Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1917-12-15
THE GOOSE GIRL.
@@@%@%13
BY LOUISE OLIVER.
1t, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa.

copyright, 1911. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndcate)
Dick Lowell in his new uniform Of
khaki felt very queer and lonely as
the special" pulled out of the sta
ton.
First, soldering was new business
to him. The red, white and blue silk
cord on his hat testified to that, for
that Is the insignia of the officer stu
dent who has yet to work for and earn
his commission.
Second, every man on the train
had had anywhere from one to twenty
people &c see him of, except Dick.
But It had all come up so suddenly
And with the family out in the Cana
dian Rockies. not n person had been
there to wish him God.speed.
Things settled down in the { rain
after departure. Men searched for
friends. found them, talked a while
and then retired to their own Sec
ton to read, smoke, talk or play
cards, as the spirit moved them.
Dick knew some of the men slightly,
but did not feel inclined to talk. The
feeling of isolation had gripped him
hard.
The train slid away. making very
few stops, save at functions and
large towns, where new recruits got
on.
Suddenly there was lurch and
stop ut place where no stop was
evidently intcndcd-that Is. where no
stop was marked on regular sched-
ules for either through or commut-
ing trains. But ever after Dick knew
that I'm the signal tower of Destin's
Domnions an order had gone out for
the train to stop right there beside
a meadow in which sheep were
placidly grazing, a row of gray geese
were clumsily and hastily retreating-
and beautiful gray-cycd girl in blue
Bingham was looking over a fence.
Right then and there something
Topped into the void In Dicks heart.
And when through the open window
his eyes finally held hers and she
smiled and nodded I'm quite friendly
manner, he ceased cropping in that
bottomless region of loneliness.
The engine whistled then and pre-
pared to depart. Good luck" she
called. II was meant for Dick.
"MTuch obliged" he called back, APP
probation showing In his eyes.
"Where are you going?' asked the
| girl, rs the train didn't move.
Georgia" said Dick. "Fort Ogle-
thorpe
"Oh," said the girl, chats splendid.
/ know lots of people there
The train whstled again warningly,
and the procession of geese, which had
taken courage and returned to the
fence, started on their second retreat.
Suddenly the girl stopped and pick
ed up the big, fat leader in her arms,
sQuawking and protesting. Before
Dick knew what she was doing, she
was over the fence. holding her Of
fcring up to his window.
"Hcre. take her for mascot" she
said, kissing the top Of the astonishet
and indignant fowls head. "Call hel
Katherine" she said.
katherine II Is" answered Dick
gratefully. He knew that she knew
he had asked her name and been glver
1t.
The engine whistled again. This
time the train pulled out, with wav
ings and good.bys. Dick. claspint
Katherine tightly In his arms, felt Xix,
singing for pure JOY.
Days. weeks, months Of hard train
ing ensucd. There were hours Of dis
enlargement and inconsistencies ant
misgivings for what was ahead.
But the old gray goose, the com
pany mascot, was a real source o.
comfort to the young man whit
thought often of the real gray-eyet
Katherine. somewhere up in Ohio.
One day-a Sunday afternoon, whci
he was off duty and feeling particu
larry lonely-hc had picked up TIT
goose and gone Off down the road
Later one of his captains coming III
quietly and unexpectedly, heard hin
talking to some one, and peering owe
the fence, found Dick addressing hi
pet.
|, katherine, you're the most ador
able person I ever saw. Your eyes
heavens, such eyes! l can't sleep TO
thinking Of them. And your smile
/ wonder if I'll ever see you smil
again? l must see you. I've got t
see you, that's all, II I hunt tn
|, world over. I'm going to be made
, captain. Katherine, because you wish
. ed me good luck. I've worked TO
you--just for you. Really"
i. "Hey, You" called the captain.
was conduct quite unbecoming an OF
ficer, but it actually is what he said.
: Dick sprang to his feet and salu
ed, noticing the letter in his super
4 Or's hand.
> GLOW you two hit 1t up, / don
know, but Kit writes to me to hur
A up man with gray goose an
, bring him home for Thanksglvin
dinner. She doesn't say whether 81
A means you or the goose, but here
hoping" He grinned.
h sob, Katherine, Katherine, I'll hay
!. to kiss you for that said Dick, an
/. picking up the old goose he kisse
the top of her head where the girl
I. lips had once rested.
= Then he held out his hand. ste
Il her I'll come" he said gratefully.