The herald., 1921-01-06
AN UGLY DUCKLING
BY ALICE FREEMAN.

&C. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syholcaes'
A group Of FIVE girls were sitting be
fore an open fireplace in the living
room of Edith Halls country home.
Four of them we're enthusiastically
planning a sleighing party. Elizabeth
Martin, as usual. simply sat and
listened. Now and then she sighed
softly as one of her friends related
some incident which took place on the
last sleighing party. They we're try
ing to decide what fellows they could
depend upon to even up their party.
There is that new family across
the street and a perfectly stunning
young man comes out Of the house
every morning, but he simply will not
look at one of u.s." said the hostess
with a hopeless sigh. "He was pres
ent at the church social the other eve
ming, and when 1 met him the next
morning thought surely he would
recognize me, but he passed by with
out even looking at mel"
Each girl had some such story to
relate, excepting Elizabeth.
Soon Elizabeth excused herself, and
with a hurried good-by she went out.
~ suppose Beth would have to be
Included" said one girl.
"Yes, but I doubt If she will 60" re-
piled another. you know how she Is
when there are fellows concerned"
Just outside In the hallway Eliza
beth Martin smothered a low cry. She
had come back, unnoticed, for her rub
bers, and as she heard her name
tossed around she took quick step
forward as If to rush into the room
where the girls were talking. A mo-
/ ment later she had changed her mind,
and noiselessly she slipped out OF the
house and hurried across the street
and home.
So that was what they thought
She was afraid of fellows! Well, she
would show them something. She,
who had never had a beau-she would
60 on their sleighing party and she
would 20 with fellow, too. Yes, she
would 20 with Allen Morse. the fell
low who had Just moved in, next door
the fellow that all the girls had tried
to attract and had failed. But she
would not fall Then perhaps they
would change their minds. and she
would be the ugly duckling no longer.
The next thing to decide was show
to meet him." 1t was Tuesday and the
party was to be Thursday. She spent
the rest of the afternoon and evening
In thought. That day the sun had
shone brightly, and the snow on the
walk In front Of her house had
melted.
'Tf It freezes tonight, I can do IT,"
she told herself and as she dropped of
to sleep late that night, a smile rested
on her lips.
Fate was with her, for the next
morning was cold and windy. She
was I'D early and with her coat on and
an attractive tam, which was arranged
becomingly over one ear. she stood In
the doorway, hidden from view by q
curtain which was drawn partly aside.
She watched the pedestrians as they
passed, carefully picking their way
along the icy sidewalk.
Suddenly the curtain at the door
was drawn together and Elizabeth
Martin came quickly out Of her house,
Just as a young man came into view
in front of his own house, next door,
They both reached the end Of Eliza
beth's walk ut the same moment, and
their eyes met. As Elizabeth turned
the corner her foot slipped on the ice,
and with low cr7 she fell forward.
Allen Morse threw out his arms and
caught her, holding her closely for q
brief moment, but long enough to
bring a burning flush to the girls
cheeks.
"All rightr' he asked. simply.
She thought she was, she told him
and after thanking him, she tried to
free herself from his grasp. But he
had mistaken the qriver in her voice
for one of pain, and kept firm hold
on her arm. As she stepped forward
she swayed q little, then sank bach
In his arms.
"Better let me help you" he offered
and with a supporting arm around
her, he led her back into the house
He made sure that she was resting
comfortably before he left her, with
a casual remark that "he would dror
In in the evening to see Il she was al
right"
As soon as she heard the front dool
close she quickly arose and ran to tn,
window, from where she watched hin