The Press., 1921-02-17
Roger'1.. Girl
By LILY WANDEL

OI Ino IbIuSu NN
 dow that commanded the best view oi . the railroad tracks, folded her hands on her alpaca lap and waited, tnih' gentle smile. of expectancy on her anxious face. .! ?. >t---..s ..'.- - .
 The train which would be. in short sly would bring Rogers tiancee. Every .thing was ready for her-the house cleaned artd polished from top to bot tom, both spafe-rO0ms in the pink or condition. - ' .,
 Sine ~boped that this Mary would'hOt be exactly as Roger had glowinsiy "e- scribed her fiji his letter. yet she prom fsed herself that no matter what Mary turned out to he sfle was going to love = .her and cherish .hef for Rogers sake. She recalled the passage in his, letter: " Mary is the most capable and erl- >eient girl l have. ever met, so thor- f0ughly able, e manage herself ana 2yervbofly. A wonderful girl. you will admire her from the Bottom of your 5hqart, mofher dear. Shes so energetic. and SD efficient there's no one like her Fil he down on Saturday and bX, mat time. hope you two will have become acquainted aud good friends" =.
 Ii frightened little Mrs. Linw0"i .fust a bit. Sic had always Ionged for .a daughter, she wanted to mother her and cuddle her and give her all sorts of advice, but the girl Roger descrlhPd in his Ictter-she was awed by all her capahility ind subcOnsciOuSly she wished that ROger's girl would he a dear little thing who needed moth- CTS love and comforting. For years she had planned how it would he when Roger would bring home the girl or his choice, how she would make her feel at home and at ease. relieve her nf thai Strar4ed atmosphere that so often comes when a young woman first meets her fnnIre mOther-in-law. But now it would he just the other way
 .:h A shrfek from an approaching loco motive made little Mrs. Linwood: close ;her eyes seeking. perhaps, inward strength to meet Mary in a few min utes-the little depot was 'Only a few. hlthtlrpd fePtfrom the house. -'
 .Heavens hit eartfI!,: GHhriela from the kitchen "raihe iscreaminga in" the rb6n: ,.'F.6nk. look Mis- '~ LiRw0Jd. what's hapfe1eti !'' ....:.,.. -. .,.
 Mrs. LfnWood Jumped. from her chair aud than looked, where Gabrlela pointed In. the distance where the. train made the curve lay: the last cnstch of. the, train ,Qverturhell. torn from its coupling, swarm of people . collecting ..+.,.. .,.-,,-..,c.,....... ,...< The little woman turned pale. her first thought Of Mary ''Nfy 1$hawf,'' sl4 Whispered. floarSeIy. and when Ga , hrleIa had laid, ft-around 1lei shaking shoulders she Hew cut across the yard, through the, meadow. A tfainman, l5eRring.> .>the limp figure. met her ,half-. Wag. ,s::,,t: --...s ssss~ +:s..ssess.. : ssKdu Mrs. Linwood?" .ghe. asked breath!ess!y ''E picked up her 9handr &sbag and. this card fell out with your adtlress4fguess that's where she want-i el to gb!'s;s < t'N .''..s '. F ~. ]
 Mrfs. Linwood nodded and quickly. led the way back 10 the house. -"Prt. saher here. please, "a She. said. indicating the parFof sofa, and watched the man lay a slip of a girl down .sz -::..c I !, Rogers mOtleEqhent over. her eager., Iy, lovingly, What 8 sweet, white, baby, face, what lovely. little brown, ctirls escaping, from, a. lemure little, hat Oh; she loved her at first sight, adored her, wanted herl She, kissed the white check and then turned to the man. "Are many hurtT
 Quite few men and another wOn- an. Going to take them right on, to the hospital in Cfitaw-nOne here in this little burg" * :. *-.'. >'-'-.
 "Oh." gasped Mrs. EinwOOd, tears springing t6 her eyes. ''how dreadful that. long ride to Chitaw:2 and a w0n= an,.. too. poor, thingT. Oh bring her: here. .please!:y We can ,care, for her; 1 I've two bedrooms. ready. and sGabriela I win telephone fer Doctor Fern .:,...~
 "All rightsss agreed the .trainman readily. "In bring her here in a min ute," and hurried out. .l.f .:-
 Mrs, LInwood turned to Gabriela. ''Carry= Miss, Mary up to the south spare room and when the man brings the woman have him take her up to the north r0om," ,4..-. ..... ..,. ....
 Mrs. Linwood undressed Mary her. self and, putting on her one of her own lavender-scenled, nightdresses, tucked her in the big feur-pOster.: :. ... -..~ | Doctor Fern arrived and. after: tharough examination. declared a sprained ankle was .alA that twas wrong. ,.'s@~~ >&-.l :ft :4:@:.asf-" " :"
 "Thank God, |" whispered Mrs Lin wood ferventlys 'She's very precious to me and to my son: And oh, I; al- most fOrgOtLthere's some One;'in the north room. I haven't had tfnS to look fn-Gabrfela's there--I@ can't leave Mary" ,fcs,..rI r3H !c: 1s,.s.-..,.; ::
 After awhile Doctor Fern looked in again. ""WeiE.: TIAxed up4the other. pa- ttent, too: She's not a -bit, frightened nor faint. cut on her head and a few bruises fl1aFss aIl.' = a=,; ,;,~--.-. .'.
 Pretty soen4ths young girl opened pair of puzzled violet, eyes. =~:... Mrs. .Linwood. hastened. to explain and sOothe.. "PheEes .heen an accia dent: Mary, dear. 4s Nothing much !; 1 you're just a wee bit shurt, and you're safe here with me, Mrs; LfnwoOd. dear
 Rogers s-motiler.' '' '----:---4 '@' ''''''- -7- -~
 "An accident?" repeated the girl slowly. still lazeCl. e2 "OR, EsrelBemIl'eS. now. was sitting on the same seat ; with another girl and--"z slle chung to Mrs. 'Ldhwood frightened, and the lat ter, held her4elose;< <tlropptng5sof kisses on the pretty brown curls. l You must not talls; XGuare to. keep real quiet. Now curl up and go to sIeePdN =5 %zt.e S:Gg
 js She looked up into the loving, anxious face of the older woman, smiled contentedly, .curled up ODedlent- ly and fell asleep like a little kitten.
 Mrs. LinwOOd tiptOed out and sent sher. I1essagS to Roger. She heard voices from the north spare room, the tones of the strange woman and Ga briele' s not the lafter's cheerful voice, s but suIky, ,agIaOAt itnpudent.