The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-11-17
A GREAT GIRL
BY HATTIE OXFORD.


These five young women, Mrs. Bay
lies roomers, we're 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
nouncng: That's for Dwight FL
wood, our interesting new roomer from
the West. Want me TO read II to
your"
"That would he awfully cheeky"
Miss Lavender Sweater objected.
"Oh. do, do" coaxed Miss Orange
Sweater aud Miss Blue Sweater, with
mischlevous dancing eyes.
"All right, here goes:
Dwight, my dear boy-Hesterday
for one happy" She dropped II
as though it had suddenly grown red
hot a tall. smiling young man stood
ut her side
I'm not homesick any more" he
said. "Nou folks here are just like
the good, curious folks way back
home"
lie picked up the card and handed
# to her "Go on Miss Ausue, the
girls want to hear the rest
81 don't waut--l won't read another
word Miss AIusie declared, blushing
and lookng extremely uncomfortable.
She handed back he card
"Very vcu them" he said brIskiy
"Tll read IL TO YOU.
"Dwight my dear hoy-lesterday
for one happy moment ! tholght
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 satis-
fed smile aren't you glad have a
girl back home who isn't ashamed TO
let the world know how much she
thinks of me?"
The girls murmured with a con-
spcucus 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 a mile
away. Dwight Elwood asked permls-
sion to walk with her.
81 work In the building opposite
! yours" he said; 80 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
auick-wltted management Of her car
/ IN emergencies, on the quantity, quail
lty and diversity Of the work she did
Tor her country IN war time
"And her letters, Miss Holt-i'm 90
| Ing to read you extracts sometime.
/ They ave so bright In spots they'd
\ fairly put your eyes out Oh, tell
| you. Priscilla Ardon's a great girl.
She lives right next to where | live
with my father ana aunr-my mothe,
I died whci ] was baby-and has
always been my jelly good chum."
Not long after this Dwight began
to act as If he had forgotten Priscilla
Arden lie stopped reading extracts
from her letters 10 Ruth, and rarely
mentioned ler name. Ruth wondered
great deal.
Three seasons passed and spring
I ha
Ruth in ylne-covered summer house
I'm the lower end of the garden one
day. He had something on his mind
on II rolled right then and there.
II seemed To him as II million are
lights were making luminous the fact
that Ruth az I himself were lust made
for each other. He spoke his convic-
tions. He was bound that the girl
should see as he saw and agree TO
his llfe-together proposition.
But the girl jumped up AID faced
him squarely, eyes flashing: Confess
you made similar fervent speech "a
your girl back home before you left
No doubt you'll make another to still
another girl before long Shame on
you for forgetting That hne glrl
Ruth" the young man said, 81 could
tell you something which would i'm
mcdIately set your mind AT rest. but
wan, 20 feel you trust me without
any more explaining"
"NIlSs Holt, a1etter for you
Ruth took the letter from the maid
She opened II, and read the signature
first: priscilla Arden" Surprised
She was. She was absurdly apprehen
slye. too. So, Dwight had told the
girl and the girl was going to upbrait
her. She started to read:
MY Dear Ruth-YOu are Ruth tC
me already So glad you nave de
clded to make Dwight happy; but yot
can't take my place In his heart-n'
one can. You viii have big place OF
your own. How tired | used 20 gel