Fair play., 1920-11-06
THE STRANGE GIRL
BY MILDRED WHITE.
SSS3eSeSeS eSeSeS9Ge


"The Strange Girl" is the name they
gave the little creature. gOssiping
among themselves concerning the at
fairs of folks who patronlzed this
exclusive Woodside inn. Nan hum
ming softly, and unmoved II aware OF
their hostility, changed her intention
of passing among them and made her
way in her checked gingham frock to
rear door. She carried hamper In
her arms and waved aside friendly
attendant who would have relieved her
Of the burden. Mrs. Van Vourt leaned
exctetlly toward her neighbor.
1T is my opinion" she said, shat
the girl is working out her board
here-a rural relative or something of
the sort Of Manager Hastings, else why
should she he allowed to eat Mt the
guest tables in the great dining room?
II will tell you something" she said.
This morning as l went out early to
the garage with my husband-we were
going away In his car-there, back In
the barnyard, was your strange girl In
her short gingham dress, feeding the
chickens
Really" Mrs. Van Vourt exclaimed.
"Chickens" laughed Madame Rensaler
II must go and tell Homer" Miss Van
VOurt said gleefully, and was off.
tall man. who had been silently smok-
ing cigar around the bend of the ve-
randa. arose wrathfully. How they
picked her to pieces. the gentle, shy
creature who slipped in and out
through all their display so unobtru.
sively.
"Tends TO her own darned little busi-
ness. if it is feeding chickens" he NUT
tered, and strobe hastily past the rock
ing chairs and across the lawn.
"Such an interesting personality"
Mrs. Van vourt whispered as he
passed: decidedly western, of course.
but picturesque"
ITS his money, my dear, that Is pic
turesque." Madame Rensaler dryly re-
marked. "'rhcy say this Jim Brent
has made his millions"
The westerner reached the barn.
yard as the strange girl, Nan, was
bending over two white hens hungrily
engaged In disposing Of their dinner.
! She had lOOSened the tlght-pinned
br,lids from her head. and they fell re-
| bclliouSly waving. red gold, to her
| waist. Startled, her soft eyes glanced
up mt him.
Say" Jim Brent said awkwardly,
"lct me do that for you while you so
in and get on that white dress for din
ner. The bells going to ring in min
ute"
| The girl smiled.
"Why, that's nice of you," she said,
but I can't trust Biddie's feeding, or
Jcrry's, to another person. You see"-
she caressed the white fOwls-"they
are about all I have to love. l brought
them with me-"
brought them!" gasped jim; "fron
your home farm?"
Nan arose. Strengthening her ging-
ham skirts.
~ haven't any home or folks" she
said wlstfully.
He waited later until the strange
girl was properly seated at her own
place in the great dining room. Then
Jim Brent crossed the floor and paused
with bow of Difference before her.
II wonder" he asked, "if you'd let
me sit here with you. ! am lonely and
| reckon you are. They"-he motiOned
toward the fashionable assembled
thrOng-"they don't fit, some way.
Hastings will tell you that ! am all
right"
"And wish." jim Brent was saying
to Nan the following morning, that
you'd let me carry your hamper for
you to-wherever you are going
Wherever you go every day you work
too hard. You looked white and tired
yesterday when you returned. and
your gingham dress was all torn
"Nan-little girl''-big Jim gulped-"l
wish you'd stop II all and come away
with me. ] love you, Man."
The strange girl lifted responsive
white hen into the hamper. Then she
closed Its straw lid.
"Jim," she said quietly. you may
carry the hamper today, II you like
and come with me-"
Recklessly she unpinned the bright
traids from about her head and lei
them fall to her waist, as together the
two crossed the Claremont lawn.
did you ever!" cried Mrs Var
VOurt. Actually going marketing
with her." Madame Rensaler said.
II am taking YOU" Nan told thu
westerner as they walked, ito oul
moving picture camp just over thu
ridge. We are doing dear farm pic
ture there, Jim. ] am 'Mollie of Mil
Valley and an old white hen is abou
the only friend have-that is, ut first
I blossom out wonderfully toward thu
end Of the play. The blllboards sa.
that here ! am Nanette Willis at he
BEST"
In the center Of the woodland patti
Jim stood still.
"You." he said unbehevingly, "Nan
| n%<n NUt11tc-ouA nnu~p vnaccoI