The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-08-12
TOMMYS COAT
BY JACK LAYTON

Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
Marilyn sat in the lilac arbor and
sang as she sewed her seam. Marilyn
was like an embodiment of spring her.
self, with sky blue eyes and apple
blossom cheeks and the sweet smiling
sunniness of her. Nearby stood a
quaint little figure like pixie stepped
from book or a hobgoblin come to
life. Though the figure was, after all,
merely that of small red-haired Irish
boy clad in an old coat far too big
with coat tails which touched his
heels.
"And so your name is Tommy Ryan,"
the girl was saying, "and your mother
washes for the people in the big house
next door. But why did you come to
see me Tommy"
Its the coat" the boy replied
shamefacedly, "the boys at school do
be laughing at me because mother
makes me wear it. l want to try some
day to earn another. SO l thought if
you might be after havin' Grants to
do -"
you see," Marilyn said gently,
"there are not many errands, Tommy,
when l have only to shop for myself
and old lilly who helps for her board.
But -" she paused thoughtfully.
why" asked the boy, "did you be
after comm out here to live by your
self in this bit of a house? Haven't
you got any folks, or a husband
maybe?"
The girl laughed, then answered
seriously.
I'm quite alone in the world Tommy
Ryan," she said, land when l drove
through this country and saw the bit
of house one day it occurred to me
that might be able to live more
cheaply and perhaps more profitably
here than in the great city. l could
send my Illustrations from here to
the unkind publishers just as well.
So -"
$50 here ye are" finished Tommy.
swell, it's a nice dolls house of a
place, an me mother says that once ii
was the lodge of the great house next
door an the folks that lived here then
was great folks. It's their son has
come back to keep the house now
when he isn't in New York or Boosting
or Europe; he has auto cars and horses
and everything. An" added Tommy
holly, "he give this old coat O mine
to mother. Things he casts off an
she makes me wear EN-"
ITS a shame" Marilyn declared
gaining thereby Tommy's loyal friend
ship.
But you won't always have to wear
old coats" she comforted,, you'll &c
out and earn new ones for yourself"
Marilyn considered,
81 have wanted a garden for some
time" she said, "a flower and a vege
table garden -"
Marilyn did some figuring upon hel
fingers.
"Seeds are high" she added regret
fully. But we will manage some way
Tommy and you are engaged at very
low figure to be my gardener. Still
that's q beginning. And maybe some
day if you work well we will raist
crops and you shall drive into towI
to sell them"
Tommy's face glowed beneath the
freckles.
you mean it?" he asked. "HOnestT
Honest" agreed Marilyn. And JUS
then over the high dividing wall ap
peared the head of a man whose bod,
evidently was poised upon garden
ladder.
BEG pardon" said the man pleasant
ly, but as happened to be training {
vine up my side of the wall l could no
help. overhearing some of your con
versation. And if you are thinking o
buying garden seed -" he bowed
in Marilyn's direction, "why my hea'
gardener has quantities which we vii
be glad to give you. We make no US,
of them. And why purchase" he wen
on hastily as Marilyn's lips were form
ing a polite refusal, "when seeds ar
going to waste?"
The girl smiled.
"Why that is So" she replied, "a1,
thank you"
1.-The poor little devil" he salt
laughingly, "to think that Nora make
him wear my Old coats. He must hdv
had time at school,"
The garden surrounding the "bit o
a house" flourished and showed grea
promise under Tommie's tireless care
while the young illustrator laid he
sketching aside and came out t.
BEAUTIFULLY help him.
The son of the great house joile
in the enthusiasm and postponed 70
the second time his New York trip a
he too, labored at Marilyn's direction
1t was when the golden days of
golden August were drawing to clos
that the girl came stepping light
across the grasses to Tommy Ryan
side. She held a new coat in he
hands, not the khaki kind which Tom