The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-03-10
A GREAT GIRL
BY HATTIE OXFORD.


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 mall for the house, She
separated a 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
you?"
"That would be awfully cheeky"
Miss Lavender Sweater objected.
"oh, do, do" coaxed Miss Orange
Sweater and Miss Blue Sweater, with
mlschievous dancing eyes.
"All right, here goes:
"Dwght, my dear boy-Yesterday
for one happy" She dropped it
as though 1t had suddenly grown red
hot A tall smiling young man stood
ut her side.
I'm not homesick any mOre," he
said. "You folks here are just like
the good, curious folks way back
home"
lie picked up the card and handed
II to her. "Go on, Miss Ainslie, the
girls want TO hear the rest"
81 don't want--I won't read another
word" Miss Ainslie declared, blushIng
and looking extremely uncomfortable.
She handed back the card.
"Yery well, then" he said briskly
"Tll read it to you.
"Dwight, my dear boy-Yesterday
for one happy moment / 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
yotedlyy
"Your Chum Next Door"
There" he exclaimed with a 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 a con-
splcuous 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.
u work in the building opposite
yours" he said so glad l can have
company"
The young man spoke at length ON
the excellence Of the girl back home
as they walked along. on her cool
qulck-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-Tm GO
Ing to read you extracts sometime.
They are so bright in spots they'd
fairly put your eyes out. Oh, tell
you, Priscilla Arden's a great girl
She lives right next to where live
with my father and aunt-my mother
died when l 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 1t rolled right then and there
1t seemed to him as if a million arc
lights were making luminous the fact
that Ruth and himself were just made
for each other. He spoke his convlc-
tions. lie was bound that the girl
should see as he saw and agree to
his llfe.together proposition.
But the girl jumped up and faced
him squarely, eyes flashing: Confess
you made similar fervent speech to
your girl bnck 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, 81 could
tell you something which would i'm
mediately set your mind at rest, but
l want to feel you trust me without
any more explaining"
Miss Holt, letter for you
Ruth took the letter from the maid
She opened It, and read the signature
first: priscilla Arden" Surprlsedl
She was. She was absurdly apprehen-
slye, too. So, Dwight had told the
girl and the girl was going to upbraid
her. She started 70 read;
MY Dear Ruth-You are Ruth to
me already. SO glad you have de-
clded to make Dwight happy; but you
can't take my place in his heart-no
one can. You viii have big place OF
your own. How tired used to get
before the boy went away, trying to
be youthful. Oh the strain of autoing
and tramplng with him; for I'm grow
ing old. I'm old enough TO be his
-. -l.-..LL.... o.. lnnL L 49,. IL. 1rrn III