Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-25
The Dailv
Short Story
HER ONE ROMANCE.
by Ruth Evelyn Peterss,

walter! Walter"
"sh-h!" ordered Miss Doroth, n.
den, and waved scarf toward thu 9.
wire cage hung from the top d \.
porch.
She flushed and was generallA
barrassed, for some one was peess..
the house, and Miss Worden WA ~.
sitive soul and experienced a ce,,sL
sense OF outlines. But to the pesss.
by the sudden outburst OF Mfss ~.
denis well-known parrot conyeyed {.
secret. A name, and a common ~
had no particular significance to nm,
lightened ears.
There had been an nour AZ ami.
rare romance in the lonely life Of M
Worden. but she had hidden It's defssi.
and even its memories from all ~,
siders. She was 80 and desiguatsd !.
an old maid.
Fate had been kind to her. A brce.
err, fortunate in his business aiiair
and generous in his gifts to hin al.
sister, had provided her with 4 co,,
home and settled income. She -.
! naturally sweet tempered, she had ~
allowed her sympathies to grow -
and she was the favorite and conft~,
of all the younger set Of the town
Lovers had passed her by. For m
years after girlhood the care Of her n.
valid mother had taken all her tim.
and interest. By that time she ~.
2S, and with sigh she had accepta
the inevitable.
| Il am quite on the SHELF" she told
one of her near and dear friends "And
that is not very sad fate, for have
never had time to think Of love ana
cherish any romance memories"
But sentiment came to Miss Worden
with visit for two weeks at a summer
resort. The doctor had advised her
that she needed and deserved a cham
and rest after the death Of her moth.
er. It was one day while strolling down
the beach that well-dressed but m.
obtrusive gentleman half paused a he
passed her. She was seated watchirr
the waves and the sporters in the suff
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, If l have made 4 min.
take" he said courteously, "but IN
you not Dorothy Worden-forgivs NJ,
Miss Worden?
THAT is my name" acknowledge
the lady. May ask"
But his clear, honest face had Be.
come radient. 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,
Il don't wonder. l made little impress
sion with my personality when ! was
a boy, less as l drudged along - q
man. l am an old schoolmate Of yours
l am Walter Clyde"
He rface lit up in turn. All, she fully
remembered him now! 1t was Ike
traversing a page from an old treas
ured book to go over the incidents Of
their early childhood. She recalled
how he had spelled her down, and be
related an incident where he had been
punished for some trivial fault and
she had waited to go home with him
and comfort him. 1t was a delightful
week for these two lonely ones. He
told her of his daily work. He was 3
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 tho
dear old days of childhood.
II am coming to see you next time
Tmy route covers Milton" he told her,
and when they parted Dorothy felt y
though suddenly she had been turned
away from newly found paradise.
I And when Miss Worden got home u
was a comfort to speak his. name 70
herself. But wise old Polly heard her
and hence the call. loud and mischH-
ious, whenever he observant parrot
comprehended that it teased her.
1t was three months later when
lonely man turned his face In the d.
rection of Milton. He had his l0ngings
to see his old-time school friend. be
had his misgivings also. Somelov
) that chance meeting with Miss Wof-
den had filled his life with new inter
est. Did he exaggerate in his concep
ton of the warm interest she haa
I'evinced in his affairs? That mieM
have been simply friendly and court
. eous act.
Walter Clyde reached Milton and "
quired his way to the WOrden hoAs
He located it. The neat rose-scenla
gatden, the vine-embowered cot1@
enchanted him. He found Miss Woroeh
absent from home, probably sh0ppns
} in town or visiting neighbor. ne !.
down on the porch step, wondering
he would be welcome.
Walter, Waiter!"
He started to his feet At first DC
believed it was Miss .Worden Gains
him. Then he noticed the parrot IN =
cage hanging from the porch ceiling,
. Walter! Walter," He began tniul,
ing. A most agreeable smile GRO
, his face. He was q slow man. puls
reasoner. Had Miss Worden taugnt Us
clever bird to speak his name!
"I'll wait-I'll stay" he soliloqullsl
why not? The bird spoke my nan
Sort of friendly and tender. too. "
lady. perhaps she has made CIV \.
dant of the bird and really-fesM
likes me-
She loved him, and he knew TINS
fore he went away, buoyed up via y
happy knowledge that when sam
, came again she would be his ha19
bride.