounds. Robina. abe said
regretfully. Besides. it's private
property perfect ogre OF an old
nan lives there all alone. I asked
Miss Lumpkin about him and she
sighed and called him poor, lonely
Mr. Hodze-only. you see, RobinA, he
happens 10 be rich
Here comes Miss Gerald" said Ro-
bina-'isn'i she q dear"
Ny tzyorite teacher, shs has
only been here three days and yet
love her better than any Of the 9th
ers. Sweet and sad and loVely-she-
she looks as though she might have
suffered. Robinai"
The thought OF lonely Mr. Hodge
wandering ab1It his perfectly kept
grounds haunted the careless mo
rrents Of Rct3-- Judd Some day
shall 90 in" she threatened 10 her
roommate
You will have TO prove It by
bringing me one OF those weirdly
eolored japanese chryssnthsmums
from his garden" Grace replied
Wait and see retorted Robina.
and that very afternoon came oppor-
tunity.
Most Of the girls had gone for a
long walk in the woods. but RobinA.
who had slightly twisted her ankle
In the gymnasium that morning pre-
ferred TO hobble around the garden.
Finally she came to the door in the
waIl-the high wall beyond which
lived lonely Mr. Hodge.
The time and the place-and |
hope the mani" giggled Robina. as she
turned the knob OF the little green
door. II creaked dismally. opened. and
in the distance she could see the mel
lowed walls OF a red brick house
bathed in the afternoon sunshine.
A gardener was working somewhere
there was the clicking sound Of .
hoe against stones.
It's Jolly here" commented Ro-
binA, and she rounded q little sum
mer house and came upon the gar
dener. who was vigorously stirring up
the soil ID the bed OF gorgeous chrys-
anthemums
He turned a pair Of surprised blue
eyes upon her-twinkling blue eyes.
set IN a sunburned face. close-shayen
and square-jawed
Welt" he exclaimed.
Welt" gasped Robina. for she had
nothing else TO say Then. with sud
den inspiration, she added. The
chrysanthemums are lovely"
Think so? Then you must have
some" he decided promptly. and.
taking a knife from his pocket. he
proceeded to cut a huge bunch OF
white and yellow and crimson chrys
anthemums
''You-you wouldn't mind giving me
Just blE VI tue NdIAeEhLcu OAe1 uc1r
itated Robina.
"Sure," he smiled down at her.
Il hope Mr.. Hodge doesn't mind my
coming in here" went on Robina. with
a glance at the house. You see, be
long to the school next door. and We
girls know about Mr.. Hodge; and we
have felt sorry about his being 80
lonely. and said that l was coming
in some day to see him. and Grace
dared me to come. I'm afraid / must
go now"
so you are sorry for Mr.. Hodge,"
laughed the gardener. Why"
Because he lives here alone-and
because some OF the girls say that he
mad been disappointed-oh should
not talk to you sol" Robina suddenly
remembered the proprieties. She
thought the gardeners blue eyes
clouded. but he was still smiling
Wouldn't 1t add TO the romance Of
the occasion to discover that am
Mr.. Hodge?" asked the gardener
calmly.
Obi OH" moaned Robina. How
the girls will laugh at met"
Don't you believe that" he
yrinned cheerfully. They'll be eaten
up with envy at your romantic adven-
ture."
"Robina!"
Tho cIaar suaat coll rama ,-or, ,ha