New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-02-20
BY EARL oERR eiGoERs.

high with small town exchanges, and
stepping to the window of the Eagle
Office. stood gazing out on Main
street. In the bright light of the Au-
gust moon. Mapleton looked idyllic;
IT'S little brick business blocks ek-
uded a warm glow, as if they were
there to give. rather than to receive;
its white stone courthouse was sud
denly the abode of a kindly Justice;
its library harbored poets, the citi-
e who walked its streets were
friends and brothers
The August moon. however, did not
deceive Miss Parkins. Fol thirty
years she had translated Mapleton 5
daily life into news items for her pa
per, and it vas too late now for her
10 see the town as idyllic. She knew
that, like the people who made it up.
Mapleton vas a mixture of good and
bad, humanity it strove to be yirtu-
GUS, humanity it often failed She
could forgive it, serve it, even love
II whole heartedly. But she could not
be- fooled by the August noon.
A few OF those who passed in the
street looked in at the plump. cheer
ful-eyed spinster in the window, and
smiled Advanced Mapleton called
her, and said it with a sneer. It mat
tered little to Mapleton that her vision
was he broadcast it knew, her sympa
thies the warmest-that she was, in
truth. a great woman among little
men II was enough for Mapleton
that, when her old father had died,
she had herself assumed control of
the Eagle. nor felt it necessary to call
men to her aid save in subordinate
positions. II was enough that, IN her
paper, appeared strange talk of a new
and wonderful era dawning for WON
"n-an era at which Mapleton shifted
nut Miss Parkins smiled her calm.
restful smile, and helped the people
OF Manloton even while they smiled.
Many of those who passed by her Of
lice now had come to her at some time
or other with stories she had no de
sire to print and gone away warmed
and comlortcd by her understanding.
She was Maplcton $ guide. philosu
phcr, and friend. and. though the town
might dcride her philosophy It az
"optod her guidance and, deep down
I'm its civic heart, loved her as its
friend.
Down the street. a market basket
on his arm, his wife by his side, came
John Nillets Two years before, the
woman had sought out Miss Parklus.
in tears, with the news that Willets
had found the struggle in Mapleton
unbearablc, and had run away In
"A dark corner at the station, where
he was waiting tor a train, Miss Par
kins had discovered him. and sent
him, shdme-faced and repentant. back
10 his family. Out on the asphalt,
the new automobile of young Jack
lIemphill sped by. Once, in panic
times, his business had lowered on
the edge of ruin, and il had been Miss
Parkins. with her own money and
her vi courage, who had set him
back on the road to prosperity. Fan
ME Jaynes passed, a good-looking
young man at her side. Only a year
ihb ! ~ ihi AltI vi AIt hAlO ~
and had looked with willing eyes al
the primrose path. II had been Miss
Parkins, alone OF all those in Maple
ton. who had seen and understood,
it had been she who secured tor Fan
ME another position, and drove the
bitterness from the girls soul.
SO they came and went. those who
had known this little spinster in the
crises OF their lives. And If Miss
Parkins great heart had done much
for them, il had also lone much for
Miss Parkins herself, for it had kept
her from getting angular and queru-
lOus and old as the years went by. and
ii had preserved for her the curves
and the bloom Of youth. Her face was
wrinkled bot they were the wrinkles
OF long wears of smiling.
Through the plate glass window she
caught a faint echo OF melody. and
remembered that It was band con
cert night. She opened the door:
from the direction of the band.stand
In the park the lit of a new tune drift
.d in Il was the very latest thing in :
.urkoy-trots. but Miss Parkins did not ,
know this. She only knew that she
liked ii for its cheerful swing. Tap.
ping one foot or the floor. she began :
o hum the tune beneath her breath !
Then she started suddenly. and the >
eddy soHg died on her lips For il .
iecmcd to her that crossing the street .
0Ward her came Mary Underhill. the :
riond Of her youth long. long ago. :
surely that was Mary Underhills step. I,
live. eager, her face, fine. f~un-loving:
golden hair. cleaning in the
Il oonlight. The long years rolled =
way. and Miss Parkins was Young
gain. waiting for her friend. :
by the time the girl got to the /
Ioor. however. Miss Parkins was back !
n the present. and ii was Mary I'm g.
daughter that she stepped f.
TO greet. She noted quick :,
y that the girls eyes were red with :
weeping. and that her hands moved =
historically despite the library books =
hat weighted them down. e.
Come in. Ina" Miss Parkins said =
OPOH INV 6ate ny Tue counter h
Yer which the classified ads were n
eceived. 4 was hoping you'd drop
for a talk before you went away 1,
The girl turned. and fixed tragic eyes N
Miss Parkins' face.
I'm not going" she said bitterly.
Not going?" Miss Parkins frowned. 81
Why. I thought it was all settled. " n,
That's what I thought. That $ III
mother thought. when she was in
But-he's gone back on his
ord IN her =