The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1920-09-24
AN AIR ROMANCE
BY CAROL GAY.

whom the neighbors called Mother
NJ and her three daughters, Is
ther, Elspeth and Jean. They were,
one and all, tall and most divinsly fair.
Theirs was the straight. virile beauty
In the wilds, clear-eyed and goddess
like And they were one and all de-
| liciously youthful. In fact Esther
was twenty-one, Elspeth twenty, and
Jean seventeen, thick braids still down
| her back.
Esther was the tallest and the most
beautiful.
Elspeth was slim and always clad
/ in black, in memory of lover. war
killed, with tender gray eyes, over
| flowing always with love and kindli-
ness wide, smiling red lips; poor girl
she had taught, those lips to smile
asain, with steady, patient resolution,
and a coronst Of glossy chestnut
| braids.
And Jeanl Jean, her starry eyes
forever aglow, was the brightest ray
Of Mother Ms halo.
Each Sunday eve as Esther depart
| Cd after her weekend visit, stin and
| starched, with a full valise, Jean
would gaze at her with wistfulness
and whisper: "Oh, you are 80 forta-
| nate, Essie.
It was en- Monday. Jean would
never forget that epoch-makinS date!
It was stormy and Esther had con-
eluded not to set forth until Tuesday.
Old Widow W. was Ill Of lum-
bago, with net q soul 60 care for her.
prepare q basket, and we will 60
| to her at once. No help indeed!
Twas Widow W. made my we'd
ding gown. I'll Fay her in full for all
her kindliness," declared the kindly
Mother NJ. as she tied on her
| bennet.
AaA Jean, eager for the trip. obey
Cd with alacrity.
| The widow made comfortable. and
her mother securely installed In tho
humble abode, Jean resumed her uf'
ster and catching up her empty bas-
kst sped toward home.
Not a hundred feet from the Wild
ow's cottage, Jean. pssring through
| the thick fog. discsrned an unfamiliar
| object on the ground. She drew near
er. An enormous eagle? No. ansair-
| planet Jean observed II fascinated.
". II was poised On one wing. The
| rest was shattered. Then Jean stepped
back In wide-eyed horror. A sfal.
| straight form bsneathl
| The man was not dead. no! "bue
he was badly injured" said Doctor
| B. an he bent over the beyish
white face On the pillow. Lucky that
the girl happened along and called
yeu. neither. else the lad might have
died"
Jean. encouraged BY his manner.
asked In q small. frightened voice, II
the patient could be moved to her own
home; explaining that there was
scarce room for the widow and her
attendant, much LESS for the aviator
and Jean, In thessmali cottage.
| "We Will see, ue will see. Perhaps
when he 10 BETTER" smiled the doc
tor, and that eaded 1t.
Jean ran homelto tell her sisters the
usws. while Mother NJ hovered
capably between ;the two patients.
Saturday. Tnes aviator had been III
for nearly q month. Esther arrived to-
day for her weekly visit and John
R., for that was the young mans
name, was to be moved to the ~
dwelling. there to eonvalesce.
At last he was sitting there in the
shabby old armchair, smiling up at her
with his funny. .quirky grim
"A penny for your thoughts, htue
maid" he said d last. Jean laughed
suddenly. and, pattsd his hand.
They wereiof you and Esther. dear
eagieman." But, his mind was far
away as he gazeAsout Of the little win
dow.
| Esther came ands with her q strange
spirit Of shattered speaes that puzzled
and disturbed herr youngest sister.
Poor little maiden. running to the
sweet shelter Of the crowdinS mists,
nghting back the eisobs a. she spoke to
the eerie white shadows that followed
her ever and anon: But love him.
love himi Why's found him here in
the valley. You sbrought him to me-
Do not take -him5away! love him +
That day and the day after Esther
was constantly at his side, smiling
talking. attending him. her blue eyea
k1ndled at last.
And Jean. miserable little Jean. lay
sobbing in the cheeriess loft. But 1t IL
xiyen to him who hath. So 1t was re
stored to her!who had found and cher
ished. Jean. bidding farewell to her
sister Monday morning at the turn OF
the stone-bordered path. said hstless.
~: "Sister. ihow soon will you ana the
eagleman be1 marriedf' Esther stared
and laughed. "You mean John? Why
the boy is only twenty-ons. You silly
little sisterl Why do you flush and
start SO. JeanT
Jean paused solemnly. Because
Love and Adventure have swooped
upon me from the West. Good-by. Es'
de."
Then she ran into the house.
John was sitting disconsolately by
the window. He frightened as ne
heard her soft foOtstep. and turning
saw her eager face.
"Jean, darling!" How naturally II
came from his lips. But she looked
surprised. He laughed. boyishly. hap
PLY.
didn't you knowr think tbs
eagle has found his mate. What doea
she say, Jeannier
Jean buried her head In his blank
cts
HIS mate says-'yss,'" she whis'
pered.
Copyright, 1879 by the Mcclure Nswspa'
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