Catoctin clarion., 1917-09-06
I n n - AAhA hhhhW
CARLOS MISTAKE l..
By OLIVE GRAY.

Miss Martha Collinwood sat sewing
and when Miss Martha sewed-or' IN
fact, when Miss Martha did anything
the ceremony was worthy OF descrip'
ton. :,
It was only a doll she was dressing.
But such DOLL The finest that hao
been purchasable after three trips 10
the city in her big limousine. For
when Miss Martha shopped the occa-
sion was as much Of ceremony as her
sewing. Nothing but the best would
do.
The bits Of lingerie that Miss Mar
tha's skillful fingers were care1uiiy
contriving were rs fine as Thumbeiine y
bridal dress In the fairy tale-sheer.
beautiful. dainty, white. with unseen
stitches Of gossamer.
"Why shouldn't she sew well7" de-
manded the good ladies OF Fairmont.
"She's nothing else to do, with all her
money and servants, and that DIG
house with nobody but herself to live
in? It's as little as she could DO TOT
the Red Cross"
But they did not consider that Miss
Martha would more than likely buy
back her handlwork at a most extrava-
giant figure and give the doll to some
little friend,
A hell rang in the back Of the house
and Michaels, Miss Martha's butler
dropped his brass polish, slipped out OF
his blue crash jacket into white one,
and answered the summons.
In few minutes he appeared at the
door of the sun parlor where his mis-
tress was sewing. =.
"It's the Hicks boy for the package"
he announced.
little Carlo Hicksl He's so cute.
Just tell him to sit down on the porch
and I'll have 1t ready in twenty minu-
utes. Tell Minnie to cut him piece
of cake"
AT last the little dress was finished
and Miss Martha dressed my lady IN
her snowy trOusseau.
Then came tissue paper and a box
and ribbon. Finally her hlghness was
packed and ready for the tender mer-
cies Of Carlo Hicks.
And Carlo, having finished his cake.
went on his way whistling and plan
ming how he could spend the two dimes
which jingled so delightfully."- In his
pocket.
Miss Martha suddenly felt very lone
ly. 1t had been busy spring, and the
doll had been the last Of series OF
things that had kept her hands and
brain busy for months. But now the
old desolate feeling gripped her heart.
And then the major came! Michaels,
having once more changed his chrys'
alis, appeared In his white coat, with
the majors card on Il silver tray.
Miss Martha took 1t wondering. It
was an unusual hour for callers!
"Ar right, Mlchaels, tell the gentle
man to wait" The uncertainty Of her
voice was scarcely perceptible. "Ill
see him In few minutes"
The color came slowly, painfully IN.
to her face, flooding her throat, her
TEMPLES and her cheeks The major !!
Alan Hartwel! After so many years !
Suddenly a righteous anger surged
into her heart. Why should she be
friendly with the man who had spoiled
her life? She would see him, but she
would tell him what he had done and
let him go his way again.
To the man waiting behind the vines
of the porch she made an unusually
charming pieture--her soft, lustrous
hair blowing in Just trife of dis
array, her face flushed beautifully, and
the blue linen morning dress.
And then occurred an interesting
tableau. A small boy dripping mud
came screaming up the drive, holding
out an object that appeared to be the
product Of coal mine.
II fell over the bridge" screamed
Carlo, "and went into mudhole. An
/ spoiled the package"
Miss Martha stopped aghast. Her
beautiful doll vas spoiled!
"Oh, Carlo, how could you!" she
cried. you're a naughty, naughty lit
tie boy, but"-more kindly-"I suppose
It couldn't be helped"
81 was just walking along and 4
"All right. Go back and tell Minnie
to wash you off. Perhaps the dolly
isn't hurt after ALL"
"Td come down to help-but 1t
seems something's happened. l can't
move" said a voice from the porch.
Miss Marth flew up the steps, muddy
Carlo at her heels.
"Oh, forgot" blubbered the little
boy. ~ put my blackjack chewing
gum on the chair while ate my cake !"
The major in immaculate white
flannels tossed Carlo quarter. "Here,
you can buy some more. You've done
enough damage for ohe day!"
"Tm sorry I can't get up," smiled the
major. Tim unavoidably detained.
Martha; I've been unavoidably de-
tained all these years. Can't you forgive
me, as you did the little chap? Things
aren't so bad but that they can be
fixed. 1 still love you, Martha. How
about mew
'Irl have to do as did with Carlo.
forgive you, guess" she smiled. 4
suppose you couldn't help it, either.
Yes, love you, Alan" she whispered
softly.
Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Finds Conformity.