The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-04-07
A GREAT GIRL
BY HATTIE OXFORD.

rive anlmuteu WedreTS u bWthtcIS
which in hues approximated the peren-
mails of Mrs. Baylie's old-fashioned
flower garden, were bending over the
beds with delighted exclamations.
These five young women, Mrs. Bay
lies roomers. were saturating them
selves with the summer morning out
side before going to their respective
places of business.
The postman handed Miss Old Rose
Sweater the mail for the house. She
separated card from the rest, an
nouncing: That's for Dwight FL
wood. our interesting new rOomer from
the West Want me to read it to
your
"That would he awfully cheeky"
Miss Lavender Sweater objected.
"Oh, do, do" coaxed Miss Orange
Sweater and Miss Blue Sweater, with
mischievous dancing eyes.
"All right, here goes:
".Dwight, my dear boy-Yes esterday
for one happy" She dropped 1t
as though it had suddenly grown red
hot. A tall smiling young man stood
at her side.
"I'm not homesick any MORE" he
said. "You folks here are just like
the good, curious folks way back
home"
He picked up the card and handed
1t to her "Go on, Miss Ainslie, the
girls want to hear the rest"
II don't want-I won't read another
word" Miss Ainslie declared, blushing
and looking extremely uncomfortable.
She handed back the card
every well. then" he said briskly,
''I'll read 1t to you.
"Dwight, my dear boy-Yesterday
for one happy moment i thought l
heard your footsteps on my veranda.
Then remembered the thousands of
miles between us. / am thinking of
YOU constantly and wishing all kinds
of good things for you. / will answer
your nice, long letter soon. Don't
let any of the New England girls take
away my place in your heart. De-
votedly.
"'Your Chum Next Door"
..There." he exclaimed with salts
fed smile, "aren't you glad l have
girl back home who isn't ashamed to
let the world know how much she
thinks of me?'
The girls murmured with con-
spicuous lack of enthusiasm that his
girl was certainly worth having.
Just then four of the girls got on
the electric car. Ruth Holt. in the
lavender sweater, started to walk, as
her office was barely half mile
away. Dwight Elwood asked permis-
sion to walk with her.
81 work in the building opposite
yours" he said so glad can have
company"
The young man spoke at length on
the excellence of the girl back home
as they walked along. on her cool
quick-witted mana cement of her car
In emergencies, on the quantity, quail
ity and diversity of the work she did
FOR her country in war time
"And her letters, Miss Holt-Tm 60
ing to read you extracts sometime.
They are so bright In spots they'd
fairly put your eyes out oh, i tell
you, Priscilla Arden's great girl.
She lives right next to where ! live
with my father and aunt-my mother
died when / was baby--and has
always been my Jolly good chum.'
Not long after this Dwight began
to act as if he had forgotten Priscilla
Arden. lie stopped reading extracts
from her letters TO Ruth, and rarely
mentioned her name. Ruth wondered
a great deal.
Three seasons passed and spring
came. Dwight sought until he found
Ruth in vine-covered summer house
in the lower end of the garden one
day. He had something on his mind.
on II rolled right then and there.
1t seemed to him as If million are
lights were making luminous the fact
that Ruth and himself were just made
for each other. He spoke his convic-
tions. He was bound that the girl
should SIZE as he saw and agree to
his life-together proposition.
But the girl jumped up and faced
him squarely. eyes flashing: Confess
You made II similar fervent speech to
your girl back home before you left.
NO uouDt you II MAKE aio'her 10 sun
another girl before long. Shame OH
you for forgetting that fine girl"
Ruth" the young man said. Il could
tell you something which would i'm
mediately set your mind at rest, bui
want to feel yon trust me without
any more explaining"
Miss Holt, letter for you"
81, l.. 4
She opened 1t, anc read the signature
first: priscilla Arden" Surprised?
She was. She was absurdly apprehen-
sive, too. So, Dwight had told the
girl and the girl was going to upbraid
her. She started to read:
"My Dear Ruth-You are Ruth to
me already. So glad you have de-
cided Tn mako DWIGHT hannv. h,tt yot,