The Press., 1920-02-19
cA Calico Girl
 o0 By VICTOR RADCLIFFE
Copyright. 1919 by tho Western News
 paper Union.)

FD~~~~~~O~~~~~DD%> Copyright, 1919 by tho westsrn News-
 paper Union.)
 "Good-by till next year, little Doris!" hailed Sidney Throop from the old fashioned carryall, conveying himself and three fellow vacationerS from camp to the little railroad depot.
 He waved his hand in kindly fare we'll at the forlorn figure of girl of sixteen, Doris Lee, who stood at the rustic gate of her uncle's home. She smiled bravely, then turned her head away, and Paul Faber. at the side of ThrOop, noticing a f1uttering handker- chief, remarked:
 q declare! That little sprite is sorry to have you leave-she's cry ing"
 'I am sorry myself" replied Sidney gravely Ut has been a pleasure to k1fow such an unspoiled child of na- ture"
 "She hasn't been the same since yes terday-SeemS to have avoided the crowd for some reason or other."
 'T can tell you why" piped in an other. "She looked positively aWed when Faber's sister stopped at the camp in her automobile. l suppose the poor little wild flower was stunned at the magniticence of the acknowledged belle of the season.
 So the episode passed. but Sidney Throop sat silent and thoughtful. Their camp had been located in close prOX- imity to the farm owned by the uncle of Doris and it had been her task to bring fresh milk and cream morning and evening to the temporary sojourn- CTS. An artless, innocent child, she had the good fortune to deal with real gentlemen, and as the days ran on grew to regard them as true friends.
 "If I am to do the extra chores of carrying milk and eggs and chickens to the pcnickers," said Doris to her uncle the next day, you must allow me little pin money"
 "Why nOt?" interrOgated MT. Lee good naturedly. But l hope seeing these gay people from the city hasn't put lot of vanity into that sensible little head of yOurs."
 Ever since the day she had met the fashionable Miss Anice Faber there had become a model established in the mind of Doris as to what the real lady of society should look like.
 "I suppose MT. Thorpe made some wide comparisons between that silk and-lace beauty and humble little me in callcO," unused Doris, and naturally f,.iH a chance came over her. She nurtured a species of reserve and every penny of pin money she acquired she put carefully away Gradually her wardrobe began to include little articles of feminine adOrnment dear to the girlish heart.
 A year had rolled around and Mir. Lee informed Doris that "the crowd of young fellows" as he termed it, had advised him that they would take the old camp cottage for mOnth
 Doris was in a bewildering state of animation. For full year she had dreamed, planned and saved. It almost took away the breath of the poor va cationers when there burst upon their vision the afternoon of their arrival new and gloritied Doris.
 She wore silky, scaly dress skirt quite "vampsh," having a certain trail ing arbutus effect. It fitted like the fuzZ of a clingStOne peach. Her breath came quick, her eyes glOwed like dia- mondS, but as the four young men greeted her friendly enough, but vague ly Doris shivered. Somehow she traced not only surprise in their faces, but a certain reproa chful, pitying sen timent.
 The unusual gravity of Thorpe crushed her. The young face clOuded when she had ascertained what SUD- plies they would require daily from the farmhouse. Doris hastened from | the camp. reached a covert, and threw i herself on the ground in a wild par | OXysm of -veXatiOn and disappOint- | ment.
 "What is the trouble, little friend p i spoke Sidney, who had followed her, and she came to her feet angry and | defiant She darted one look at him and fled precipitately. TO both a cor 1 rect conception had come. Sidney at once comprehended that the foolish lit tie maid had modelled herself after Miss Faber to appear modern and i'm 1 pressive, and she realized that she must appear grotesque and out of her element, and her vanity was wounded. Like some penitent she appeared at the camp in prOpra perSOnae the fol- lowing morning. her own modest nat ural self. She was reserved and looked pained and humbled. Sidney accompanied her as she started home
 "Dcar little friend" he spoke almost bright fairy we all of us love once again as nature intended her."
 And I did it all for you!" sobbed Doris Miss Faber-"
 "NIisS Faber, cOnfidentially, has wrinkles to conceal, and none of your lovely roses on her checks" observed Sidney.
 But am only calico girl, and I thought that if was dressed like Miss 1 Fabpr--"
 'Made up. you mean," interrupted Sidney. You don't need that" He could scarcely resist the impulse to | take her in his arms in all her artless grace and beauty. Doris, dear," he said seriously, "there is one man who always wishes to find you as you are sweet child of nature-one who hopes some day to have you as all his own-myself."
 And she read truth and adoration in his earnest, longing eyes, and was