Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-02-22
Her
One Romance
Copyright. 1917. western Newspaper Union,
By RUTH EVELYN PETERSON

wire cage hung from the top of the
porch.
She flushed and was generally en-
barrassed, for some n was passing
the house, and Miss Worden was a SEN
sitive soul and experienced a certain
sense of guiltiness. But to the passer-
by the sudden outburst of Miss Wor-'
den's well-known parrot conveyed no
secret. A name, and a common oner
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
err, fortunate in his business affairs
and generous In his gifts to his only
sister, had provided her with a cozy
home and a settled income. She vas
naturally sweet tempered, she had not
allowed her sympathies to grow old
and she was the favorite and confidant
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 a sigh she had
accepted the inevitable.
ST am quite on the Shelf" she told
one of her heal and deal friends. "And
that is not a very sad fate, for I 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 a summer
resort. The doctor had advised her
that she needed and deserved q change
and a rest after the death of her moth
er. 1t was one day while strolling down
the beach that a w~ell-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, If 1 have made a mis-
take" he said courteously, but are
you not Dorothy Worden-forgive me,
Miss Worden?"
"That is my name," acknowledged
the lady. "May I ask"
But his clear, honest face had be-
come radiant. He extended his hand
readily and, somehow won with those
friendly earnest eyes, she allowed her
to rest in his.
Essktu don't remember me" he smiled.
81 don't wonder. / made little impress
sion with my personality when I was
a boy, less as I drudged along as a
man. I am an old schoolmate of yours.
I am Walter Clyde"
Her face lit up in turn, All, she fully
remembered him now! 1t was like
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 he
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 a
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 o 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 it
was q comfort to speak his name to
herself. But wise old Polly heard her,
and hence the call, loud and mischiev-
Gus, whenever the observant parrot
comprehended that it leased her.
1t was three months later when a
lonely man turned his face in the d.
rection of Milton. He had his longings
to see his old-time school friend. He
had his misgivings also. Somehow
that chance meeting with Miss Wor-
den had filed his life with a new inter-
est. Did he ~exaggerate in his concep7
tion of the warm interest she had
| evinced in his affairs? That might have
been simply a friendly and courteous
act.
Walter Clyde reached Milton and in-e
quired his way to the Worden home
He located it. The neat rose-scented
garden, the vine-embowered cottage en-
chanted him. He found Miss Worden
absent from home, probably shopping
in town or visiting a neighbor. He sat
downson the porch step, wondering if
he would be welcome.
"Walter !! Walter"
He started to his feet. At first he
believed it was Miss Worden calling
him. Then he noticed the parrot in it's
cage hanging from the porch ceiling.
walter! Walter - He began think
Ing. A most agreeable smile crossed