, 1921-12-29
The Wonderful
Oregon Roses
BY LAURA

foolish to plan about studying any
more. High school is enough for any
girl. What good will your education
DO o when o are married?" de-
mahued Wayne as she settled her hat
well over the right eye better spend
that money for some dolly clothes.
Ioul never get you a sweetie going
about In that suit. You might be
your W grandmother for all the
style you have
Lofty went on soberly with her
work. Mayme had taken advantage
OF her employers absence to stop work
ten minutes before twelve; she al
ways went in and powdered well be-
fore the noon hour so that the instant
the big hands pointed to twelve she
would be ready to shrug into her tight
little coat n vanish. 81 shall be
able to earn more when I have taken
that business course" Lofty replied.
Your mother works, too, doesn't
she?' asked Wayne, who took a rank
Interest In Lotty's affairs, 80 you
don't have to earn for two"
yes, but mother doesn't like Chi
cage very well. You see, our friends
are all out West we lived near Port
land in Oregon and she would be glad
to go back there. II l could earn a
good salary for n year or two, we could
save enough between us to go back
and take the risk of being ou of work
for a month or so. What I would like
to do would be TO get a small house
nnd folrA n@4 - N--1 ri
with what I could carr we would have
enough so mother would not have to
go out every day"
Mayme applied her llpstick care
fully before answering: "You sure
talk like an old lady. Don't you ex-
pect to marry? Going to work all
your life?"
Lofty flushed and remained silent.
She knew hat she would not marry
now. She had had her dreams and
they had dissolved into the mists of
the past. The man she loved lived
in Oregon and they had gone together
since childhood. She had never known
what had come between them, but
he had stopped writing: That some
one had made trouble, she guessed,
but she could do nothing to bridge
over the silence that had sickened her
world for her.
Tom had, quite evidently, tired of
the sensible plain-faced girl, who had
no spectacular accomplishments. Lofty
was just a nice. average girl, with an
immense capacity for love and for
making her loved ones comfortable.
but as for dressing to catch the row
ing eye Of pampered young men, such
a thought had never been entertained
by her and she turned a Leaf ear to
the advice Mayme lavished upon her.
Mayme was a big. good-natured girl,
who frankly wished to marry and who
was willing to drag Lofty after her
in the pursuit Of a compliant meal
ticket. Wayne intended, in a vague,
inchoate way, to be a good wife, but
her methods. in Lotty's eyes, were
very crude. Lofty lived In a world of
dreams, where the man who loved her
sought her.
Lofty, l am afraid you will have
course" said Mrs. Skitch, as her
daughter prepared their little meal.
Mrs. Skitch was n frail, dark-eyed
woman. who had had many troubles,
but who had preserved a cheerful spir-
It In spite of these.
NO" Lofty smiled at her across
the tiny room. 81 shall enjoy the
course. Three nights a week Isn't
much and we are going to have just
IN hIfa dnuvnfnun those ntuhtg and
then I'm going to take you over to the
public library. where you can read the
new magazines until I'm through. Then
you won't have a lonely evening at
home"
The night of the first lesson CHANGED
to be rainy. Lofty established her
mother in the reading room and then
sloshed down through the mud and
rain to her class. She had had a hard
day and her wet feet did o add to
her comfort. The crowds jostled her
and the glaring street lights only
served to intensity her loneliness. It
did seem as though there ought to be
some place for her. All she craved
was a tiny home with warmth and
privacy.
The crowded house where they
rented MISUNDERSTANDING rooms was
never still. The married couple in the
rooms next them wrangled far into the
night. The musical student above
practlced feverIshly when she was not
cooking food with strange foreign
odors. A florists display reminded her
Of the wonderful roses in Oregon.
even If I get through in six months"
she reflected, Keeling as a hurrying
man almost knocked her or her feet,
before wen have enough TO pay our
expenses back home.
III mother could putter about a
garden and see her old friends she
vpntId cot etronpar She Isn't ohla