Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-29
THE GOOSE GIRL.
se$<sses
ny LOUISE OLIVER.

khaki felt very queer and lonely ~
the Especial" pulled out OF the sta
ton.
. First. soldering was new business
10 him. The red. white and blue silk
cord on his hat teafhed 10 that. for
that II the insignia Of the officer stu
dent who has yet TO wcrk for and earn
his commission.
y Second. every man on the train
I'D anywhere from one 10 twenty
lie &c see him on. except Dick.
But II had all come up so suddenly
And with the family out In the Cana
dian Rockies. not a 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
lion to read. smoke. talk or play
cards. rs 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 nj functions and
large towns. where new recruits got
on.
Suddenly there was n lurch and a
stop at q place where no stop was
evidently lntended-that Is, where-no
stop was marked on regular sched-
| ules for either through or commut-
Ing trains. But ever after Dick knew
that In the signal tower of Destin's
Domlnions an order had gone out for
the train to stop right there beside
meadow In which shee? were
placidly grazing. row OF gray geese
were clumsily and hastily retreating-
and n beautiful grny-eyed girl IN blue
gingham 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 in a quite friendly /
manner. he ceased cropping In that
bottomlcss region Of loneliness.
The engine whistled then and pre-
pared 10 depart. Good luckl" she |
called. II was meant for Dick.
Much obliged" he called hack, APP |
probation showing in his eyes.
"where are you goingT" asked the
girl, as the train didn't move.
Georgia" said Dick. Fort ogle-
thorpe"
"oh." said the girl, 'thats splendid.
know lots Of people there"
| The train whlstled again warnlngly,
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
fering up 10 his window.
Here, take her for n mascot" she |
said, kissing the top Of the astonlshed
and indignant fowls head. "Call her
Katherine" she said.
Katherine IL IS" answered Dick.
gratefully. He knew that she knew
be had asked herpame and been given
II.
The engine whistled again. This
time the train pulled out, with wav-
ings and good-bys. Dick. clasping
Katherine tightly in his arms, felt like
singing for pure Joy.
Days. weeks months OF hard trnin-
Ing ensued. There were hours Of dis
couragement and inconsistencies and
misgivings for what was ahead.
But the old gray goose, the com
pany mascot, was a real source of
comfort TO the young man who
thought often OF the real gray-eyed
Katherine, somewhere up in Ohio.
One day-a Sunday afternoon, when
he was of duty and feeling particu-
larry lonely-he had picked up the
goose and gone OF down the road.
Later one Of his captains coming up
quietly and unexpectedly. heard him
talking 20 some one. and peering over
the fence. found Dick addressing his
pet.
katherine, you're the most ador-
able person l ever saw. Your eyes
heavens, such eyes | can't sleep for
thinking Of them. And your smile
wonder II III ever see you smile
again7 | must see you. I've got 10
see you. that's all. II ! hunt the |
world over. I'm going 20 be made
captain. Katherine, because you wish
ed me good luck. I've worked for
you-just for you. Really"
"Hey, youi" called the captain. II
was conduct quite unbecomlng an Of
flcer. hut A actually Is what he said.
Dick sprang 70 his feet and salut-
ed, noticing the letter In his superb
or's hand.
"How you two hit It up. don't
know. hut Kit writes To me to hunt
MP a maa with a gray goose and
bring him home for Thanksgiving |
dinner. She doesn't say whether she |
means you or the goose. but here's |
hoping" He grinned.
XoeharIua Kafharlna I'll have |