Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-07-11
Claudia
Substitute
By AGNES C. BRocAN
Copyright. 1919. BY Western Newspaper unioDl

Claudia made her way out of the
gloomy station and looked anxiously
from beneath her umbrella for a
north-bound car,
II would have been nicer for Aunt
TO have sent the car to meet her. she
soliloquized, than to have taken her
own suggestion that the trolley would
save trouble. Enaconced in the back
seat, Ciaudia tried to recall a long
past visit al this same aunt's home.
She had been child then, and the
recollection was OF exaggerated gran
deur. Probably the white marble.
silken curtain memories, were not as
fine as they had seemed.
The house was one Of solid block.
Claudia remembered, their shining pill
lars and plate glass windows, all ex-
actly alike 1t had been q brief
fairyland to her, the magic buttons
which instantly flooded the wainscot-
ed rooms with light, the luxurious
depths of great chairs.
Claudia's life had been of simple
sameness. how rarely simple she could
not appreciate. There were the same
sweet smelling roses peeping over the
trellis at her own bedroom window
each summer the continued stiffness
and restfulness of the wide-spreading
garden. Claudia's parents had gone
so long ago that grandmother in her
lavenders seemed always to have been
part of the picture. When grand
mother was vaguely perplexed by the
realization that their small income had
vanished, Claudia had taken her place
as teacher in the village school.
Regularly she waved good-by to
grandmother each morning, and start
ed upon her journey to the hilltop
where the school building stood.
Claudia had expected to spend the be
ginning of the coming year like all
others, when Aunt Chalmers letter of
invitation opened vista of promise.
Don't count upon me-" Claudia
wrote in reply. but if can find sub
stitute to teach for me, I'll just run
into the city New Years eve"
And she had found the substitute.
"Glen court" called the conductor
Claudia alighted and passed down be-
fore the impressive block of white
houses. The heavy rain had turned
daylight to dusk.
Claudia went up the steps Of what
appeared to be No. 70, but no one was
forthcoming to answer her ring. More
over, drawn blinds and an air Of in
zled. she passed farther down the line
to what again appeared to be No. 70.
This time her welcome was assured.
A white-aproned maid opened the
door Immediately, requested Claudia
to 60 at once to her room.
'It's the side ROOM" the girl ex-
planned. you viii find everything
ready there"
She had barely removed her hat
when a voice called enormously, and
the voice becoming persistent in
its wordless sound, she went at once
into the wide front chamber.
A mans face looked pleadingly back
at her from the rumpled pillows of a
bed
THANK the Lord y he exclaimed fe-
verishly. you've comet" Without
awaiting a reply he hurried on: 81
think they've been phoning for nurse
all day. Because of this epidemic not
one is to be found. And. because Of
the fear Of Tiny housekeeper de-
parted this morning. Marie stayed
long enough to let you in. You'll find
her gone, too, no doubt. when you go
downstairs Can you get in some one
to help you? A nurse. / know. cannot
be expected to do everything"
A sudden smile flashed across the
sick mans face. This is where a
wife would be an advantage. Wives
don't desert a fellow when he's sick,
do they? You" he looked up at
Claudia in quick alarm-"you won't
leave me, viii you. nurse, until-T
mo, she answered quietly. II will
stay with you as long-as you need
me-"
Thanks" breathed the man; he lay
back YEARLY
In the fire-lighted room OF the silent
house again she smiled as she slipped
the white apron about her waist and
picked up the hot-water bottle. 1t
had after all been her Aunt's house
from which she had turned away. she
was not expected there. And if there
was this need Of her presence at No.
rs. she would remain. end be equal to
that need
At midnight. the man with the visit
ful eyes and the grateful smile slept
comfortably upon his smooth, cool pill
low. Claudia as she went into the IN
familiar, deserted kitchen. hummed
hymn-tune and heated his broth. And
as the bells of the city announced the
new years birth, she wondered. smil-
ing, If its adventurous coming might
not signal a change in the routine of
her life.
Already the simple regularity SEEM
ed a thing long past.
Nurse" called the man, and she
swiftly assembled the stairs.
When Mrs. Chalmers returned later