Middletown transcript., 1922-10-09
Playing the
Game
By JESSIE DOUGLAS
*X~X*a*xHX*X*H*X*K.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
Sarah Lee never knew how heavy
a suitcase could be until she began to
tug hers across the confused station
She set 1t down breathlessly and Won
dered how long the train would wait.
May help you2 Going to st.
Louis?"
Sarah Lee knew better than to an
swer any man who spoke to her, but
something about the broad shoulders,
the bronzed face, the resonant voice
of this stranger vas different. She
could trust him.
"Yes, am going to st. Louis. 1t
is kind Of you"
She had to take very big steps to
keep up with him, and when he had
swung first her and then her suitcase
up the steps of her compartment she
said shyly, "Oh, thank your
She peered into the narrow strip of
glass between the two seats, straight
ened her very new hat, saw that her
blue eyes were bright as flowers and
sat very demurely looking out into Il
black world Of which she could see
nothing She was really early. She
would have time to wait and-think.
1t was kind of bI other Ted to offer
her a home now that she was all
alone But she wished with all her
heart that he had married some other
kind of wife, or at least that Jennie
| liked her better. st. Louis was just
big, strange city She crowded back
tear by shutting her eyelids very
tight and saw when she opened them
that something had happened.
The man with the broze face and
the gray eyes and the unforgettabl
voice was in the compartment ahead
Her heart began to hammer very hard
She wondered :.
She was still wondering when some
one came rustling down the aisle; 4
girl with her arms full of roses ant
cheeks with that same rose flush. She
stumbled before the man in the com
partment ahead and gave stiiled ex
clamation and dropped her armful o
roses. 1t was very prettiy done.
Sarah Lee saw him stoop and gath
er them up, saw the interchange c
thanks, saw the deepening of dimpl
in the Rose Girls cheek and felt
fierce little demon of Jealousy smit
her.
From under her trim little sailO
she watched them go ny, the aisle tt
gether-the Rose Girl and the ma
with the arinful of roses.
Sarah Lee slipped into her berth a
soon as 1t was made up. while sh
addressed scornful remarks to herse
that did not seem to take away tn
little ache about her heart.
But next morning SHE could laug
al the whole thing. Just because
man had IA nice mouth and the kin
of eyes that seemed to understan
and crisp dark hair was no reaSO
why she should be little idiot.
Sarah Lee was really surprise
when he stopped beside her compar
mcnt to say good morning, a privile.
which she permitted since he had ca
ricd her bag. He told her his nan
was Jasper Waite. Sarah Lee did n
tell him hers; she knew at the 9th
end of the car IA girl with rose chez
was waiting for him.
She was right.
She turned just once to see the
laughing together. Jasper Waite n
the Rose Girl and then she put the
out of her mind.
There are so many things to do
train, just as there are In life. T
old lady opposite had lost her glass
and they must be found. And the
tie mother who had compartment )
was so tired Gfter being awake vi
baby all night.
Sarah Lee may not have understo
how to talk to young men. but she I
understand babies. She euddled I
a little downy thing in her arms VIII
the young mother nodded off into
y. nap.
BY mid-afternoon she had a VIII
circle Of admirers-nOt young IN
>, nor even young man, the kt
!" =, whose laugh drifted down to her fr
~ the end of the car; but a circle of
10 tie girl admirers who demanded att
tion.
y. Sarah Lee had found new, an
eF trancing game All they needed W
III scissors and an old magazine.
III "Now, you see, this will be the kit
10 en-" Sarah Lees voice was charmi
the old lady across the aisle
ny cided. land We'll need refrigera
10 and kitchen stove"
ne ave found a parlor"
ne "And dining roOm!"
Of The .ow-headed little girl was
us ting tables out of the advertiseme
while the chubby little girl was
ng ting Tiffany lamps.
'ss "And we must have living rooI
or Sarah Lee cried.
ce' MAY playT
p YES" Sarah Lee said without Il
ing up, you can take these sciss
TIN and sit down here beside me"
wo Then she turned the color of S
in -