The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-21
THE VOICE
BY HELENA M. KINNEY.

The train rolled slowly out of the
station, leaving a girl standing on the
platform. Nellie Windsor was fifteen
years old. Her mother and father
were dead and she had no one but
Uncle 10 and Aunt Betty. Uncle 10
had written her to come and live with
fnm-and here she was. 1t was fully
ten minutes before Uncle 10 came,
and when he did he gave her hearty
kiss and lifted her into the buggy and
off they went. Arriving at the farm,
she found Aunt Betty waiting on the
porch for her, and such dear old
lady she was. 1t was then $50 o'clock
and the rest of the afternoon was
spent in unpacking her clothes and
learning the rounds of the house.
After supper she went directly to bed,
because she was tired from her long
| journey.
The next afternoon she wandered
around, picking flowers, chasing but
terflies, and, gathering an apron full
Of apples, she went down to the little
brock. Tt was nice and cool and she
was enjoying herself when-"Hello, -
said voice. She looked up, but saw
no one.
Il say, hello" again came the voice !;
this time it seemed to come from the
tree that was across the brook.
Hello yourself" replied Nellie.
Where are you?"
up here in the tree" said the voice.
"Come down." she said.
ssNope," answered the voice. No
amoHnt of teasing would make the
voice come down. 1t was getting late,
SO Nellie said: "If / come here tomor-
row will you let me see who you are?''
| maybe" replied the voice. So Mel
lie scampered up the hill and home.
But she was not to see the owner of
the voice tomorrow, for when she got
+ up the next morning it was raining.
| Uncle 10 came in at dinner, time
with an invitation for Nellie to spend
the afternoon with the Browns, who
/ lived across the field. Slowly she
went upstairs to dress, sorry because
she could not go down to the brook,
but maybe it would be there some
other time; SO with this happy thought
/ In mind she was soon ready, and
Uncle 10 took her over to the Browns
She was rather shy, being among
strangers, but Mrs. Brown soon put
her at ease. Molly Brown was Mel
lies age, and they took to each other
right away. While they were sitting
talking about nothing in particular the
/ doorbell rang and Molly's mother went
and admitted five young people who
had come to spend the afternoon
Soon a boy about year older than
herself came in and was introduced
as Billy Brown. What a good time
she had, and what nice girls and boys
they were! But Billy-where had
she heard that voice? The afternoon
/ passed all too quickly and when the
/ guests rose to go Mrs. Brown shook
hands with them ALL and so did Molly
and Billy. When Nellie arrived home
she could not help thinking what q
nice boy Billy was, and she blushed
her hand tiny. unnecessary squeeze
i The days that followed were the
happiest ones she had ever had. Long
!, rambIes with Molly and the Tucker
twins, picnics, and often she would &C
for long walks with Billy. She likel
Billy very much and Billy liked Nellie
But she did not forget the voice. Ev
cry day she would go down to thu
brook and talk and talk with it. She
would tell it of the nice time she was
!, having and went SO far as to tell Il
of Billy. Thus two weeks passed OF
and Nellie thought she was never go
ing to see the voice, when one day
the voice told her that she would SCI
I it tomorrow, sure. To be sure Nelli,
was there at the appointed time ant
the voice said, IF come down will
! you promise to give me one thing?'
Wondering what 1t could be, but Gu
, rious to see the voice, as she hat
called 1t, she readily said, "Yes."
, slid down the tree and there stood
Billy!
'You-you-w she gasped. Bill.
smiled and said, "Your promise" Sh,
J was so surprised she did not know
what to say. At length she said
what do you want?"
"a kiss" he replied.
"Oh-h!" and she turned to flee III
the hill, but Billy like a flash caugh
her. 1t was useless for her to try t,
get away, even if she wanted to.
Copyright. 1917. Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.
Here She Goes, There She Goes.
Frank c. Daley, attorney, tells tn