Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-07
The Daily
Short Story
THE ANGEL-UNAWARR.
By Madge Weston.

|
an again." she said. always gala
wanting around dressed up and
fancy, when she might be doing
some good to somebody. The la
dies at the Aid were saying yes
| terday she'd never been near a
meeting, and she here all summer.
Every day, an Sundays too-some-
times during church hour, she goes
| swinging along into the country.
Velvet skirts and big fur collars,
| hummin' to herself as If there was
no trouble in the world. Coaxing
| along the Johnson's woolly dog
sometimes-act like child out for
play. Folks have no patience with
her around here, don't scarcely re
turn her bow.
THE frivolous don't find much
welcome in our busy town. Folks
| has other things to do. But, there
=" Miss Burrows broke of sharp
| ", "tisnt likely you've noticed the
girl from Barker's, or know whom
I'm talking about"
DIR. Tom Burrows had noticed
the girl.
Tom Burrows admired The girls
\ pretty, serious gaze. He delighted
in her sudden, flashing smile.
Johnson's wooliy dog scampered
joyously at the Idle ones side. A
child at play truly, this young wom-
an-a charming. still irresponsible
child.
Mrs. Barker had introduced him
to her niece, Miss Thayer, as the
young doctor passed the house one
evening. Since then, at the girls
smile of recognition, no had been
moved many times to stop his car
| in the road and ask her to drive.
| But discretion had won the day. To
become better acquainted with this
unusually attractive personality
might be to deepen an unwise in
! terest.
Miss Thayer had come to reside
with her aunt. The townswomep-
with his sister as mouthpiece-had
( spoken. The girl was an undesir-
able element
| Doctor Tom turned the car down
an unfrequented road. Even to
/ himself he would not confess his
object. Upon this lonely road sew
eral times he had met the disfa-
yored girl-she had smiled at him.
| Now, back among the brush, he
heard an unnlistakable groan. Old
Nance, he vaguely remembered, liv-
ed there IN her tumble-doWn cot
tage. Perhaps that lazy son OF
hers had gone too far for her call
to reach. Nance used to suffer
drreadfully from rheumatism.
Again came the wailing groan.
/ to the hidden cottage.
"You doctor!" she said. "Oh! I
thought It was her."
| Herr" tho doctor questioned.
He bent alphabetically over the
! huddled figure on the cot.
Her" Nance nodded, "as comes
every day to look after me. Makes
my cup OF tea an puts food handy
/ to my bedside. Feeds the chickens,
too, she does-the angel"
/ Tom wrinkled his brows. You
refer to Miss Price, l suppose" he
said.
Miss Price was the acknowledged
village charitable worker. But old
Nance cast the same contemptu-
ously aside.
Miss Price was the acknowledged
yet" she said. But everybody left
things for Jed to do an now sence
/ Jed's gone to war"
Jed gonei" the doctor exclaimed.
"Why, l never thought of that pos
slbility. Jed-left you alone"
DO you reckon I'd hold him
back?" Nance snapped. DO You
think I'd let him stay"
But" Tom began.
With a wrinkled smile the old
woman interrupted. when Jed
went out the door," she said, IAN
angel come in"
I heard you moanin',' says the
angel. Then she didn't ask, Kin 7
90 anything" She went ahead an
did it. Land! How watch for her
like sunlight after it's rained fer
months. Sundays, too. I'd forgot
they have church down to the viii
lage, an they've forgot me. It's
SO long sence I had any way o.
gettin' down. The angel comes in
| an she opens up that old cracked
organ-ain't been played on sence
my Idle died. Then she'll sing all
them old hymn tunes, purtiest voice.
hers, reckon heaven singin' won't
sound no better to me. Angel I
call her. an when I asks her real
name she laughs an says, I like
so much to have you call me that"
Well, you are an angel, I tells
her.
oh, no. she says. Il Just like
to do little things that others have
forgot. There are so many good
workers in the world she SAYS.
dom the really big things
Reckon she'd be here right now
II she hadn't stopped to look after
the baby while Katie's bringing her
things in from the farm. Katie's
husband has gone. YOU know. to
war. The angel gives Katie a free
hour to work many time.
In the shabby doorway suddenly
girls figure appeared. a girl with
glowing cheeks and starry eyes. At
sight OF the doctor she hesitated.
Come IN dearie." the old woman
invited.
Perhaps" suggested Miss Thay-
er, Il had better 20 away now and
come back after tho Doctors visit"
But Tom Burrows settled back
In the creaky chair as one prepar-
ing for a lengthy stay.
81 shall whit here until your Visit
is over instead" he said, then
perhaps YOU viii be good enough
e - l.