Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-07-23
DREAMS
By KATHARINE A. NEWELL
e 10000 SSssSSSeeSSSzz

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
20. 1920. BY Mcclure Newspaper SyndicAte.)
"Now then. Dreams get a hustle
on you with those copies, and put the
long stop ON that high powered car
driven by the Duke Of ki!licrankie.
Even in these days of help shortage
we want efficiency just the same"
Miss Johnsons razor-like voice struck
on Ann Flowers ear like ice.
= litter Of amusement went around
the office at the head clerks intend
ed witticism, and many eyes were
turned for a moment to the gloomy
corner where the girl had sat for two
years. the target for all the teasing
of the department. Somehow or 9th
er it had leaked out that Ann Flower
INDUCED in day dreams, hence the
nickname. Dreams" and the merci-
less sarcasm that was her lot.
"'Dreams'-I mean Miss Flower,
the boss wants you in his Office"
Again Miss JohnsOn's voice smote
AIMS ear like ice. and all eyes
flashed to her corner.
THE boSs?" repeated Ann stupidity.
Yes. the boss and don't keep him
waiting" snapped Miss Johnson.
Ann Flower stumbled to her feet.
All eyes seemed to burn into her back
as she passed UP the room. She
knew she had not done her work well
during the last week, but they did
not know what it was to sit up at
night and finally have to see a golden
haired baby~die! Perhaps they did
not know what it meant to leave the
distracted mother sewing for living
to keep two other little towheads
from hunger. Ann had not been sat
istied with the doctor. and that morn
ing had herself telephoned for anoth-
er physician. not the kind that usual
ly calls at apartment houses On the
East side of the city, but there was
something SO inslStent, so softly ap-
pealing and piteous In the girls
voice over the wire that Doctor Sun
deriand had promised to come.
Good morning, Miss Flower" the
boss" voice came to the girls
senses through waves Of pa in.
This is Doctor Sunderland -
"Oh, the children are not worse?"
Ann interrupted the "boss'" introduce
ton in frightened voice.
"No, the Riddles are going to pull
through in fine shape, thanks to your
foresight. Miss Flower"
The boss" cleared his throat.
doctor Sunderland has told me, Miss
Flower. that you have been sitting up
at night with sick baby for over q
week, until 1t died; you have also
been helping out the mother with two
other children all this winter with
your salary; you could just as well
have left her and gone to more COM
Portable quarters"
But I couldn't; she was good to
me -. and 1t was hard for her
to get a boarder who liked children
and did. I'm sorry if my
work suffered here but
couldn't leave her when the baby got
ill-and died !" Ann Flowers purple
blue eyes grew big and piteous.
Honey" the voice Of the boss"
was just as soft as any of her south
ern "mammicS." and he came to her
side and patted her on the shoulder,
81 did not know that I had Sucn a
real. live girl in my employ! 1 guess
my character reading expert is worth
what pay him after all, II he gets
some like you, bless your heart! But
Doctor Sunderland wants to have a
talk with you = you've come from
home where there Is a pretty sick
bunch, and he's afraid that you may
be I'm for dose. We don't want II
spread around the Office, and whatever
the damage is, remember, I foot the
bills"
Poor little "Dreams' head seethed
in whirl OF aches and surprises aft
er the BOSS left her in DR.. Sunder-
lands care.
1t was dream of wonderful peace,
to find oneself in cool, gray and
white hospital room, with pretty
red-haired nurse ready to do ones
bidding. But there were days when
little Ann Flower did not answer to
DR.. Sunderlards dear" with smile
of shy welcome, and nights when he
would come ana shake his head and
turn hastily from the pretty, fever
flushed face and wonder why we have
to find the best in our scheme of life,
to lose it again. There were days,
too when Miss Johnson and the de-
partment could not bear to see the
patch Of sunlight shine on the dust
covered typewriter cover in the
gloomy corner, without catch in
their throats when they remembered
how they had teased dear, patient lit
tie Dreams"
But days came when DR.. Sunder-
lands "dear" won the day.
II take my vacation next week =. . .
md 7 nm going SO,Ithn he announced