The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-14
MOTOR MAID MARIAN
BY HOPE A,NsLEE.

Win tue OOOr Oh T1Q00lQB 1rult. G00s
eral Malvery sighed as he realized that
he could no longer take his daily drive
through the glorious country roads.
His only Son had Joined the army and
gone to the front and without Bobby
to drive the car to the station and re.
turn home with It the general found
his motor useless. He wished he had
been able to run the a himself. The
Indian mutiny Of long ago had robbed
him Of his right arm.
A few minutes later he looked up
with q smile. THE women are com.
ing forward In this crisis with great
spirit" he said. Here il q young girl
advertising for a position a. chauffeur
and gardener. Says she would like to
take the place Of q son who has gone
to fight for his country" The general
looked up w~onderingly at his wife.
"That young lady would be q treas.
ure. Is the salary too awfully Target"
Mrs. Malvery questioned hopefully.
"She asks no salary, bless her." re.
piled the general. "she asks only
housing and feeding"
I'VE will write today" Mrs. Nal.
very said promptly. her eyes shining.
So it was that General Malvery and
his wife became the possessor Of q
motor maid" as Marion Wells chose
to designate her calling.
"My brother has gone to the 'front.'"
she told her employers while she, too.
tried to hide the tragedy in her brave
smile. HE is all the family / have.
Life was intolerable without u
ton"
She was q slim, pale girl whose
eyes shone with determination and
hope. Otherwise Marian Wells had
nothing to compel admiration. Her
hands, too. were slim and white. The
marvel was that they were so useful
q pair Of hands. She handled the gar.
den tools no less skillfully than she
managed the wheel Of General Nal.
very's motor.
Marian had been shown the portrait
Of Bobby Malvery and, as all women
did, she had freely expressed her ad.
lniration for the clean-cut, debonair
private in the Irish Guards.
"My brother, also, is in the Irish
Guards" she said. 1T would be
strange If Dudley and your son should
be fighting side by side."
There was no opportunity to write
and ask. for it was not a day later
that new reached the Malvery home
from the front. The two men had
fought side by side, or rather Bobby
Mafvery had fallen exhausted from
wounds and it was Dudley Wells who
had gone out under heavy fire to drag
his comrade back to the trenches.
Now both men were coming home
wounded but cheerful.
HE saved my life for you who love
me-" BODY had written to his parents.
Marian laughed softly when this was
read to her. There were tears run.
ming u~nrestrainedly down the cheeks
Of the two women and the general
buried himself In the depths of the
daily paper.
Soon everyone in the Malvery house
was dashing about preparing rooms
and putting fresh flowers in vases.
The general stood on the railway
platform, blowing his nose vigorously
and trying to look unaffected. when
two stalwart mon In khaki and band.
ages were swept into the embrace Of
Marian and Mrs. Malvery. No one
said anything for . long moment. The
general laid the arm the Indian mu.
tiny had left him across the shoulders
of his son. Bobby. looked up and
smiled into his fathers eyes over his
mothers head. Then the general Of.
fered his hand to. that other hero who
was Marian's brother. After that they
all burst into speech at once. Tho
tension was over.
Marian, in her neat brown uniform,
led the way and stepped into the
drivers seat Of the car. She smiled
softly at her brother a. his eyes
opened wide. He had not known that
Marian was helping her country after
this fashion. She told him the story
as they spun along.
There are not many girls. like you."
was all Dudley said.
And that, naturally, was the exact
opinion Bobby Malvery held from the
moment Of his arrival home. General
and Mrs. Malvery soon exchanged
glances that suggested their having
discussed q probability. Bobby had
done with startling swiftness and 9
ergy that which from the first they
had thought possible. He had fallen
hopelessly in love with Marian as the
motor maid"
II wonder whether I shall give the
bride away or be best man." Dudley
laughed one day while he was stroll.
ing with General and Mrs. Malvery
about the fading gardens. Bobby and
Marian had gone Of together for .
short spin through the twilight Eng.
lish lanes.
"You are to be my second son. Dud.
Icy" Mrs.. Malvery smiled and laid
her hand afIectionately on his I'm.
bandaged arm.
1--WE have managed to pick up Q
rather jolly family" the old general
chuckled happily.
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