The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-09-17
Rogers
Girl
By LILY WANDEL


Little Mrs Linwood sat down on one
~ 1.-The parlor plush chairs at the win
dow that commanded the best view ca
the railroad tracks, folded her hands
on her alpaca lap and waited, thin
gentle smile of expectancy on hel
anxious face.
The train which would be in short
ly would bring Rogers fiancee. Every.
thing was ready for her-the house
cleaned and polished from top to bot
tom, both spare-rooms in the pink of
condition.
She hoped that this Mary would not
be exactly as Roger had glowingly de-
scribed her In his letter, yet she prom
ised herself that no matter what Mary
turned out to be she was going to love
her and cherish her for Rogers sake.
She recalled the passage in his letter !:
"Mary is the most capable and eff
cient girl 1 have ever met, so thor
Oughly able 70 manage herself and
everybody. A wonderful girl, you will
admire her from the bottom of your
heart, mother dear. She's so energetic
and so efficient, there's no one like her.
I'll be down on Saturday and by that
time hope you two will have become
acquainted and good friends!"
1t frightened little Mrs. Linwood
just bit. Size had always longed for
a daughter, she wanted to mother her
and cuddle her and give her all sorts
of advice, but the girl Roger described
in his letter-she was awed by all her
capability ard subconsciously she
wished that Rogers girl would be
dear little thing who needed a moth
er's love and comforting. For years
she had planned how it would be when
Roger would bring home the girl of
his choice, how she would make her
feel at home and at ease, relieve her
of that strained atmosphere that so
often comes when young woman first
meets her future mother-in-law. But
now it would be just the other way.
A shrek from an approaching loco
motive made little Mrs. Linwood close
her eyes, seeking. perhaps, inward
strength to meet Mary in few min
utes-the little depot was only a few
hundred feet from the house. I
Heavens OF earth!" Gabriela from
the kitchen came screaming in the
room. Look, look, Mis- Linwood,
what's happened!"
~ Mrs. Linwood jumped from her
chair and then looked where Gabriela
pointed. In The distance where the
train made the curve lay the last
coach of the train overturned, torn
from its coupling, swarm Of people
collecting.
The little woman turned pale, her
first thought of Mary. "My shawl"
she whispered, hoarsely, and when Ca
briela had laid it around her shaking
shoulders she flew cut across the yard,
through the meadow. A trainman,
bearing the limp figure, met her half
way.
"You Mrs. Linwood? he asked |
breathlessly. II picked up her hand
bag and this card fell out with your
address-guess that's where she want
ed to goi"
Mrs. Linwood nodded and quickly
led the way back to the house. "Put |
her here please" she said, indicating
the parlor sofa, and watched the man
lay a slip of a girl down.
Rogers mother bent over her eager
ly, lovingly. What sweet, white, baby
face, what lovely little brown curls
escaping from a demure little hat u
n l,n, ;oI,@ |
her, wanted her! She kissed the
white check and then turned to the
man. "Are many hurt"
"Quite few men and another wom-
an. Going to take them right on to
the hospital in Chitaw-none here in
this little burg"
"Oh," gasped Mrs. Linwood, tears
springing to her eyes, "how dreadful
that long ride 20 Chitaw-and a wom-
an. too, poor thing! Oh, bring her
here, please! We can care for her;
I've two bedrooms ready and Gabriela
will telephone for Doctor Fern"
"All right" agreed the trainman
readily, "I'll bring her here in a min
ute" and hurried out.
mrs. LlnWOOd turned to Gabriela.
"Carry Miss Mary up to the south
spare room and when the man brings
the woman have him take her up TO
the north room."
Mrs. Linwood undressed Mary her
self and, putting on her one of her own
nightdresses, tucked
her in the big four-poster.
Doctor Fern arrived and after
examination declared a
sprained ankle was all that was
wrong.
THANK God" whispered Mrs. Lin /
NN5d fervently. "She's very precious {
to me and to my son. And oh, al
most forgot-there's some one in the ,
north room. l haven't had time TO ,
look in-Gabriela's there-I can't
leave Mary" II