Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-12-28
LORA GOES TO TOWN

BY I. WRIGHT.

purse in one hand, a list of errands in
the other and old Mrs Martins UNI
brella hung on her arm. The umbrella
was to be left at one of the depart
ment stores to be mended.
"Why carry an umbrella on a day
like this?" called Jessie Meacham,
whose veil proclaimed to the suburb
Of Westmont that she, too, was going
into the city for the day.
Before Lora could answer, a young
collie rushed pell nell up the street,
followed at slower pace by a young
man with his cap under his arm. The
surgeons case in one hand told he was
doctor.
LOT of errands to do for everybody
in town, as usual?" he asked as he
came up to the girls.
Lora smiled.
"Oh, of course" answered Jessie
Meacham. Actually it gets so bad
that sometimes think I'll get up and
take the milk train into town to avoid
the errands every one has"
Il was going to ask one of you to
order some dog biscuits for the pup.
He hasn't one biscuit left and the
grOcers here in town don't carry
them"
The train whistle urged the girls to-
wards the station and after they were
well on the way into town the chief
topic Of WestmOnt conversation came
up. "Only the young married people
are going to go, really" announced
Jessie Meacham. "Of course, the girls
will go-as many of them as there are
unmarried men in Westmont-and you
know" then she paused and stared at
Lora, you know how many young,
unmarried men there are in West
mont"
Lora added another item to her
penciled list and laughed as she lis
tened. '''There aren't many" she con-
fessed, "yet, at least nine girls will get
invitations to the affair, if all of the
unattached men go. For my part, I
don't even expect to go, and so 1 am
settled. If it's nice evening I'll take
Bonnie to the movies"
Her voice tried to keep disappOint-
ment from the surface, but Jessie
Meacham only smiled cynically. "Well,
1 want to go. If a person stays home
from that she'll be dead socially as far
as WestmOnt is concerned. You know
that, LOra Romaine And I'm going to
go to it if l have to ask somebody to
take me-"
Lora gasped. "You never would! !"
eff I didn't think young Doctor Miles
would be off on a hike with that collie
! of his I'd ask him to take me-" said
Jessie stoutly.
Lora's cheeks flushed, but as the
train was already entering the station
no one noticed.
All day long Lora rushed from place
to place. She had come in to the city
to buy some fringe and trimming for
a black lace frock.
In the seventh-floor grocery depart
ment she bought a five-pound box of
dog biscuits and ordered five more
boxes to be delivered. The five-pound
box she carried with her.
She arrived at the station in time to
watch the last coach Of the 5 :51 pull
out The next train for Westmont
would not leave until 6 :42 eff 1
hadn't stopped for the dog biscuit"
she said to herself. Before she could
finish, some one tapped her on the arm.
It was young Doctor Miles.
Miss it?' he asked.
She nodded. It meant that she
aunt was strict and meals were not
kept waiting for any one, no matter
what the excuse might be.
II just came in and happened to
see you looking after the hOme-going
train," laughed Doctor Miles. II had
to get some dog biscuits and the wires
were down from the storm last night
-"
Here's one box and five more will
be delivered" said Lora, handing him
the package.
He stared at her. "Why, dear
girl" he paused, coloring.
Hardly realizing it, Lora found her
self sitting opposite him at rose
shaded dinner table in the loop, her
parcels checked at the station.
'Wasn't it lucky you missed the
train and-and ALL" young Doctor
Miles was saying haltingly. "You
see, I've been wanting to ask you to
go to that dinner dance they're fixing
up out home, but you seemed so stand
offish and-and formal-and all-but
when you handed me that box Of dog
biscuits-why, hang it all, it was such
an awfully friendly thing and-and-
all. When / asked this morning just
meant to have some delivered"
"But the pup didn't have ahy-for
tonight" put in Lora, her gray eyes
sparkling gayly.
"Never mind the pup-hell have his
dinner You're going with me to that
| dinner dance. l absolutely refuse to
| take anything but yes for an answer"
And as Lora agreed softly to go she
did not regret the missed train nor din
| nov ho,s holco