The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-09-17

again. swell, fixed up the other pa
tent, too. She's not bit frightened
nor faint. A cut on her head and q
few bruises; that's ALL
Pretty soon the young girl opened 8
pair of puzzled violet eyes.
Mrs. LinwoOd fastened to explain
and soothe There's been an acct.
dent Mary, dear. Nothing much
you're just wee bit hurt, and you're
safe here with me, Mrs. Linwood, dear
Rogers mother"
can accident?" repeated the girl
slowly, still dazed. "Oh, / remember
now. I was sitting on the same seat
with another girl and" she clung to
Mrs. Linwood frightened, and the lat
ter held her close. dropping soft kisses
on the pretty brown curls.
"You must not talk; you're to keep
real quiet. Now curl up and go to
sleepw
She looked up into the loving,
anxious face of the older woman,
smiled contentedly, curled up obedient-
ly and fell asleep like little kitten.
Mrs. Linwood tiptoed out and sent
her message to Roger. She heard
voices from the north spare room, the
tones of the strange woman and Ga
briela's; not the latter's cheerful voice,
but suTky, almost impudent.
Hastily she opened the north room
door. A large, well-built young
woman with bandaged head sat up
In bed gesticulating. 81 never saw
such clumsy person! That is not
the way. Obi" spying Mrs. Linwood
in the doorway. $50 you finally really
do me the honor of coming in"
Mrs. Linwood looked at her open
mouthed. Gabriela took advantage of
the moment to slip from the room. :
What do you mean, to allow that
clumsy, ignorant person tend to my
needs? If you could not get trained
nurse, why did you not come yourself?
The very least you could do for me,
you know, was to attend to me your
self. | will tell you this, Mrs. Lin
wood, you have not very good man.
ners; you have still a lot to learn.
Here I've been nearly four hours
and only NOW you find it worth
while"
Here Mrs. Linwood, whose face had
dyed deep, angry red, burst out.
"You ungrateful person I wish 1 had
let them take you on to Chitaw to the
hospital! If you want to stay under
my roof you'll act different, young
woman. mind that" and she marched
out, closing the door.
Down in the kitchen Gabriela greet
ed her with a flood of angry tears.
She poured out her grievances against
the young woman in the north room.
Mrs. Lfnwood comforted her. ''Don't
mind her. In a day or two she will
be well enough to leave and it teaches
again in the house."
The first train in the morning
brought Roger, :ensely anxious.
Don't worry, darling, she is not
badly hurt at all. And, Roger, love
her so! She's everything I've longed
for!''
Roger promptly gave his mother an
extra hug and kiss. 81 knew 1T Isn't |
she wonderful?"
Arm in arm they went up stairs. At |
the top they halted for an instant, the |
mother turning south, when without |
the slightest warning the north bed
room door shot open and it's occu-
pant, fully dressed, stepped out. Mrs.
Linwood, annoyed, attempted to guide
her son swiftly past but he broke
away from her and ran quickly to the
tall young woman crying. Dear
Mary" and kissed her mouth and
cheeks.
Roger" the new Mary's voice
came shrllly. "You- mother has treat
ed me outrageOusly Pretending nor to
know me, allowing herself to be
tricked by-by that thing" Mechan-
ically their eyes followed her pointing
finger. In the doorway of the south
bedroom stood the other Mary, dressed,
so tiny and so frightened.
Mrs. Linwood saw Rogers face
grow dark and forbfdding, his lips
into an unforgiving line.
The little Mary, limping, came clos.
err; she held out bag t6ORoger's
fiancee. Here's yoIr handbag = in
the excitement l must have picked It
up!" The real Mary took it from, her
without word. Mrs. Linwood did not
hear any more the banister seemed to
rise high above her. II
When she came TO, she found her
self on her own bed, Gabriela's anx-
ous face bending over her. "Where is
she?' was her first thought l
They're all gone, Mis- Linwood," .
answered the woman YEARLY. ''That
1ice little girl jumped off to the sta
ion, and you should have heard that s
nasty big thing bawl out Mr.. Roger! {
Ny land she was still at it when they /.
eft the house! Oh, and here's a card
he little girl left for you, ma'am."
Mrs. Linwood read, "Miss Mary /,
Barker" and on the other side, in
PENCIL, with heartfelt thanks and :
much love-" There was an address.
90.
The>next day toward evening Mrs.
4inwood answered the doorbel her :
elf. 1t was Roger. The moment she
aw his face she knew what had hap
lened. Not word did he say, SIM
ny buried his head on her shoulder;
md she felt hot tear on her neck.
Never mind, my son." she com. ..