The Meeker herald., 1920-03-20


"Good.by TIL next year. little Doris !"
hailed Sidney Throop from the old
fashioned carryall. conveying himself
and three fellow vacatloners from
camp to tho little railroad depot.
He waved his hand In kindly fare
well at the forlorn hgure Of girl Of
sixteen. Doris Lee. who stood at the
rtSus- gate Of her uncle's home. She
ND brn4ely. then turned her head
sway, ana tauI Faber. At the side Of
:, ,Throep Boticing huttering handker-
chief. remarked:
II declared That little sprlte is
sorry to have you leave-she's cry
Ing"
II am sorry myself" replied Sidney
graveiy. at has been 4 pleasure to
know such an unspoiled child Of ma
ture."
'she hasn't been the same since yes
terday-seems to have avoided the
crowd for some reason or other"
"I can tell you why" piped in an
other. "She looked positively awed
when Faber's sister stopped at the
camp In her automobile. suppose the
poor little Wild flower was stunned at
the magnificence Of the acknowledged
belle Of the season."
SO the episode passed. hut Sidney
Throop sat silent and thouEhttul. Their
camp had been located In close prox-
imity to the farm owned by the uncle
Of Doris. and 1t had been her task to
bring fresh milk and cream morning
aud evening to the temporary sojourn-
er1. An artless, Innocent child. she
had the good fortune TO deal with real
gentlemen. and as the days ran on
grew to regard them - true friends.
'If am to do the extra chores Of
carrying milk and eggs and chickens
TO the picnickers." said Doris to her
uncle the next day. you must allow me
q little pin money"
.why notf" interroeated Mr. Lee
good naturetlly. But hope seeing
these gny 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 y model established In the
mind Of Doris as to what the real lady
Of society should look like.
n suppose Mfr. Thorpe made some
wide comparisons between that silk
and-lace beauty and humble little me
in Calico" unused Doris. and naturally
q tribe bitterly. and then change
came over her. She nurtured q species
xR ->~~rv~ and ovor, nanny NJ min
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 Mr..
Lee Informed Doris that 'the crowd Of
young fellows" as he termed II. had
advised him that they would take the
old camp cottage for a month.
Doris was In bewilderinE state Of
animation. For full year she had
dreamed. planned and saved. II almost
took away the breath Of the poor va
catIOners when there burst upon their
vision the afternoon Of their arrival
a new and eiorified Doris.
She wore silky, scaly dress skirt,
quite '.vampish." having certain trail
ing arbutus effect. II fitted like the
fuxx Of clingstone peach. Her breath
came quick. her eyes glOwed like din
monds. but as the four young men
greeted her friendly enough. hut vague
Iy. Doris shivered. Somehow she
traced not only surprise In their faces
hut a certain reproachful, pltying sen.
timent.
Tie unusual gravity Of Thorpe
crushed her. The young face c!ouded
when she had ascertained what sup
plies they would require daily from
the farmhouse. Doris hnstened from
the camp. reached a covert. and threw
herself on the ground In wild par
Oxysm Of vexation and disappoint-
ment.
"what Is the trouble. little friend"
spoke Sidney. who had followed her.
and she ca me to her feet angry and
defiant. She darted one look at him
and fed precipitately. To both cor.
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
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 propria personae the fol-
lowing morning, her own modest nat.
ural self. She was reserved and
looked pained and humbled. Sidney
accompa nied her as she started home.
Dear little FRIEND" he spoke almost
tenderly; ut seems good to see the
bright fairy We all Of us love once
pSeain ~ nature intended her."
"And I did It all for your sobbed
Doris. Miss Eaber-"
"Aliss Faber, confdentially, has
wrinkles to conceal. and none Of your
lovely roaea On her cheeks" observed