Rockingham post-dispatch., 1922-11-09
THE VISION CITY
y AGNES 9. saooAN
q. lsaa, western Newspaper Unl0n,l

dark anu DeWltclhhS.
Far across tie blue was a vision
civ. She was sure that It was but
Z vision city for when purple mists COW
cred the hills the city was not there az /
mi. But when the sun shone and the
ships were white as foam. the vision
city became real place of cleaning
turrets, towers and tall builulngs'
white and shining,
At these times Linnette loved 10 pic
ture to herself beautiful women VINO
might live their lives of pleasure III
such world.
The people who came to buy were
friends, most OF them had watched
the French girl grow from babyh0od
in her kind grandmother's care. The
folk of La Mere village travelled sell
dom and knew but one place Of abode.
AS their great grandparents lived be
fore them, they lived today
And out across the blue the towers
of the vision city beck0ned to Linnettc.
Sometimes Gene came. Gene was an
amusing lad, who persisted In court
| ing her.
Repeatedly she told Gene OF her
dream. How one day people should
| come to the little shop and ind It
| deserted. For In some unexpected
manner, she, Linnette, would answer
| the beckOning towers and go to live
beneath them.
"And never, never, will come
back" she would tell Gene.
Linnette carried tiny dolls down to
| the shore and made for them there
dainty dresses from scraps of silk or
calico. 1t was not for pleasure alone
that she carefully studied the fashion
! catalOgs And as she sewed one after
noon a touring car turned in from the
road and young man alighted.
"Could you tell me-" he asked,
"where my mother and myself might
be able to procure luncheon. We have
Travelled long way and are tired and
/ hungry?
"You may not find a pension for
miles. But l." added Linhette eager
| ly, "will be glad to serve you In my
shop"
4 Strangers to Linnette, strangers
from some foreign city OF beautiful
homes, were ever an adventure. The
mans mother addressed Linnette as
''Dear, child"
If was all very delightful. Happily
toward her little shop the girl led the
way.
"How unique,'' exclaimed Mrs
James Russell! Gordon, as she walked
about, admiring Llnnette's tiny dolls o.
fashion. "Why, Russell, this French
!. girl is genius, designer-to-be
y Could Lucille create frock m0r'
originally charming?" The big sol
laughed.
"Now mother he demonstrated
"do0't allow your usual sympathy AM
impulsiveness to prompt you to adop
a this French girl and take her home
= Remembers past experience, please"
What that experience might hav
Q been Russell Gordon did not say, bu
.. surprisingly his mother answered.
= "You have hit upon my very thought
!" az usual, dear. OF what use Is .ou
money IL not to spread happiness an
lead others to successful living? Th
d past mistakes must not discourage tn
e. present. ] like this wistful little cres
n ture. am half disposed to give be
her chance"
~ And after an afternoon In Linnette
company, while the son spent his tim
with the car, Mrs. Gordon becam
wholly disposed, and told Russell
upon his return. Knowing we'll n
mother. the young man made no d
mur to her plan. but quietly and r
II slgnedly set about the arrangemen
for Linnette's departure. The 81
agreed to the woman's suggestion.
"And you Think she asked breat
lessly. "that over there where bull
ings stand tail and lovely women con
to buy that I shall learn to desii
dresses to sew pearls upon sat
=, for them to wear?
eve shall see" replied Russell Gt
:, don's mother, smllingiy.
The gray-haired woman stopped
kiss the girls glowing face.
In new Difference the young mi
assisted her into the car.
? "Good-by," called Gene.
Linnette regarded her old hoi
cheerfuiiy.
= "It is not" she explained to I
benefactress, ''as though had not
my life longed to go to a vision ci
Elise will keep the shop and Elise
never know what 1t means to send
heartache with every white ship u
~ sails"
is Months passed and the girl, haI
:. IN her new environment, learned nc
y ing of dressmaker's art, Constan
:. she was at the elder womar's q
= contentediy they walked and tall
and studied together. And the son,
far, had refrained from reminding
mother of her purpose.
"Linnette," he began one day.
was your purpose. mother. to educ
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