Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-10-24
THE DOVEC0TE
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BY JULIA A. ROBINSON

entered the station and bought her
ticket. She was not accustomed to
travelling, and took the first train that
came along, supposing that any one
would carry her to Greenic. 49,.
With little gasp at. the unaceus-
toned luxury, she settled herself back
in the cushioned seat and gazed from
the window. How fast the landscape
rushed by, carrying her away from
familiar scenes and dutiesl ..'
The conductor came into the train,
looked at her icket and shook his
head. "Not good on this train, MISS"
he announced, "This train does not
60 to Greenic." ..
The girl stared at him blankly.
"Greenic's on the branch. You'll
have to change at the junction" he ex.
planned.
"Oh! What shall I do?" she gasped.
"Let me off, please"
"Can't till we get to Ames. This Is
an express. A dollar, please" 20.
A dollar With a beating heart she
paid It, wondering If she would have
enough left to take her home.
"Get Off at Ames; take the local."
the conductor told her, and passed on.
Madge stared. All her happiness was
gone. She felt like a lost child, and
wanted to cry.
"Can I help you?" asked friendly
voice from the seat behind. mode
The sound sent thrill to her heart.
She turned and met the brown eyes of
a young man who smiled at her en-.
couragingly.
'You can get train back to the
junction at FIVE this afternoon, but !
am not sure there Is a train out to
Greenic after that hour" he said.
"Have you any friends at the junction
where you could spend the nightT'
mot a person. Oh, what shall do?'
Her hazel eyes were full of distress rs
she fixed them on him. Isn't there a
train from Ames to Greenic?"
"rm sorry, but both are country
places and there Is no connection be-
tween them" She looked so helpless
that he longed to help her.
"Ill tell you what you can do" he
ventured. II stop at Ames. My sister
lives there. She'll keep you to din
ner. In the afternoon I'll harness the
old horse and drive you over to Green
ic. It's only II miles by road; by
train it's days journey.
"Ohw she painted, "but couldn't
i let you do that I"
"Why not? I've nothing else to do.
I'm just down here fox n rest. and I'm
dying for drive. Besides, there's moth
ing else for you to do. There's not
hotel in this hole of place, and we'll
call that settled"
He had left his seat and was sitting
by her side. What could she do but
yield? A sense of comfort stole over
her. They chatted like old friends.
Bring your friend right in," in
vited Harry's sister. "She is quite well
come" it.-
Madge blushed and tried to explain,
but Mrs. Bean was sure she knew what
1t meant.
The ride across the country was de-
lightful. Madge could scarcely believe
she was her old self, as she chatted
to her new friend, who cared for beau.
ty as much as she did. She did not
know men were so mice"
About half way to Greenic they came
to little house, almost lost in a
bower of roses, lilacs and great elm
trees.
"Isn't it just a dear!" cried Madge.
"How I'd love to 60 into it
The door opened to their touch, but
there was no one inside.
"Oh" breathed the girl. "This is
perfection It's like falryland."
"And artistic" added Harry. DO
you know, this is just my ideal OF a
home? I think I've always had just
such a home in my mind"
"It's just heavenly" assented Madge.
'Td love q place like this"
She was wondering that he felt that
way, too. Did men like beautiful
things? She had always thought they
cared only for the practical. Perhaps
she did not know men very well.
He turned to her with strange
look in his eyes. "Would you really
like to live here?" he asked.
She trembled, for she was beginning
to understand.
ooh, let's not be practical" she
evaded. Lets play we are fairies and
live here"
They wandered through the dainty
rooms, then out into the sunshine.
Once more, somehow, the world had
taken on q rosy hue. Was she the
same girl who had left her close city
room only this morning? Madge won
dered. Somehow, life seemed so diff
ferent, so much more worth while.
"Wonder who owns this gem of a
house?" mused the man. wonder If
they'd sell it?'
They drove on across the country
road.
A year later, when Madge and Harry
were living in the little house, she
- ht,,, ,,,ttb lonnhinO pupS