The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-04-11
Her
One Romance
3, RUTH EVELYN PETERSON


wire cage hung from the top OF the
porch.
She flushed and was generally en-
barrassed, for some one was passing
the house. and Miss Worden was SEN
sitive soul and experienced a certain
sense of outlines. But to the passer-
by the sudden outburst Of Miss Wor-
den's well-known parrot conveyed no
secret. A name, and common one,
had no particular significance to unen-
lightened ears.
There had been an hour Of quite
rare romance in the lonely life OF Miss
Worden, but she had hidden its details
and even its memories from all out
siders. She was thirty and designated
as an old maid.
Fate had been kind to her. A broth
er, fortunate in his business affairs
and generous In his gifts to his only
sister. had provided her with coy
home and a settled income. She was
naturally sweet tempered, she had not
allowed her sympathies to grow old
ana she WIS llle ldNulllc uhu NohhuoAh
Of all the younger set of the town.
Lovers had passed her by. For six
years after girlhood the care Of her in
valid mother had taken all her time
and interest. BY that time she was
twenty-eight, and with sigh she had
accepted the inevitable.
II am quite on the Shelf" she told
one Of her near and dear friends. "And
that is not a very sad fate, for / have
never had time to think Of love and
cherish any romance memories"
But sentiment came to Miss Worden
with a visit for two weeks at q summer
resort. The doctor had advised her
that she needed and deserved change
and a rest after the death Of her moth
er. 1t was one day while strolling down
the beach that a well-dressed but unob-
trusive gentleman half paused as he
passed her. She was seated watching
the waves and the sporters in the surf
when the same man passed her. She
noted that he slowed down in his pace.
he hesitated, then he lifted his hat
and approached her.
pardon me, II I have made a mis-
take" he said courteously, but are
you not Dorothy Worden-forgive me.
Miss wordenT
'That is my name" acknowledged
the lady. May I ask"
But his clear, honest face had be-
rome radiant. He extended his hand
readily and, somehow won with those
friendly earnest eyes, she allowed her
own to rest In his.
"You don't remember me-" he smiled.
II don't wonder. I made little impress
sion with my personality when I was
a boy, less as / drudged along as q
man. am an old schoolmate Of yours.
I am Walter Clyde"
Her face lit up in turn, All, she fully
remembered him nowi 1t was like
travefsing a page from an old treas
ured book to 60 over the incidents of
their early childhood. She recalled
how he had spelled her down. and he
related an incident where he had been
punished for some trivial fault and
she had waited to 60 home with him
and comfort him. 1t was delightful
week for these two lonely ones. he
told her Of his daily work. he was q
travelling salesman, and she In turn ap-
priced him of her life history since they
had parted. Playfully he called her
Dorothy, and asked her to address
him as Walter, as she had done In the
dear old days of childhood.
81 am coming to see you next time
my route covers Milton" he told her
and when they parted Dorothy felt as
though suddenly she had been turned
away from a newly found paradise.
And when Miss Worden got home II
was a comfort to speak his name t.
herself. But wise old Polly heard her
and hence the call, loud and mischiev
Gus, whenever the observant parro
comprehendedt that 1t teased her.
1t was three months later when &
lonely man turned his face In the di
rection of Milton. He had his longing!
to see his old-time school friend. HI
had his misgivings also. Somehow
that chance meeting with Miss Wor
den had filled his life with new inter
est. Did he exaggerate In his concep
don Of the warm interest she hat
evinced in his affairs2 That might hav'
been simply a friendly and courteou
act.
Walter Clyde reached Milton and in
Quired his way to the Worden home
He located II. The neat rose-scente,
garden, the vine-embowered cottage en-
chanted him. He found Miss Wordel
absent from home, probably shoppin
In town or visiting a neighbor. He sa
down on the porch step, wondering
he would be welcome.
"Walteri Walter!"
He started to his feet. At first b
believed 1t was Miss Worden calm
him. Then he noticed the parrot in 1t
cage hanging from the porch ceiling.
walter! Walterw He began thinh
Ing. A most agreeable smile crosse
his face. He was a slow man, but
reasoner. Had Miss Worden taught tn
clever bird to speak his name?
"Tll wait-In stay" he soliloquizet
, why notf The bird spoke my name
/, Sort Of friendly and tender, too. Dea
ladyl perhaps she has made a conf
dant Of the bird and really-reall