The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-06-13
THE GOOSE GIRL,
s~@~~~~~
BY LOUISE OLIVER.
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=, 'Vi III MS new uniform o.
hnaki teit very queer and lonely a,
.ne special" pulled out of the sta
ton.
FIRST, soldering was new busines,
10 MIN. The red, white and blue sill
cora on his hat testified to that 70,
.hat Is the Insignia Of the officer stu
dent who has yet to work for and carr
MS commission.
second, every man on the train
nad had anywhere from one to twenty
people tic see him off, except Dick
But 1t had all come up so suddenly
ana with the family out In the Cana
oian Rockies. not person had been
there to wish him God-speed.
Things settled down in the rain
AFTER departure. Men searched for
friends, found them. talked a while
and then retired to their own sec
tion to read, smoke, talk or play
cards, as the spirit moved them.
DICK knew some of the men slightly.
out did not feel inclined TO talk. The
feeiing of isolation had gripped him
hard.
The train slid away, making very
Few stops, save at functions and
large towns, where new recruits got
on.
Suddenly there was a lurch and a
stop at place where no stop was
evidently intended-that is, where no
stop was marked on regular sched-
ules for either through or commut-
Ing trains. But ever after Dick knew
that In the signal tower of Destin's
Dominions an order had gone out for
the train to stop right there beside
a meadow In which sheep were
placidly grazing, a row of gray geese
were clumsily and hastily retreating-
and a beautiful gray-eyed girl in blue
gfngham was looking over a fence.
Right then and there something
Topped into the void in Dicks heart.
And when through the open window
mis- eyes finally held hers and she
smiled and nodded in a quite friendly
manner, he ceased cropping in that
bottomless region of loneliness.
The engine whistled then and pre-
pared to depart. "Good luck !" she
called. 1t was meant for Dick.
much obliged" he called back, ap-
probation showing In his eyes.
where are you going?" asked the |
girl, as the train didn't move.
Georgia" said Dick. Fort Ogle-
thorpe"
"Oh," said the girl. that's splendid.
l know lots of people there"
The train whistled again warningly.
and the procession of geese. which had
taken courage and returned to the
fence, started on their second retreat.
Suddenly the girl stopped and pick
ed up the big. fat leader In her arms.
and protesting. Before
Dick knew what she was doing. she
was over the fence, holding her Of
'ering up TO his window.
Here. take her for Il mascot" she
aid, kissing the top of the astonished
md indignant fowls head. Call her
she said.
katherine 1t Is" answered Dick,
He knew that she knew
e had asked her name and been given
/.
Ime the train pulled out. with wav-
lgs and good-bys. Dick. casping
catherine tightly in his arms. felt like
nging for pure JOY.
DAYS, weeks. months of hard train
lg ensued. There were hours of dis
engagement and inconsistencies and
isgiyings for what was ahead.
But the old gray goose. the com
any mascot, was a real source Of
,mfort TO the young man who
fought often of the real gray-eyed
atherine. somewhere up in Ohio.
One day-a Sunday afternoon. when
; was off duty and feeling particu-
riy lonely-he had picked up the
,ose and gone off down the road. .
ater one of his captains coming up
lietly and unexpectedly, heard him
liking to some one. and peering over
e fence, found Dick addressing his
It.
"Katherine, you're the most ador-
lie person 1 ever saw. Your eyes
avens, such eyes, 1 can't sleep for
mixing Of them. And your smile.
wonder II I'll ever see you smile
ain? I must see you. I've got to y
Q you, that's ell. If l hunt the
,rld over. Tn going to be made q
plain, Katherine. because you wish q
me good luck. I've worked for =
u-just for you. Really"
Hey. you!" called the captain 1t n
IS conduct quite unbecoming an Of
er. but II actually Is what he said.
Dick sprang to his feet and salut- a.
noticing the letter In his superb 4
s hand. Az
How you two hit 1t up, I don't p
ow. but Kit writes to me to hunt 81
a man with a gray goose and ot
ng him home for Thanksgiving n
.ner. She doesn't say whether she N
ans you or the goose, but here's 81
ping" He grinned.
oh. Katherine. Katherine. I'll have of
kiss you for that" said Dick. and SO
king up the old goose he kissed m
top of her head where the girls
, had once rested. -
hen he held out his hand. TEL N
I'll come" he said gratefully. ne