The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-03-10
Popular Chrissie
BY D WHITE
&c. 1920, Western Newspaper Union. ,

towns social leader. To be upon Wis
iting terms with Mrs. DUPONT was an
open sesame to all other houses,
while Chrissie, it seemed was herself
the bestower Of favor when she poured
afternoon tea at Mrs. DuPont's. Men
focked to Chrissie's side like butter
flies to a sweet flower, and Christie
v sought attention.
Studied im%personally, the happy
young woman was not especially pref
ty. True, her eyes we're good, with
a something in their depths which
made you trust her instinctively. And
Chrissie's smile was bright and win
| ming. But there were far prettier
girls in Evansville, whom she eclipsed,
and there were many more fortunate
In this worlds goods.
Christina Leighs' family left her the
old homestead and a modest income
for maintenance, while old Mamie
Rose offered in the girls desolation
to stay with "her baby free and for
ever;" 81 Chrissie continued her
reign.
II wish I knew" one Of Chrissie's
young friends said, "just what it is
about Chrissie that everyone likes?
It can't be her looks exactly, though
she Is sweet, and I know girls more
entertaining"
Reckon" answered Mamie Rose
dryly, "what folks likes most bout
Chrissie is-Chrissie."
And then, the throne trembled.
1t a. a new arrival who, coming
to the staid little town like a bright
flash across their sky, claimed atten-
ton. The young men who had been
Christmas acknowledged adorers,
1ocked like sheep to the newcomers
door. H..
Young women, curious and envious,
were next to seek admittance, but eau
tious and %resentful parents held this
desire in check.
Miss Shirley Wendell was the name
the beautiful stranger gave. when rent
ing the newly finished bungalow. She
was a teacher Of singing it was an
%nounced, with an advertisement In
the town paper. And the coldness Of
the towns people troubled Miss Wen
dell not at all, as she continued to
sing her songs to the towns incest
young men at evening. The bungalow
living was kept eve gay with
their presence.
Chrissie, stunned at the unusual
emptiness Of her own "parlor" at eve
ming, for young women too had suffer-
ed a sudden setback Of interest there
gazed wondering through the window
as Shirley Wendell went by.
"She is really lovely" Chrissie said
to Mamie Rose, land I like her odd
attractive clothes. It is not strange
that we should seem dull, by COM
parison."
Dull !" grunted Mamie Rose. Huh !!
I've seen bright lights that dazzle
your eyes after awhile, till they
smarts. Reckon Mister Willie will be
right glad to soothe his eyes again
with something restful."
Chrissie's fair skin flushed rose
color.
will Condor is free to go where
he pleases," she said. "there was no
engagement between us, Mamie"
"Not 'xactly," Mamie Rose replied
unmoved. mighty close to-it though,
honey"
But Chrissie. had gone flying up
stairs. Perhaps, after all, it was Wills
absence which made the parlor so
very empty at evening.
All that week the bungalow was 81
lent, with blinds drawn close where
bright lights had been. The defiant
newcomer. was i'll. Doctor Benton
pronounced her trouble the prevailing
epidemic. Miss Wendell would be all
right soon, he said, with proper care.
But care of any kind seemed impos-
sible to procure.
In her dark room the sick woman
lay helpless and alone. There were
many unopened boxes of flowers about.
Chrissie recognized them as she en-
| tered. Chrissie sat down on the bed
at the sick girls side.
II have come to make you comfort
able" she said gently, "and I will stay
with you until you are better, If you
WISH" -.
Shirley Wendell reached up to
switch on the lights, widening. her
/ dark eyes stared into those other eyes
that people trusted; then her lips
twisted a wry smile.
"It's rather. strange, isn't itT she
asked, shat you should come to do
this for me?' Weakly, she sank back
on her pillows. w.
"Mr. Will Condor has been coming
here a lot" she said.
"Mr. Condon," Chrissie replied, '1s
free to go where he likes"
Suddenly the girl leaned forward.
"But he doesn't like me" she said
excitedly. "He never really has liked
me. One way or another, I've coaxed
him here, and made him jealous Of
you, because you see-I was Jealous
myself. of your popularity. Just
couldn't seem to understand It"
Impulsively the hot hands reached
out to Chrissie's warm and kindly