South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-03
By Hlda
Morris


longer than usual-almost 10 min
utes. And when she gave him back
mis- change his hand caressed hers.
For the first time in her life she lost
her pOise and she could feel the flush
steal up from her throat II made
her wonder if he could read any
thing in her eyes, and her lids drop
ped to cover their frankness.
For some reason or other when
II o'clock came that night, she was
more buoyant than ever before, aft
er the long hours on her feet. She
almost danced toward the subway
entrance, and. as she waited for her
train, a magazine at the news stand
caught her eye. She tripped over
and bought it, tucked it under her
arm and went home to her mother.
Her mother was asleep. but she
awakened and prepared their usual
midnight lunch while Gretchen hum
ming gaily under her breath, slipped
out of her clothes and braided her
hair in a pigtail. Clad in her XII
mono she sat at the little table in
the kitchenette and looked through
her magazine between bites of a cold
meat sandwich. Then suddenly she
hunched up her knee and spread the
magazine open in her lap, for the
title of a story smiled up at her out
OF the mystic page. "Gretchen"-
BY William Dean Blair she read.
How queer!" she exclaimed
aloud.
Whats queer, dear?" asked her
mother interestedly.
''Oh, nothing" And she slip
ped around the table, kissed her
mother lightly, and skipped out of
the room and tumbled into her bed,
where she eagerly read the story of
Gretchen, while her mother cleared
the table and smiled softly.
After she came to the end, Crotch
On lay staring up at the ceiling and
dreamed. Her story it was-his
story of them. He had written their
story-and she read it! She saw
herself walking and laughing
through its pages right into his
arms. She jumped up and looked
into the mirror. She smoOthed the
dark arch of her brow with the tip
of her finger How we'll he had read
her thoughtsl How strange that he
should have noticed the half droop
of her lids and the way she lifted
her chin when she laughed. She
did it unconsciously now, waved at
her mirrored image, turned out
the light and went to bed to dream
the eternal dream of youth and hap
piness.
The next morning her mother
went to awaken her and found her
breathing softly with a magazine
cuddled 10 her breast. Then she
opened her eyes happily, and, with
flushing cheeks and half ashamed
story Of Gretchen.
You see" she explained. that's
what he's always called me. Right
from the very first"
And that night she watched for
his coming with shining eyes and
flaming heart But he did not
come,
ON, we'll" she said blythely. to
morrow night"
But the second night he did not
come, nor the third. on the fourth
night she dragged her tired body
tomeward and there was a great
fear in her heart. Her mother pet
ted her and comforted her as best
she could
Don't be foolish. girl What is
four days?"
But week-10 days passed. and
she was frantic. So on the 18th
day she arose determinedly. tucked
the magazine under her arm. the
magazine that held the story Of
Gretchen between its covers. and
sought out a great editor. man 10
whom in the whole world there re-
NAMED no more mystery.
Just why do YOU want Mr.. Blair's
address he asked keenly.
She spread the magazine before
his eyes and pointed 10 the story OF
her heart Because I am Crotch
en- she said. II didn't even
know his name till read it-and I
haven't seen him for two weeks.
I'M afraid he's sick. and needs
ne"
on a slip OF paper he penciled
Blalr's address and handed il 70 her
Sravely. Sick or we'll" he said. his
eyes twinkling. "he needs you. Now
I know why the story OF Gretchen
was such a good one" he added
gallantly. as he bowed her out
a few minutes later she stole IN