Middletown transcript., 1920-10-02
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'rHE STRANGE GlRL@
BY MlLDRED WHITE.


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Copyright. 1890. Western Newspaper Union-)
The women guests were chatting on
the veranda of Claremont house as the
strange girl" approached.
1.-THE Strange Girl" is the name they
gave the little creature, gOssip1ng
among themselves concerning the at
fairs of folks who patrOnizeC this
exclusive Woodside inn. Nan hum
ming softly, and unmoved If aware OF
their hostility, changed her intention
of passing among them and made her
way in her checked gingham frock to
a 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
excitedly toward her neighbor.
1T 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 VIII!
should she be allowed to eat at the
guest tables in the great dining room1
Il 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"
"Reallyv' Mrs. Van vourt exclaimed.
Chickens !" laughed Madame Rensaler.
Il must go and tell Homer" Miss Van
vourt said gleefully, snd was off. A
tall man, who had been silently smok-
ing cigar around the bend Of the We
randa, arose wrathfully. How they
picked her to pieces, the gentle, shy
creature who slipped tn and out
through all their display so unebtru'
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. "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 glancea
up at him.
"Say," Jim Brent said awkwardly
"let me do that for you while you 60
ia and ~ On that vhsta 1rass tsr Dip
ner, The belts going to iins in min
ute,"
The girl smiled.
"Why, that's nice Of you," she said.
but l can't trust Biddiets feeding, or
Jerry's, to another person. You see"-
she caressed the white fowls-"they
are about all I have to love. brought
them with me-"
brought them" gasped Jim; from
your home farm?'
Nan arose, Strengthening her ging-
ham skirts.
II 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 bow of Difference before her.
Il WONDER" he asked, IF you'd let
me sit here with you. am lonely and
l 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 l 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 60 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-"1
wish you'd stop it all and come away
with me. I love you, Man,"
The strange girl lifted responsive
white hen into the hamper. Then she
closed it's straw lid,
"Jim," she, said quietly, you may
carry the hamper today, if you like.
and come with me-"
Recklessly she unpinned the bright
Eraids from about her head and let
them fall to her waist, as together the
two crossed the Claremont lawn.
Did you ever!" cried Mrs Van
vourt. Actually going marketing
with her." Madame Rensaler said.
Il am taking you." Nan told the
westerner as they walked. ito our
moving picture camp just over the
ridge. We are doing dear farm pic
ture there, Jim. am 'Mollie of Mill
Valley and an old white hen is about
the only friend have-that is. at first.
| blossom out wonderfully toward the
end of the play. The billboards say
that here I am Nanette Willis at her
best"
In the center Of the woodland path
Jim stood STILL
"You," he said unbelievingly. "Nan-
cite Withstand never guessed.
Used to follow your scenes just to see
you smile. And I-dared to ask you
to be my wife. Great gosh r he added
sadly, ''how you must laugh to your
self"
But l am not laughing. Jim," Nan
said. I'm a strange girl, you know.