Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-04-27
A.:::GREAT:. GIRL !.
BY HATTIE OXFORD.


flower garden, We're bending over the
beds with delighted EXPLANATIONS.
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 a card from the rest, an
nouucing: ''That's for Dwight FL
wood, our interesting new roomer from
the West. Want me to read it to
your"
THAT would be awfully cheeky"
Miss Lavender Sweater objected.
'Oh, do, do" coaxed Miss Orange
Sweater and Miss Blue Sweater, with
mfschievous dancing eyes.
''All right, here goes:
":Dwight, my dear boy-Yesterday
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
it to her. ''Go on, Miss Ainslie, the
girls want to hear the rest"
Il don't want-I won't read another
word" Miss Ainslie declared, blushing
and looking extremely uncomfortable.
She handed back the card.
Every we'll, then," he said briskly,
"I'll read it to you.
"Dwight, my dear boy-Yesterday
for one happy moment I thought l
heard your footsteps on my veranda.
Then I remembered the thousands OF
miles between us. I am thinking Of
you constantly and wishing all kinds
Of good things for you. I will answer
your nice, long letter soon. Don't
let any of the New England girls take
away my place in your heart. De-
:yotedly,
"'Your Chum Next Door,"
'"There," be exclaimed with a salts
fed smile, stHen'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 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.
II work in the building opposite
yours" he said; $50 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 management 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-rm 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 a great girl.
She lives right next to where live
with my father and aunt-my mother
died when I was a baby-and has
always been my jolly good chum."
Not long after this Dwight began
to act as if he had forgotten Priscilla
Arden. He stopped reading extracts
from her letters to Ruth, and rarely
mentioned her name. Ruth wondered
great deal.
Three seasons passed and spring
came. Dwight sought until he found
Ruth in a vine-covered summer house
in the lower end Of the garden one
day. He had something on his mind.
Or it rolled right then and there.
1t seemed to him as If million arc
lights were making luminous the fact
that Ruth and himself were just made
for each other. He spoke his conv1c-
tons. he was bound that the girl
should see as he saw and agree to
his life-together proposition.
But the girl jumped up and faced
him squarely, eyes flashing: Confess
you made similar fervent speech to
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 fine girl"
Ruth" the young man said, II could
tell you something which would i'm
mediately set your mind at rest, but
I want to feel you trust me without
any more explaining"
Miss Holt, a letter for you"
Ruth took the letter from the maid
She opened it, and 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 upbrai(
her. She started to read:
MY Dear Ruth You are Ruth II
me already. So glad you have de
cided to make Dwight happy; but YOU
can't take my place in his hearth.
one ca,.. You will have big place O.
your own. How tired I used to &c
before the boy went 4away, trying t
be youthful. Oh, the strain of autoin,
and tramping with him; for I'm grow
ing old. Pm old enough to be hi
e. NJ hts ~