Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-05-22
A SPRING MEETING
Ely HlLDA MORRIS.
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate.)

Sdld excursions OF some sort, shop
ping for new summer clothes, rowing
IN the park or going to the movies
with John or Gerald. Some of them,
carefully powdered and with their
hair arranged modestly to conceal the
ears, stepped out to meet young men
at the doorway, tall young men in
khaki, short young men in spring
suits, jackies in tight-ftting blue.
only Sally set forth alone and with
nothing planned for the afternoons
enjoyment.
1t had been so different the week
before! Then she, too, had met her
soldier; she, too, had looked forward
to happy afternoon. And then some
one had told her about him. Ut
seemed that he wasn't just plain John
Strong. He was the John Strong, son
or the millionaire whose gray stone
palace crowned the top of one of the
citys beautiful hills. He had once
been reported engaged to Evelyn
Carey, the bankers daughter, and
rumor had it that even now he was
counting the daughter of the governor
OF the state. What use could he have
for plain, poor little Sally Graham?
If he thought she was that kind Of
girl! So Sally concluded that she
would simply have to put him out Of
her mind and resolve never to see
him again.
Ihls, however, was easier said than
done. He had not called her up that
Saturday, so there had been no occa-
sion for putting her resolve into icy
tones. One couldn't think over on
busy street, so she boarded a street
car and rode to the edge Of town, to
strike off briskly down country
road.
Country roads in springtime are
more delectable than the most gor-
geous of stage scenery or the most be-
W1tching of shops. There is some
thing about a springtime road that
seems to declare that it is a setting
for happiness, for youth, for hope and
health and radiance
Its funny so few people are out
here on day like this % she said to
herself. II should think every one
would be, and especially people with
cars. [ haven't met a SOUL"
But as she spoke there was the
sound of motor in the distance, and
Sally stepped aside to wait until it
had passed. 1t was big gray car,
and in it there was a girl alone. Sally
looked at her little wistfully. She
was a pretty, well-dressed girl. Her
bright eyes met Sally's with some
thing like a friendly smile as she
swept by, leaving a faint trail of dust.
II suppose the governors daughter
looks like that" Sally thought.
The afternoon went all too swiftly.
Sally walked and walked, following
the lure of the winding road that al
ways had some surprise waiting for
her around the very next turn. But
at last it was time to start back, and
she found that she was unexpectedly
very tired. She had come farther
than she thought.
And then, once more there came
the sound of a motor. 1t was the big
gray car with the pretty girl in it
again. 1t came on smoothly and
swiftly.
aren't you going back to town."
the girl called to Sally. "Don't you
want to rider"
Almost before she knew it Sally
was seated beside her. spinning swift
ly over the road that she had walked.
They chatted amiably, of the
weather, outdoor sports, the pleasures
of walking. The strange girl was
amazingly friendly. Sally felt a lits
tie say at first, but no shyness could
refrain from melting before the frank
simplicity of the others manner. She
was utterly charming, with the sort
of frank, sincere manner that remind
ed Sally so much of John Strong. Of
course the girl belonged to his kind of
people. No wonder he should love a
girl like thatl The wonder was that
he had ever seen anything attractive
about Sally, in her plain little suit
with her shy, unsophisticated manner.
At least so Sally thought.
Suddenly the big car slowed down
at a curb.
There's my brother" said its own
er. Hes waving me to stop. No,
don't get out, please. I'll drive you
on down as far as the square; there's
plenty of ROOM"
Sally sat still with her heart beat
ing swiftly. He was coming through
the crowd, his tall khaki figure con-
spicuous among all the others. He
came straight toward them and got
in-beside Sally.
"Why, Sally Graham!" he ex-
claimed. 'T've been looking for you
all the afternoon I didn't know you
knew my sister. I've been telling her
all about you, but"
"And I didn't know this was Sally
Graham" the sister broke in smiling.
"I've been dying to meet you, Miss
Graham, and I'm glad we did it in
this way. I'm sure it couldn't have
happened more pleasantly. John has
told me so much about you"
aT u-ondarv broke in John SfrOxty