Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-30
AN AIR ROMANCE
BY CAROL GAY.


The little brown cottage had four oc-
cupants, stout and comedy matron
whom the neIghbors called Mother
NJ and her three daughters. Els
ther. Elspeth and Jean. They were.
one and all, tall and most divInely fair.
Theirs was The straight. virils beauty
In the wilds. clear-eysd and goddess
like, And they were one and all de-
lIciously youthful. In fact Esther
was twentysone.f Elspeth twenty, and
Jean seventeen. shlck braids still down
her back.
Gather was the tallest and the most
beautiful.
Elspeth was slim and always clad
In black, IN memory OF lover. war
killed. with tender gray eyes, over
flowing always with love and kindli-
ness; wide. smiling red lips; poor girl.
she had taught those lips TO smile
again, with steady, patient resolution.
and coronet Of glossy chestnut
braids.
And Jeani Jean, her starry eyes
forever aglow. was the brightest ray
| OF Mother Ms halo.
Each Sunday eve as Esther depart
cd after her weekend visit. stiff and
starched. with full vallse. Jean
would gaze at her with wistfulness
and whisper: "oh. you are so fortu-
nate, Essie.
II was on Monday. Jean would.
never forget that epoch-maklng date !
It was stormy and Esther had con-
cluded not 10 set forth until Tuesday.
Old Widow W was III Of lum-
bago, with not soul to care for her.
Prepare basket, and we will go
to her at once. No help indeed T!
Twas Widow W made my we'd
ding gown. I'll pay her In full for all
her kindliness." declared the kindly
Mother NJ, as she tied on her
bonnet.
And Jean, eager for the trip, obey
cd with alacrity.
The widow made comfortable, and
her mother securely installed In the
humble abode, Jean resumed her ul-
ster and catching up her empty bas-
ket sped toward home.
Not n hundred feet from the Wild
ow's cottage, Jean. peering through
the thick fog, discerned an unfamiliar
object on the ground. She drew near
err. An enormous eagle? No. an air
planet Jean observed II fascinated
ly. II was poised on one wing. The
rest was shattered. Then Jean stepped
back in wlde-eyed horror. A still,
straight form beneath
The man was not dead, mol "But
he was badly injured" said Doctor
B. as he bent over the boyish
white face on the pillow. Lucky that
the girl happened along and called
you, mother, else the lad might have
dIedr
Jehn, encouraged by his manner,
asked In a small. frightened voice, II
the patient could be moved TO her own
home; explaining that there was
scarce room for the widow and her
attendant, much less for the aviator
and Jean, IN the small cottage.
"we will see, we will see. Perhaps
when he Is better" smiled the doc
tor, and that ended II.
Jean ran home to tell her sisters the
news, while Mother NJ lowered
capably between the two patients.
Saturday. The aviator had been III
: for nearly a month. Esther arrived to-
day for her weekly visit and John
r., for that was the young mans
name. was to be moved TO the NJ
dwelling there 10 convalesce.
At last he was sitting there in the
shabby old armchair. smiling up at her
with his funny. quirky grin.
"a penny for your thoughts, little
, maid" he said at last. Jean laughed
suddenly. and patted his hand.
"They were OF you and Esther, dear
eagleman" But his mind was far
away as he gazed out Of the little win
dow.
/ Esther came and with her strange
spirit OF shattered peace that puzzled
and disturbed her youngest sister.
Poor little maiden, running TO the
sweet shelter OF the crowding mists,
fighting back the sobs as she spoke to
e the eerie white shadows that followed
$ her ever and anon: But love him, |
love him whyi / found him here In
: the valley. You brought him to me.
Do not take him awayl l love him 7"
That day and the day after Esther
was constantly at his side, smiling,
talking. attending him. her blue eyes
klndled at last.
And Jean, miserable little Jean. lay
sobblng in the cherries loft. But II II
; given to him who hath. SO 1t was re-
stored 20 her who had found and cher
| Ished. Jean. bidding farewell to her
/ sister Monday morning at the turn OF
Il the stone-bordered path. said listless-
II Iy: "Sister. how soon will you and the
4 eagieman be marriedr Esther stared
4 and laughed. "You mean Tohnf Why,
H the boy is only twenty-one. You silly
II little sister; Why do you flush and