The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-03-25
"A Calico Girl
o0
BY VICTOR REDCLIFFE

hailed Sidney Throop from the old.
fashioned carryall, conveying himself
and three fellow vacationers from
camp 10 the little railroad depot.
He waved his hand In kindly fare
well at the forlorn figure Of a girl Of
sixteen, Doris Lee, who stood at the
rustic gate OF her uncles home. She
smiled bravely. then turned her head
away, and Paul Faber, at the side OF
Throop. noticing a futtering handker-
chief, remarked:
81 declared That little sprite Is
sorry to have you leave-she's cry
Ing"
II am sorry myself" replied Sidney
gravely. at has been pleasure to
know such an unspolled child of ma
ture."
"She hasn't been the same since yes
terday-seens to have avoided the
crowd for some reason or other"
II can tell you why" plped 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. but Sidney
Throop sat silent and thoughtful. Their
camp had been located In close prox-
unity to the farm owned by the uncle,
of Doris, and IL had been her task to
bring fresh milk and cream morning
and evening to the temporary sojOurn-
ers. An artless, innocent child. she
had the good fortune to deal with real
gentlemen, and as the days ran on
grew to regard them as 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
a little pin money"
"Why not7" Intercepted Mr.. Lee
good naturedly. But | hope seeing
these gay people from the city hasn't
put a 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 model established In the
mind OF Doris as to what the real lady
OF society should look like.
81 suppose Mr.. Thorpe made some
wide comparisons between that silk.
andlace beauty and humble little me
In calico" mused Doris, and naturally
trife bitterly. and then a change
came over her., She nurtured species
Of reserve and every penny of pin
money she acquired she put carefully
away. Gradually her wardrobe began
to include little articles of feminine
adornment dear to the girlish heart.
year had rolled around and Mr..
Lee informed Doris that ''the crowd Of
young fellows" as he termed It. had
advised him that they would take the
old camp cottage for a month.
Doris was In bewlldering 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
new and glorified Doris.
she wore a silky, scaly dress skirt.
quite "vamplsh." having a certain trail
Ing arbutus effect. 1t fitted like the
| luLL WI u NiihkNNout ptuNh. ihci
came quick, her eyes glowed like dia-
monds, but as the four young men
greeted her friendly enough, but vague
ly, Doris shivered. Somehow she
traced not only surprise In their faces,
but certain reproachful, pitying SEN
timent.
The unusual gravity OF Thorpe
crushed her The young face clouded
when she had ascertained what sup
plies they would require daily from
the farmhouse. Doris FASTENED from
the camp, reached a covert, and threw
herself on the ground In wild par
oxysm OF vexation and disappolnt-
ment
"What Is the trouble, little frlend?"
spoke Sidney. whc had followed her.
and she came TO her feet angry and
defiant, She darted one look at him
and fled prcclpitately. 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
pressivc, and she realized that she
must appear grotesque and out of her
element. and her vanity was wounded
Like some penltent she appeared ut
the camp In nropria personae the fol-
: lowing morning, her own modest nat
ural self. She was reserved and
looked panied and humbled. Sidney
accompanied her ms she started home.
"Dear little friend" he spoke almost
! tenderly, "lt seems good TO see the
bright fairy we all of us love once
again as nature intended her."
"And | did II all for you!" sobbed
Doris. "Mlss Faber-"
Miss Faber, contidentially. has
wrinkles to conceal, and none of your
lovely roses on her cheeks" observed
Sidney.
but | am only calico girl, and l
! thought that II | was dressed like Miss