The Press., 1915-01-06
The POOrhOuSe Girl A Victim of Aphasia
By CLARISSA MACKIE

midair. and twenty eight eyes sought Elsie's countenance. Not the girl that was found sitting by Willow pond last month. the one who couldn't remember her name?" questioned Mrs. Deacon Oliver. "I guess it's the same one-poor, michin' looking critter." replied Mrs. Sayles briskly. Looks like she had
 consumption"
 ''I saw her the day we went up to the poorhouse to entertain the pau perS," broke in Angeline Petty. II
 thought she was real pretty. She had
 nice blue eyes.'' "Angeline's always looking at peo- ples eyes" remarked Fanny Lawson.
 What do you think. girls-somebody told me something one of the old men at the poorhouse said after we'd gone away that day." What did he say?" asked Mrs. Dea-
 con Oliver. II knew they was real
 pleased at our taking the trouble to entertain them"
 Fanny laughed maliciously.
 He said they felt sorry for us-the Ladies' Aid. mind you. girls-and that they were coming down to entertain us some day"
 Why is he sorry for us?' asked Angeline curiously.
 He says we're 'pauper minded.' Fanny exploded this bombshell and folded up her work preparatory to go- IWlome-
 rPauper mEdedr' they shrieked in
 chorus. What 9oes he meanT'
 Give it up. Gcodby. all!' said Miss
 Lawson. with an airy wave of her
 hand.
 Do you suppose she made it up?'
 asked Elsie Sayles after Fanny's trim
 figure had passed through the front gate.
 "She ain't smars enough. She don't
 know the meaning of pauper minded"
 snapped Mrs Oliver grossly. She had
 been the one to iraugurate a monthly
 day of entertainment for the benefit
 of the inmates ef the county alms-
 house. and she lad a real grievance
 not only against the aged man who
 had voiced the unhappy opinion, but against the inStisution and all its in
 
 mates.
 If that's all the gratitude them pau pers have got I guess l won't take no notice of Selina Dustin's poorhouse girl" she added severely.
 Angeline Petty moved indolently in her chair.
 "I'm going to call on her and ask
 her to come to Sunday school" she re- marked.
 Anybody want to come with me to call on the poorhouse girl?" she asked. tucking her work into the ample black bag in her lap and rising to go.
 Mrs. Petty sniffed audibly.
 "Angeline. you'll go on your own re- sponsibility." she protested.
 I'm not afraid" retorted Angeline quietly. None of my relations died in the almshouse. I ain't a bit sensitive about calling on that girl. She's young. and she's nice. even if she is poor and not exactly right in her head. It ain't | her fault that she can't remember her | name. Is it?'
 What do they call herr" asked Mrs. Oliver stifiy.
 Mary Jones. We'll, I've got to go | all alone. I see. Ma, don't look so sick over it. 'Tain't as if I was going to elope." Angeline waved a plump hand nt her faintly smiling parent and wad- lled comfortably out of the room and lown the path to the gate.
 At the gate she paused for a few | and looked uncertainty up | and down the road. and then. as if sud- lenly coming to a decision, Angeline | crossed the road and plunged into the footpath that led through the oak woods to the crossroads where Selina Dustin lived in long white house half hidden among locust trees and lilac | bushes.
 In Selina Dustin's front yard Mary | Iones was sitting on the circular bench | under the largest locust tree. She was lelicately fair. with deep blue eyes lnd little white hands that looked as if they had never done a days hard | work. The hands were idly folded on the lap of her blue cotton dress.
 she's feshing up and growing pret- tier every day" said Angeline to Se- Ina Dustin. who was sitting on the idle porch.
 T ain't the only one who thinks so," Selina. with a satisfied smile at the graceful form under the rec.
 What do you mean?' asked Ange- ina. sinking into chair.
 II mean that Raymond Ellis is sweet 'n her Don't tell any one. Angeline." ,!eaded Selma softly. If you do. sure Is fate some of them old tabby cats will talk about her.
 Raymond Ellis-' repeated Angeline laZedly. Why. Selina. he's never aken notice of n Little River girl be- ore. He's so lofty and proud"
 Hes been here dozen times. pang up Co the front door. and asked or her like Il gentleman. Nothing neaking and underhanded about Judge lis hoy" said Selina warmly. T n""d her to entertain him in the par lr tnd she played on the old pianner md sang to him in the sweetest voice ou ever heard. Sung in some turin too.
 Before he went home Raymond anne out into the sitting room where
 was and he ses to me: Miss Dustin, ve got to find out about Miss Jones; he's refined and educated, and it's vident that she comes from nice peo- lie. Can't you help her remember her anne? And l faced him and l says sharp y. What business is it of yours. Ray. nond Ellis?'" What did he say?" whispered An cline eagerly. He flushed up and looked handsom- r than ever. but he spoke firm. It's !, " business, because I'm going to mar , ' her if she'll have me, but I want to i've her all the chance there is to find1 ut about her folks if she can remem- CT. So he told me he was going to rs. {