The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1922-11-16

A Girl Who Waited
Is Years
BY MYRA c. LANE
10 1922 Western Newsnanar uniOn.)

4 Lie CERTAINLY NdS fOiuDlC, liz
, shabby, middle-aged man in the com
, partment, but then, again, he was 10
: teresting. He had been over all III
world, made and lost four fortunes
and now was coming back to his hom'
J town after an absence of % years VIII
a modest competence.
"And, boys he said, I'm up agalns
the greatest problem of my life"
We all looked at him with renewed
interest. We had been a little Dl
bored by his account of the habits
of the Puam-Puam islanders; likewise
by his story of the shark and he cut
fetish.
"Nhen l left Linstock-that's the
station after neXt-there was | neeo
hardly tell you, a girl. l was a young
two and twenty. We were in love.
We'd always cared for each other, ana
we'd sworn that so long as we lived
there never should be any n else
for either of us. I'm going back alb
s~olutely confident that that girl, II
she lives, and lives there, is still walt
ing for me-"
THAT'S what I'd call an optimist,"
said the fat drummer. "The girl
doesn't live who"
mo, nor oughtn't to, neither" whis-
pered the mar in the gray felt hat.
"The selfish old hogl He seems to
thing that after trapesing the world
for a quarter of a century he's comm
home to find that Griselda's been wait
ing for him all through the marrying
married to a stock broker and has
three sets Of twins"
"Of course, you realize that your
expectation is not according to human
nature" put in the man who looked
like a ~book-agent.
Gentlemen began the middle-aged
man, 81 know what Pm talking about.
We stop half an hour at Linstock,
and as her house is about 90 yards
from the railroad line, I invite you
all to get out and accompany me
there. This here stations Alma.
Linstock's the next"
"What are your grounds for this be
lief?' inquired the man with the pur-
pie tie.
"Why, she swore always to be true
to me-" answered the middle-aged
man.
HAS your experience Of life taught
you that a woman's word is usually
to be relied on in such matters?" in
CURED the man with the gray felt
hat.
Gentlemen, frankly, NJ !" answered
the middle-aged man. "But this girls
different. If she hasn't been true to
me, then all my faith in ~womanhood
is blasted"
1.-THE internal impudence of him !"
the man in the purple tie.
"Ah, well, We'll see what we shall
said the man, who looked like a
book agent.
"Linstock!" sang out the conductor.
The train was slowing down. 1t
vas a largish village, a junction, and
here would be at least half an hours
stop waiting for the limited to pass.
As the train drew up there was a 81
n%ultaneous hasty move toward the
loor.
Poor cussl" whispered the man in
he gray felt hat.
"Say, if I'd as much faith as that
d be manager Of the district east of
he Mississippi" muttered the drum
Ter. "Must have been taking a faith
curse, that guy mustl" ]
The middle-aged man solemnly led
he party out of the depot. They
lade their way down the untidy street
1ward a row of neat, but aged cot !
lges sheltering in the shadow Of some |
fifty elms. The middle-aged man !
lrned and waited to gather in the 9
arty. {
''The old cottage" he said, pointing t
/, the second from the end of the row.
pulled down. I knew it wouldn't I
AS they approached it the sound Of 9
screaming within was borne I
pom the slight breeze. The drummer Q
'inned.
Seems to me-" he said, @our friends b
1pes are doomed to be busted n
IF she'd married she wouldn't be Il
wing there" objected the man In the
lrple tie. "
Might have come home for a visit" t.
jected the man in the gray felt hat. u
Gentlemen" said the middle-aged T.
n, "she swore that she'd be waiting c
r me at the gate and-there she is"
We stared. A prettyfsh, faded m
oking woman Of about forty-two was
aning on the gate, looking at us. p
Re middle-aged man ran forward and NJ
her in his arms. ir
Darling, I've come back to your II
Il knew you would, darling" she re-
ed. III
They were kissing, actually kissing =
other, as if they were young :,
vers. We were all taken aback. ~
ey had forgotten all but themselves a.
the world. -
49,