Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-10-29
FIVE nmE BEACH JOURNAL WILDWOOD. N J.. FRIDAY, OCTOBER % l,s

OCil, tAO WGC10 l1llllIdD40 AClIOpOl1S
refined into enc woman The mist of
the West was thick Upon her silver
furs; it hung in diamond drops on the
waving white aigrette that stood out
from her small dark velvet turban in
airy pride; its cool freshness bloomed
in her chicks. She smiled, and a cos
mopolitan goodfellowship radiated
from her frankly.
81 must beg a thousand pardons,"
she said, her clear blue ayes raised to
his face, land a lot of indulgence. ]
want to be taken in. Do you think any.
enc in this delightful place will do
it?"
"The whole camp will fight for the
privilege" promised Sandry rashly,
falling in instantly with her bantering
tone and responding to the frankness
of her smile. He watched her sit down
gracefully in the chair that he hurried.
ly pulled forward. With the first
glimpse of her the old nostalgia had
returned upon him and his heart clam.
ored for home.
you are from New York" he said
simply.
Eyes. And I suppose l must explain
at once. You westerners are so insist
ent on easons My name is Poppy
Ordway-and l am Of that unfortunate
and much criticized species, the WON
an with a life work"
The smile she turned upon him was
electric, full of that heady quality
which is distinctive of the vital WON
an, the oma of strong and excitable
passions; it appealed to Sandry in
stantly, sc that a thrill of gladness ran
through him to his very finger tips.
81 have written a few short stories
which have been well received in the
eastern magazines, but they fail to sat
isfy me. l have my first novel drafted,
and it is over there on your lumber
pile along with my precious type
writer. 1t is a tale of the lumber re-
gion-and I've come out to work ON
the ground. Do you think | can find
sanctuary"
"We'1 see that you do" said San
dry pleasantly, and you couldn't have
struck a better spot for local color any
where in the Northwest. We are ele-
mental here, right down to the primi-
tive, and we are swamped with at
mosphere.' You just come along to
Ma Daily" he promised, already using
the tone of hail-fellow which their
common nativity and her frank man
ner had established between them.
Hungrily he watched her gather up
her skirts and precede him UP the lit
tie path to the cook-shack, where Ma
Daily was already standing in the door
to take inventory. Every little move
ment was SO familiar, SO potent In its
suggestion Of home.
Chatting lightly, the stranger step
ped up on the porch and smiled at the
white-haired old woman.
MA Daily" said Sandry-he had
long since lost the sense of resentment
at the family atmosphere of the camp
this Is Miss Ordway of New York
a famous author-and she has come
West to write a new book. Luckily
she struck us in her search for local
color. Can we take her in?"
Ma Daily looked at the visitor sharp
ly and Sandry saw a SCARF ~perceptible
change pass over her CHEEKY features.
The vital blue eyes of the younger
woman gave back the scrutiny with
perfect openness.
please do, Mrs. Daily" she said In
her sweet voice. please, please do"
Don't know" said Ma slowly;
there amt any room"
I'll abdicate," put in Sandry quick
ly; she may have my room and I'll
put up a cot in the Office"
Just at that moment Siletz came in
at the west door and, crossing the
big room, stood looking out upon the
group on the porch. Her dark ayes
rested first with a fieeting glance on
Sandry and then she saw the other.
For a moment Sandry forgot the
business of the present in watching
her face, as he always did when any
new emotion touched her. Now he
saw her lips part a trif1e and her eyes
widen with amazement, and he knew
that for the first time she beheld and
recognized womanly beauty in its per-
lection.
She did not speak but leaned against
the door-jamb drinking in this appa-
rition. In the little pause that fell
presently she turned to the old lady.
Eyes, mother" she said softly,
"please do"
The stranger flashed a brilliant
glance at her, and with an inimitably
pretty gesture reached out a gloved
hand and patted her arm, bare under
the rolled-up sleeve.
Mr.. Sandry," called John Daily,
standing on the footIog, will ye come
down here a minnit?"
"Siletz," said Ma, when the glitter
ing guest had been shut away in San
dry's little south room, what for do
you want we should keep herr"