Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-11
The Hop
Scotch" Girl
BY GENEvIEvE ULMAR
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
paper Union)

Cdrrleu NeVlI BrOOKeS Dack 10 MS early
youth. Seated in a comfortable loung-
ing chair on the porch, he had a full
view Of half a dozen little girls en-
gagged In the old-fashioned game of
"hop SCOTCH"
Upon the smooth cement pavement
the group had drawn in chalk the con.
ventional body of the subdivided dia-
gram, rounding II with the moon," to
attain which, by hopping on one foot
and speeding a fiat pebble without rest
ing on a line was to score & victory.
Suddenly the play suspended
"Oh, there's Marty Doane-she will
show us how to flip into the moon !"
arose In a tumultuous shout.
Brookes leaned over toward the
streetto make out a girl of about sew
enteen. exquisitely dainty in form and
feature with a wealth of sunny golden
hair Hike an aureole, and 1.-THE and
graceful in all her movements. A
ripping smile irradiated her lips and
she welcomed the juvenile onslaught
with caressing kindness.
The delectable Martyrs loving and
accommodating nature showed fully as
she took her position at goal" set
the pebble given her, and proceeded
to demonstrate her c~apability as a hop
scotch expert. Brookes watched her
with profound admiration.
Just then an overdressed. slatternly
woman appeared. a great, hulking
young man at her side. She darted
forward as she made out the girl.
"Wtat's thisT" she shouted at
Marty. "Nice actions for a woma
grown. and promisedr
'PromiscdY0 cried the girl scorn-
fully. "Who to?"
"To him. Dan Reeves" and the won.
an indicated her companion.
"Who promised met" challenged
Marty.
:" did: and didn't he give you a
ring?"
"You mean he forced 1t on me-"
fared up the girl. "There is his cheap
giftT and tearing a tawdry circlet
from her finger she flung 1t to the pave
ment, gave 1t a blow with her toe, and
added: "If he ever tries to kiss me
again I'll kill him, and If you lay
your hands on me I'll u away!" and
like some proud empress, the aroused
girl left the spot. her head high In
the air.
Nevfl Brookes was recovering from
q ft OF sickness and had sought rest
and quiet in the boarding house where
he was passing his convalescence. He
asked his landlady about the girl who
had interested him.
"Oh. Won mean Marty Doane," spoke
the woman. "Poor girl but good girl.
Her father died. leaving her to the
mercies of a cruel stepmother, who Is
anxious TO get rid Of her care and
has tried to favor he suit Of that
Reeves fellow, but Marty despises
him."
There was q little park that Brookes
strolied in every morning. and the
next day he was attracted by the
sound Of low sobbing beyond some
shrubbery. He went owe to the spot.
Upon o bench, q bundle at her feet
and weeping bitterly, was the hop
scotch girl.
"Are you in trouble, missT" spoke
Brookes gently. II have seen You be-
* fore. and we live in the same neigh
borhood."
Marty read sympathy and interest
IN the. clear, open face. 81 am going
away from my ~stepmother and the
man she is trying to make me marry"
she said, "and / shall never come
back. Oh. sir, is 1t very far to
Wickhamf"
why do you ask that?' inquired
Nevil.
Because the only friend ! have in
the world lives there. She was Mel
lie Foster, and she married Ned VII
ton three years ago. and they settled
down at Wickham. A year ago Nellie
wrote me that they had a darling little
baby, and I love children, and / know
that Nellie would give me a home"
A sudden impulse urged the tender
hearted Reeves to assist this homeless
waif. His own life was lonely and
her distress moved him to pity.
"If you will trust me, I will see you
safely 10 WiChtiulu, hc Sdlus
"Oh. sir. will your" cried Marty rap.
t~urously. ST am sure Nellie will pay
you back for the fare"
'Never mind that" said Reeves. and
her childish delight looking from the
car window and hopeful eagerness
when they reached Wickham revealed
he ntutored soul of the trustful girl.
They reached the former home of
he Wiltons to find a sign "for rent"
on the neat little cottage, and a neigh
Dor Informed them that the family had
moved to a farm Somewhere out
West"
Marty dropped to a step, a picture
Of for,orn despair. ooh" she sobbed,
"what a life it would have been to
have my old friends, and the baby, and
this beautiful garden. 1t would be
IKE being In heaven! And now I am
worse off than everl" and she broke
down utterly.
'Took up in my face. Marty" spoke
Reeves seriously. ~ nm as much alone
h the world as you are, but 7 think
experience a mutual trustfulness. You
crave a home OF comfort and happi-
ness. viii you share It with me, as
my wife, right here and nowT"
And Nevll Brookes. with q grateful.
V.e. -ortoou ey~iIipr and uipoipo