The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-07-31
HER FRESHMAN
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

Clara Jane fairly staggered into the
room-she was so tired
Of came the hat with a jerk The
poor little stick-up got vicious tug
and was flung across the room and out
of the window. Il hate hats, I've
sorted feathers today till I'm full OF
them. | eat them, breathe them, ugh
can't even look at bird. And I'm
hungry"
The contents of several paper bags
did not look inviting crackers in one,
stale rolls in another and some old ap-
pies with wrinkles. She sighed. Il
wish / had some of mothers waff1es
and chicken, and some corn pudding
and caramel sweet potatoes and choc-
olate cake and custard pie and"
Some gridd1ecakes and country
sausage and apple dump1ings and"
The masculine voice stopped. Clara
Jane turned and stared open-mouthed
at the unexpected person in the door
way. He evidently encouraged conf
dence, for she answered sadly: I've
nothing left to remind me of home but
my name. / hang on to every inch Of
it,"
But you can't eat that" said the
man. Its awful to be hungry
How did you get here?"
This came out of the window.
looked up and saw no one. / rang the
bell. A fat woman answered it. I
handed this in. She said instantly:
It's Miss Amherst's. You take it up. !"
For goodness sake, don't ask
thanks for that hate It. ! threw it
out. never want to see feather.
work with them all day."
Now must 60. But, say, will you
do something for me? I'm going to a
party and my only pair of gloves need
mending Do you think you could put
in a stitch? ?"
YES, indeed. I'll be glad to-
Then I'll be going by in fifteen min
utes. / cant come up. Have you
anything you can let DOWN."
ell tie string to my hat"
But when they are done, what will
you do?"
When they're done! Oh, I'll just
whistle"
Fifteen minutes later Clara Jane
drew up the hat, basketlike, containing
a large paper parcel that smelled de-
liciOus when opened.
Sausages, soft-shelled crab, a
baked potato. hot rolls, butter, mar
malade and cake from nearby res
taurant. "I'll have to eat"
So she did-even. the potato skin.
Then she waited for the whistle, all
evening, but none came and she was
glad of 1t after ALL She was begin.
ming to like her Irishman.
Clara Jane awoke with the birds,
country fashion, put an old buckle on
her hat where the feather thing had
been and drank some coffee made over
the gas jet. Then she went to work.
Her particular department of the big
store was feathers. 81 hate to go in, .
she protested as she tied on her apron,
81 wonder if they won't give me roses
and flowers instead. That's the floor
above and it would be a change OF
scene as well as occupation. If ever
get into the trimming department I'll
know the millennium has comet"
Il think it's here" said voice sus.
piciously like the Irishman's.
She was talking aloud and didn't
know it. 1t came from loneliness.
Clara Jane turned and confirmed the
suspicion Where are the gloves
was to mend?"
His face fell. 81 forgot all about
them"
4You told a story!"
"A downright black lie. It's terrible
sorry / am"
You don't look it. Anyway you are
forgiven"
Thank heaven!"
THE crab was fine"
"Yes'm!"
"And the sausages were better!"
"Yes'm!"
Don't say that again. And the po
tatoes and rolls and all the rest of the
stuff were deliciousi 1t saved my life. :
| She bent her arm I'm as strong as
Samson this morning I could pluck
an ostrich, much as hate feathers
81 came to see about it,
About what?"
Giving you another position. This
is my store, Miss Lady -From-the-Coun
| y-Who-Needs-A l-Her-Name."
MY name is Clara Jane Amherst
suppose you are Mr.. Terry if you owr
the store"
You don't seem much impressed"
I'm not hate the old place. Any
way I'd rather work with the flowers
Wont anything else do?"
well, / can't starve, so can't leave
II you order me to the cellar to shove
coal I'll have to go"
Worse than that I'm going to or
der you out of the store and into my
house, il you'll go. / never wanted 6
| wife until yesterday and she intro
duced herself by throwing things a.
| me. That's the spirit I like. Suit:
my Irish blood What do you say
mavourneen-will you Gomez"
| WE'LL, you are direct. I'll don't
That's no way to begin. Try i
again.
"Well-maybe T."
That's better. Go on"
perhaps | will"
Fine. When do you want to b,
| fired?"
| Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate1