The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-06-04

Il must agree with YOU" Mrs. Chan
dler assented. "T am particularly,
averse to unattached females at all.
times. Waits last letter was all about
some vampire who has him In her
clutches"
Miss Tucker, forgetting she was in
cluded In the category of unattached
females" Joined in the general laugh.
All knew Mrs. Chambers husky son
and his doting mothers war on Turing
vampires.
The scuckoo's four o'clock warning
sent the Maple Square Ladies' club
scurrying to- their respective. homes,
where soups and stews boiled and
stewed to a rapid demise.
Mrs. Chandler, obliged to pass the
newcomers home, had decided to walk
past head up. She would have walked
past nose up, but an unkind Provi.
dence had endowed her with plebian
nose, persistently downcast. Out of
the corner of her eye she could see the
unwelcomed neighbor rocking on the
porch. She was aggravatingly pretty
In white dimity as she rocked and Cro-
cheted, industriously whistling
catchy tune. 1t was warbled trill,
Mrs. Chandler afterwards was sure,
which made her step on the orange
peeling, and the run of notes was still
In her ears as her pride and person
fell. 1t all happened SO quickly, she
never could determine how she found
herself, nightgowned and doctored, In
the home of this person" 1t was Dr.
Nutting, himself, who was murmuring
something about absolutely not to be
moved" Incoherent thoughts, sharply
interrupted by ugly pains in the leg,
furrowed her brow.
Now, don't let it worry you," soft
and very gentle voice was saying.
Doctor says it's a serious fracture,
and you must not be moved but you're
ever SO welcome" The bright smile
and clear, blue eyes confirmed the
words.
In the many weeks that followed,
Mrs. Chandler came to love her pretty
and competent nurse; she had no
daughter Of her own and experienced
Tor the first time novel appreciation of
little acts of tenderness and consider
alton.
X,
she abruptly began one afternoon,
'why none but my husband has come
to visit me here. You see the folks
round here don't take kindly to new
people, and we were all so disappoint-
ed In the Santleys, who last rented
this house, we felt we had to be care
full about the next tenant.
But" she added. vehemently,
"when get on my feet again, I'm
going to tell the Maple Square Ladies'
club that you're better than all of
first girl I've ever met that I'd want
Walt to marry"
The girl blushed and her eyes glis-
tened
"You know" Mrs. Chandler contin-
ued proudly. "Walts my boy-and I'm
hoping you'll blush like that when he
sees you. He's coming home soon."
Autumn had come to Maple square
and found Mrs. Chandler well on the
road to complete recovery. Propped
up In cOZy armchair before the large
bay window, she watched in excited
anticipation the children shufiing
the gutter. She was thinking of her
son. expected that day, and of the
debt she owed this girl who had taken
her into her home and heart. Truly
she had learned goodness was more
than living straight-it was loving
gentleness and generous kindness.
Look" she cried out, striving to
rise from her armchair. "there comes
Walt! Call to him before he passes
by! QuickI"
And Mrs. Chandler was due to an
other shock as she saw her stalwart
son enfold the newcomer In his arms
just as II he had done 1t many times
before.
"Sure, mother" ne was explaining
once again, didn't we know how you
distrusted all girls7 So we hit upon
the plan of Little Sweetheart coming
here first-for knew she'd make you
love her"
Mrs. Chandler smiled through her
tears. "She's done more than that,
Walt"