The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-11-02
THE LITTLE LADY
Copyright. 1918. by Western Newspaper UniOn.J
BY JACK LAYTON.


dale called her, specializing as to her
choice of their village as a place of
habitation. With some, the words had
an affectionate sound, but there were
others who omitted the "little' and
spoke of her with
The appropriateness of the title.
however, could not be disputed.
Little lady" was the new inmate of
the old Parsons place.
Farmsdale young people were accus-
toned to labor in homes and factory,
theirs the problem of living. But the
great old Parsons place IA opened,
muslin curtains showing behind gleam-
ing windows. The tangled garden was
coaxed into order, the town boy
scouts spending their spare time in
the effort. Happily the little lady
directed them and repaid their labors.
whats she here for anyway" they
said, and How is she going to spend
her time?"
But the little lady only hummed her
tunes, bending idly over the sundial.
A young officer home from camp was
tempted to urn in at the gateway to
ask for a drink from the fountain
the day was hot.
Zone does not realize in this peace
full setting" he said, the suffering, the
privation that others are enduring
across the water. Wal seems very un-
real and far away, yet 1t is there"
The eyes of the little lady were SYM
pathetic. EYES," she agreed, but she
stopped as she spoke, to train a rose
about the sundial.
The official frowned as he went on
his way. She had been much, too
much, in his thoughts, since they had
stranger who had leased the old Par
sons place. Why should he sit in judg-
ment upon her. If she chose to re-
main carefree in times Of seriousness
and self-denial, what was that to him?
A girl stood just outside the en-
trance looking into the garden; she
was one of the girls from lie factory
and her face looked wan and tired.
IT was waitin' for you," she told the
soldier; II wanted to ask about Jim.
When do you go over to France?"
"That we cannot tell, JOSIE" the Of
ficer replied. But your brother is
feeling fine. You are a brave girl to
spare him for your country"
"The doctor thought I wouldn't be
strong enough to keep on at the fac
tory through the summer" the girl
said, "but 1 reckon I wouldn't try to
hold Jim back cause of that"
She motioned YEARLY toward the
Whitehead figure by the fountain.
Pretty soft, to be like her." said
Josie.
And as the soldier went on down
the path he paused to greet a pale
woman in a wheel chair. Her tall hus-
band propelled the chair and his tense
face frightened eagerly at sight of the
soldiers uniform.
"When are you going back to
camp?" he asked, and when upon some
pretense the wife had sent her hus-
band away she raised patient eyes to
the officers face.
Its so hard for him not to be able
to CO." she said. 'If it hadn't been for
the accident to my hip he might have
gone with the rest. l think Bert feels
tied to this chair with a ball and chain.
But If l am better, as the doctor prom
ises, next year"
"You are the kind, Nell" the soldier
exclaimed, and he pressed her hand.
Yes, she was "the kind"
Old Henry was glad to see him. He
asked, as he made way on the porch
stone, If Jed's boat had got over safe A;
Jed hadn't written yet. And If
'twa'n't for Matte here" he went on,
reckoning an old neighbor from the
next cottage, her boy Ben would
a-been in the fight too. Mattie's lame
ness held Ben back" eff l could only
get along alone,'' said the old woman
regretfully. "But I can't" she added
and sighed.
Yes, there were those in this fair
country also who realized the neces-
sity of sacrifice. AS the officer strobe
on his way he thought about these
familiar people of his boyhOOd, anxious
in the time of need to do their best.
Across his memory flashed a vision
of the little lady, but he banished the
picture with f1rm-pressed lips. There
would be one more visit to the town
before sailing; when he came again
he would avoid the road which led
past the great house, so he told him
self but that was the very road which
he chose. The grounds had been Guilt
waited wonderfully he noticed, and in
the background worked a mans bent
figure; "she" was not lingering near
the fountain. The fact brought unac-
countable disappointment. But toward
him, down a winding pathway came
Josie-Josie, brown, radiant, wheeling
an invalid chair and in the chair was
Bert's wife.
The color came and went In her
face when she saw the soldier. "COme