Mexico weekly ledger., 1920-11-25
STRANGE GIRL
BY WHITE.

strange girl" approached.
"The Strange Girl" is the name the!
gave the little creature, gossipini
among themselves concerning the af
fairs Of folks who %patrOnizeC thl
exclusive Woodside inn. Nan hum
ming softly, and unmoved II aware o.
their hostility, changed her Intention
of passing among them and made hei
way In her checked gingham frock tC
a a door. She carried a hamper In
her arms and waved aside a friendly
attendant who would have relieved hei
of the burden. Mrs. Van vourt leaned
excitedly toward her nelghbor.
ut is my opinion" she said, "that
the girl Is working out her board
here-a rural relative or something OF
the sort of Manager Hastings, else why
should she be allowed to eat at the
guest tables in the great dining room
II will tell you something" she said.
This morning as | went out early TO
the garage with my husband-we were
going away In his car-there, back In
the harnyard, was your strange girl IN
her short gingham dress, feeding the
chickens"
Really !" Mrs. Van VOurt exclaimed.
"Chickensl" laughed Madame Rensaler.
81 must go and tell Homer" Miss Van
Vourt said gleefully, and was on. A
tall man, who had been silently smoE-
ing a cigar around-the bend of h We
randa, arose wrathfully. How they
picked her to pieces, the gentle, shy
creature who slipped in and out
through all their display so unobuu-
sively.
Tends to her own darned little busi-
ness, if 1t is feeding chickens" he NUT
tered, and strobe hastily past the rock
ing chairs and across the lawn.
"Such an interesting personality J.
Mrs. Van VOurt whispered as he
passed decidedly western, of course,
but picturesque"
ITS his money, my dear, that Is pic
turesque," Madame RensaIer dryly re-
marked. "They 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 tight-pinned
braidS from her head, and they fell re-
belliously waving. red gold, to her
waist. Startled. her soft eyes glanced
up at him.
Say" Jim Brent said awkwardly,
"let mt do that for you while you go
in and get on that white dress for din
ner. The bells going to ring in a min
ute"
The girl smiled.
"Why, that's nice of you" she said,
but | can't trust Biddie's feeding, or
Jerry's. to another person. You see
she caressed the white fowls-''they
are about all | have to love. l brought
them with me-"
Brought them !" gasped Jim from
your home farm?"
Nan arose, Strengthening her ging-
ham skirts.
Il haven't any home or folks" she
said wistfully.
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 a bow of Difference before her.
II WONDER" he asked, "tf 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 l am all
right"
And ! wish." jim Brent was saying
to Nan the following morning, thai
you'd let me carry your hamper fol
you to-wherever you are going
Wherever you go every day you work
too hard. You looked white and tired
yesterday when you returned, anG
your Bingham dress was all torn
"Nan-little girl"-big Jim gulped-"l
wish you'd stop it all and come away
with me. | love you, Nan"
The strange girl lifted a responsive
white hen into the hamper. Then she
closed its straw lid.
Jim" she said quietly, you may
carry the hamper today, If you like
and come with me-"
Recklessly she unpinned the bright
| EY.otIC From, about hnu hpo1 and Lot
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 an taking you" Nan told thu
westerner as they walked. ito oul
moving picture camp just over th'
ridge. We are doing a dear farm pic
ture there, Jim. | am Mollie of Mil
Valley, and an old white hen is abou.
the only friend | have--thnt is, at first
| blossom Out wonderfully toward thu
end of the play. The hillboards Sa!
that here | am Nnnette Willis at he
best"
In the center of the woodland patti
lin stood still.
YOU" he said ~unbelievingIy, "Nan
cite Withstand | never guessed
Used to follow your scenes just to SCI
you smile. And l--dared to ask yOu-
to be my wife. Great gosh !" he addet
sadly, how you must laugh to your
self"
"But | am not laughing, jim" MAI
said. I'm a strange girl, you know
so sometimes when feel happy | cry
almost. | want TO cry now-with low
for you, Jim, and happiness"
And when they went on again dowi
the path the forgotten Blddy escapin!
her hammer Sp1nfpIy fpllOwpd.