The Winslow mail., 1917-02-23
HELPING OUT
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

or coreOpSiS, Strengthened at the gO@n6
Of voice.
Il came" it said, ito see IL you
would mind if l take Nancy for
ride" Gretchen Van Doom, light haired
and blue-eyed as her Dutch name Inn
piled, smiled the inquiry.
mo, fairy godmother, 1 wouldn't
Moreover, don't suppose it would do
much good for me to object if you and
Nancy have made up your minds to
go. Eth, kiddie?" as little girl OF
seven ran around the house from the
street.
"But-since you call me fairy god
mother-Tll have to dress her. Her
hair ribbons, for instance, won't do
You see, you put on one red one and
one blue this morning, and I'd like
to get the mate of either one"
Alan smoothed the hair over his
temple as he did when perplexed
"Well, does it make any differencei
Do they have to match? l was think
ing when l put them on that they
were like my bed of oriental poppies
and blue larkspur."
quick look of sympathy came over
Gretchen's face. The artist and his
little girl were at once the despair anG
amusement of Kentboro, for little
Nancy came forth in some of the
queerest rigging that ever adorned 9
= child.
Come on" purred Nancy, SO the
two disappeared into the house.
I'D like to paint her among the
poppies and larkspur,'' he thought
There was sound of q motor stop
ping at the front of the house and 8
man came around into the garden.
"Walter!' cried the man among the
flowers.
How do you do Alan?'' greeted the
other cordially enough, coming uI
close and holding out hand.
Yes. l do my own gardening
said Alan simply. I'm glad to see
you. Won't you come into the house?'
1T is pleasant out here. Can't we
sit down on this bench under the
tree?" asked the newcomer II can't
stay long anyway and, needless to
say, came ON business"
Il suppose it's the same sold story
said Alan wearily as they sat down.
pretty much. Alan-See here
you've been acting the tc,mfoOl lons
enough. The business has grown and
fathers getting old. There's too mucr
for me to manage and the big profits
are going to strangers. You cant
make a decent living dau bing."
Alan did not answer.
If you're thinking of the other
went on his brother, "that can be ar
ranged. Of course you can't bring
the girl you married with you, but
there's money enough in thei family tt
take care of that as long as there's {
court in the land"
"Stop!" cried Alan. 81 6lon't care
to hear any more. I've be en- happy
for years, and now you come to spoil
it."
Gretchen and Nancy appeased JUS
then at the back door.
Il think we have everything. Good
! by" called Gretchen smilingly from
the door.
"Will you come here mt1ute--
dear?' asked Alan.
Gretchen obeyed, but she wsis puz
zled. Had she heard Alright? Idad he
really called her "dear?"
Walter, | want you to meet nry
wife. This is my brother, Walter p1er
pont."
Gretchen held out her hand mechan}
ically and managed to smile She was
too much puzzled to protest.; besides
something tense and pleading in
Alan's face helped her to play the
part.
i am very glad to meet you," sshs
smiled. "We would like to have yor
stay but" she turned to Alan rather
helplessly-"we are going on a little
trip today. Is that right--dear?"
THANK you. l didn't come to stay;
| came-on business purely and that
seems to be concluded" said Waiter
as he took his leave.
The two stood in the garden until
the sound of the car died away. Then
Alan said: "Thank you, Miss Gr etch
{; eh! / had to do it. He came bo me
with dastardly proposition, moi
knowing Nancy's mother was dead. II
l had told they would never let me
alone until l went back to a wora d ]
hate. Besides, they would take Nancy
away from me. You dolt mind, dc
your
mo, l don't mind" said Gretchen.
"As nearly as l can make out that
isn't very much different from match
ing up Nancy's hair ribbons. 1t a.9
comes in the line of duty
Later on, Alan painted Gretchen's
picture among the flowers, and it sold
for ,top-notch price.
The letter with a check came one
day when Alan had began to despair
Gretchen came into the garden. 81
came to borrow Nancy she said