The Press., 1919-12-25
GINGERBREAD DOLL
By MILDRED WHITE.

Copyright 1919. Western Newspaper tnion)
 Selina had a heartache and head ache, and it seemed that there was no remedy within her four studio walls to palliate this distress. Through her weary brain fitted memories of past ailments of childhood, and the charm which never failed to relieve-a Drowned spiced gingerbread doll. She smiled whimsically at the recollection mother, in her white starched apron, her loving fingers fashiOning deftly currant eyes, while a fretful child lay eagerly waiting There were no white aproned, gingerbread women now, Selma reflected sadly. Her world knew only women of her own kind, busy with various careers which brought comforts, perhaps, but not the Old-time reStful enjoyment.
 Selina was very tired, you see, so her reflections may have been over colored and morbid. But chiIdishy, unreasonably she ionged tonight for the "atmOsDhere'' of the gingerbread doll. And to wish for anything was, to Selina. the first step towards it's attainment.
 Some friend had written grandma, who was really relative of her own, and Selina had almost forgotten.
 Grantlma's farm rested at the foot of a hill, which in summer was dream of beauty. Selina wondered what it might be like in chill autumn.
 The autObus, however, awaiting pos sible passengers, seemed to settle her difficulty, while a sense of eNhilara- ton crept into her being with the tang of the sweet, fresh air.
 Twilight descended, as she paid the driver and walked swiftly up a ee-bordered path to the white door of the farmhouse. A little girl, with widely curious eyes, responded to her summons.
 Grandma Harvey was away from home, she informed Se!ina; sick neighbor had sent for her in a hurry. Grandma Harvey had telephOned, the child added, that she must not be frightened if she was detained until a late hour.
 "But-I am frightened" the little girl said q never stay alone, and want my supper"
 "So do l." laughed Selma, and promptly deposited her bag in the wide old hall.
 "Who are yOu?" she asked the child.
 "Tm Jane, from the city" the little girl replied. The doctor ordered me to go into the country last spring, and since She used to be my own dad dies nurse"
 And there is no one else here" Selina questioned.
 "NO one," answered Jane.
 q want-my supper" she repeated, dolefully
 "Grandma Harvey said she left some sandwiches, but I don't want sand Wiches."
 eve will set about getting supper at once," she said briskly; and soon afterward the two ate a merry meal.
 "You came," Jane said gravely, Gin answer to my prayer. I prayed: Dear God, send some one quick and there you were"
 Selina bent sympathetically toward the child, touched by the tremulous note in her voice."
 "Dearie," she asked, "were you longing for-yOur mOther"
 Jane shook her curly head.
 'Never had one," she said. "She went away when she left me in the world. I'm sorry. Mothers are nice. They visit with you when you're lone ly, and make things for you"
 I knOw." Selina's smile was un- derstanding.
 "Did you," she asked "by any chance, have a gingerbread doll?"
 "Grandma Harvey makes ginger bread from this," she said, eXcitedly. "Maybe after you'd baked it, you could draw it out into doll !"
 So it happened that a man, leaving his car in the leaf-streWn driveway and pauSing to look through a lighted kitchen window, saw there in the lamp light two interested heads bent over a dOughy mixture upon the table.
 The fair, curly head belonged to his own small daughter, but the fluffy brown one, when raised presently to examine an object in a pan, proved to be that of an attractive young wOm an. His entrance was unnoticed un- til Jane, jumping up from banged oven door. cried:
 "Oh daddy, I'd forgotten that 1 tel ephoned you to come out at once. l was terribly lonely then, you see, and afraid But the gingerbread lady came and made it all right" Selina, turning, flushed and pretty from her baking, waved aside the mans polite ly proffered hand.
 "NIine are all f1oury," she explained.
 The city studio was forgotten, as the leaves turned to scarlet in the beau tiful hilly country.
 Jane's daddy, also, decided upon en- toying, with his small daughter, post pOned vacation.
 And Grandma Harvey, watching from her cheery kitchen, smilingly greeted her three guests at evening as they returned from some tramping ex- petition.
 "To think" said Salina one night, looking up at the man in the freight, "that I should have to marry a wid- over, after all my protestations 7"
 And l." said Jane's daddy, with a mock sigh, ito marry a woman with an absorbing career"
 "You should worry about the ca reer," added Jane slangily. I'm going to keep Selina busy being a ginger hrno6 ,notbor'