Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-12
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
city Hands
By ELSIE G.. GOOCH

Down the dusty trail solitary horse
man rode, driving before him ten head
ot cattle. Soon, he knew. the log shack.
that served ns the Kentvile postotfice
and general store as well rs stopping
place, would peep between the line
where the blue sky and burnt yellow
prairie met. His had been a long and
wearSome journey, bringing down old
ienton's cattle to ship on the train
which passed Milcross once n week.
led Thompson, the horseman, was
now straining his eyes 10 sight the black
spot on the horizon--the first glimpse
NJ the rostoffice, where he would spend
the night. and would leave on the NOR
row for Milcross. AT last lit appeared,
and gradually it formed more than a
speck--nOw a black lump on the prairie,
then 1t grew and grew, till he could
make out the barns and stockyard as
well as house.
lie had not seen Lucy, who served
as assistant postmistress, snleslady and
hired girl, for two weeks now, and
he knew she was about as anxious to
see MN as he was to see her. Carefully
inc big cowpuncher turned the knob,
opened It bit, and peeked in. Instead
o. seeing Lucy. her strong arms bare to
the elbows, bustling about the supper
dishes. as hc had expected. he saw some
one oISc--sOl one who didn't look
real at all.
She was sitting on small stool be-
1ore the stove, warming the smallest
white hands Ted Thompson had ever
seen. Her tiny feet were crossed, and
showed some sort of hosiery that be
nad seen advertised as guaranteed
iadies silk hose in the big catalogue
rom tn" mail order department store,
ana he had wondered at the time what
me heck they were. And her clothes
htted unlike any of Lucy's. What a
aream Of a girl! He had read of
dream girls unbeievingly. Now he
was looking at one
W., Ted; do come and close the door
WAere have you been, anyway" And
without giving him time to respond,
Lucy went on: Ted, don't be afraid
70 come in. This is Miss Wells. the
new new school teacher for the Dead Wolf
!IstTIct, and she's from big city In
the East, and she's never been on farm
OF ranch before. We've had our
supper, Ted, but I've saved something
in" '' '''s ""'' VIZ "n" '''
Shc watched him now wonderingly;
M ue had not spoken to her yet. 4 wor-
iled expression settled on her plump,
TTrtoWh features as she set his place.
mn mn she went out to milk the cows,
"ltm0ut another word.
mhen she returned she heard Miss
thl'S Hhel'S laughter and Ted 8 gr1Iff chuckle,
@ onut sounded almost like a choke. His
ss sSes We're brighter than she had ever
% %eh thcm, and his quick, nervous
'"GGgKIes GyI, sounded strange to her.
e., Inc poor thing" she thought after
~; ,hS naa l"ft them alone downstairs. "he
toaGS stoaG Snc 8 laughing with him and in
\ 'au nv sGc laughing at him" Then,
l"W l"S enc climbed into bed, she said aloud
\" S"Tnder when he'll come TO, or will
Aorp him guessing? Well. ! wish l
"S or Us as pretty as her. but II | was
TN WHAT'S the use? When marry Ted
b,.auaV nave to milk and scrub and work
meet. Nv" " h'"Ne oolh ehus
tho "a L,tte the morning she found a note on
Tue Kitchen table.
ssh pear Lucy-Im fool and I'm
seamed to look you In the face that'a
Tny left before sun up. She told me
arG Tas fool when | proposed to her
nJu noNLe sne was right. Imagine those hands
;ns gardening, washing and iron.
SbS,. AND 1t was her hands that got me.
was white, though, for she told me |
had erahy to look at any one when I
7 doD", lucy, can you forget about this?
salt y know enough names to call nv
nut tell me tonight. TED r."
Oh Identity. "'''''' question