The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-08-12

FAIRY GODMOTHER
BY MILDRED WHITE.

Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Lnion-l
MoIlie raised her face from the gayly
colored book to look at the child. Eag-
erly the young-old eyes regarded her.
You may take this home and keep
it, DEAR" said Mollie, "a voyage into
the pleasant unrealities will not hurt
you. When ] was little girl, loved
the story of the fairy godmother who
brings to the poor maiden ell that aer
heart could DESIRE" She smiled as the
shabby little figures went joyously
down the street.
ut takes SO little to make them
happy" murmured MoIlie. Whimsical
ly her thoughts went back to the fairy
godmother. What convenient old crea-
lures they were, happening along at
the opportune moment, returning some
passing kindness by changing a hut
into castle, or bringing fairy prince
to claim his own. In real life all was
so different. Here she was, after years
OF faithful attendance upon Aunt
DrusilIa, left alone in the small cot
tage, 1t being her own only upon condi-
ton that she remain as tenant.
"Oh for fairy godmother," sighed
Mollie to the yellow cat, then she went
to open the door. A bent old figure
stood knocking, and Mollie smiled at
her own fanciful thought as the
wrinkled face peered into her own.
docs Miss Drusilla Wentworth live
here" quavered sweet old voice.
"No," Mollie answered hesitatingly.
In quick comprehension the woman
nodded.
"Gone. / suppose" she said, like all
the rest"
Z "Yes," murmured Mollie.
She was a friend Of mine years
ago." the woman explained: tive went
to school together"
wont you come INF" urged the girl
The visitor sighed as she sat before
the sitting room fire. ut has been a
tiresome journey" she said; II ought
not to have come alone. But-they
were all SO against my coming. Who
are you, my dear?'' she asked abruptly,
and Mollie told her.
We'll, If You are Drusilla's niece
the soft voice went on, you must have
heard of Martha Manton"
Il heard" Mollie said, that she went
away long years ago, to be married"
The old lady laughed softly. "And
now" she said, "she wants to come
back" Again the keen eyes searched
the girls face. II think will tell you
about 1t.
"My son has to go to war. He's my
baby, If he is thirty years old-and it's
very hard. Tom thought that / would
be comfortable during his absence at
my married sons home, but" The
old lady threw out her wrinkled hands
and smiled. 81 didn't seem to fit in.
At least, could not fit, in bedroom
where the steam heat does not work.
And It's lonely spending evenings with
your thoughts, while all the others are
at dances or theaters, SO / told
them was going back to my home
town to stay with an old friend; and
the only friend could think of was
Drusilla."
The girl arose briskly. "Well, take
of your cloak" she said, land give
your bag to me. Perhaps you will
stay, say, for a week with Drusilla' S
niece. I am lonely, too, and IL we find
we like each other"
"Ohl" cried the visitor relievedly
"may r really stay for awhile, could
you bear with an old body like mel
You could call up my son In the city
and find out all about me, dearie-"
Impulsively Mollie bent and clasped
the trembling hands. "Why," she
laughed, II don't need to find out the
first thing about you; you're going to
be my fairy godmother I"
1t was pleasant coming in of an eve
ming to find the lamp burning and the
silvery head bent busily over Mollie's
own sewing. Or to sing at the piano
to joyously appreciative listener.
Pleasant, too, for the young and old
faces to smile at each other across the
widespread table.
"Why. this is home at last, "
breathed the girl.
This is my home," said the older
woman.
And you will stayY' begged Mollie,
when the first week was up.
The answer was interrupted by a
summons to the front door. Past Mol
lie, into the parlor strobe mans sol
dier-cIad figure.
~Motherl" burst out the man
whatever did you mean by running
away? John wired to camp, and ]
had leave of absence to come back.
Why. mother!'
"Dearie," she entreated. "don't make
me go to Johns home again; here am
loved and wanted"
II want her very much" agreed Mol
lie. And so. miraculously, during the
soldiers three days Of absence, Mollie
had two guests.
Eve had to dismiss our city servants
and close up our big place." the man
told her; "too much of a care for
mother"
MOllie stared ''You must come and
stay with us some time-after the war
is over" he went on. 'sYou don't know
what load you have lifted from my
heart. Leaving her happy makes 1t SO
much easier, and" steadily his eyes