American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-01-17
The Stained Glass Window
Woman Editor Devises Ruse to Convert Crashing
Husoand Who Would Erect Memorial to De-
ceased Wife Who Had Been Enslaved
in Farm House in Hills
By EARL pERR BIGGeRs.

high with small town exchanges. and
stepping to the window of the Eagle
Office, stood gazing out on Mair
street. In the bright light Of the Au
gust moon, Mapleton looked idyllic
its little brick business blocks ex
uded warm glow. as II they were
there to give. rather than to receive
its white stone courthouse was sud
denly the abode Of kindly Justice
its library harbored poets; the citi
zens who walked its streets were
friends and brothers.
The August moon, however, did not
deceive Miss Parkins. For thirty
years she had translated Mapleton' q
daily life into news items for her pa.
per, and It was too late now for her
to see the town as idyllic. She knew
that, like the people who made II up,
Mapleton was mixture of good and
bad. Humanity It strove to be virtu.
GUS; humanity It often failed. She
could forgive. 1t, serve II, even love
II wholeheartedly. But she could not
be fooled by the August moon.
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 sneer II mat
tered little to Mapleton that her vision
was the broadcast II knew. her sympa.
thies the warmest-that she was. I'm
truth. 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 new
and wonderful era dawning for wom-
en-an era at which Mapleton smiled.
But Miss Parkins smiled her calm.
restful smile, and helped the people
of Mapleton even while they smiled.
Many OF those who passed by her Of
flee now had come to her at some time
or other with stories she had no de-
sire to print. and gone away warmed
and comforted by her understanding
She was Mapleton's guide. philoso-
pher. and friend. and, though the town
might deride her philosophy 1t &C.
cepted her guidance and, deep down
In It's civic heart, loved her as It's
friend.
Down the street, q market basket
on his arm, his wife by his side, came
John Willets Two years before. the
woman had sought out Miss Parkins,
In xsytth
had found the struggle in Mapleton
unbearablo. and had run away. In
dark corner at the station. where
he was waiting for a train, Miss Par
kins had discovered him, and sent
him. shame-faced and repentant. back
to his family. Out on the asphalt,
the new automobile OF young Jack
Hemphill sped by. Once, in panic
times, his business had lowered on
the edge of ruin, and It had been Miss
Parkins. with her own money and
her own courage. who had set him
back on the road to prosperity. Fan
ME Jaynes passed, good-lookihg
young man at her side. Only year
ago Fannie had tired of the factory.
and had looked with willing eyes at
the primrose path. 1t had been Miss
Parkins. alone OF all those In Maple |
ton. who had seen and understood; |
II had been she who secured for 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 II Miss |
Parkins great heart had done much |
for them. II had also done much for |
Miss Parkins herself. for II had kept |
her from getting angular and queru-
lous and old as the years went by. and
1t had preserved for her the curves
and the bloom OF youth. Her face was
wrinkled. but they were the wrinkles
OF long years Of smiling.
Through the plate-glass window she
caught faint echo Of melody. and
remembered that II was band con.
cert night" She opened the door;
from the direction of the band.stand
In the park the lit OF new tune drift
ed in. II was the very latest thing In
turkey-trots. but Miss Parkins did not
know this, She only, knew that she
liked II for its cheerful swing. Tap
ping one foot on the floor. she began
to hum the tune beneath her breath.
Then she started suddenly. and the
giddy song died on her lips. For 1t
seemed to her that crossing the street
toward her came Mary Underhill. the
friend OF her youth long, long ago.
surely that was Mary Underhill's step,
alive. eager; her face. fine. fun.loving;
her golden hair. cleaning in the
moonlight. The long years rolled
away. and Miss Parkins was young
again. waiting for her friend.
BY the time the girl got to the
door, however, Miss Parkins was back
IN the present, and It was Mary Tn.
derhills daughter that she stepped
forward to greet. She noted quick.
" that the girls eyes were red with
weeping. and that her hands moved
historically despite the library books