Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-07-21
GIRL OF THE COURT
~ MoLLIE MATHER
90. isas. western NswspaDsr Union,

- AOAA<A4NO WAC oASR VI OV0AuAAA8
- houses-sick Of great hotels.
Heart-sick Is the proper word to ex-
press his condition. Before he decided
to take up residence in the city he
had been heart-sick with loneliness In
the big suburban home Of his departed
parents. ~
His most satisfactory venture was
the bachelor apartment where he was
obliged to prepare his own breakfast,
and. where he preferred sometimes to
prepare light evening meal that he
might continue unGlisturbed his work
Of the day. The big room facing
Washington court was CHEEKY anN
silent.
Richard would sit In relaxation he
fore the windows resting his eyes In
the semi-gloom and breathing In per-
fumed air from the flowers below. It
was on one Of these evenings that he
became aware Of the girl across the
way. She. too. appeared to live alone,
but she was far from lonely or de-
pressed. She sang. as Richard abb
sently watched, as she went about her
household tasks. And as she washed
tea dishes at Q white sink a dog
frolicked nearby and q white cht
perched on q table at her side.
The following morning, across his
grapefruit,she looked toward the .oppo-
site window. The bird was trilling q
joyous song. the girl bent above its
cage. Richard had better view Of
her face; 1t was even more whole
somely pretty than he had fancied.
That evening he did not, strangely
enough, feel so keenly the desolation
Of his homecoming. Opposite. in like
home, one small woman was making
brave work Of her living. Purposely,
after bis meal. he switched on the
lights and stationed himself. with his
cigar, before the window. Presently
she came to look down into the court;
her little dog was there irolicking
about the fountain. Her voice, sweet
and vibrant, called to him. Richard
liked the voie>. as well as her smile.
"Mickie," she called-"Mickie." The
dog bounded toward the entrance steps.
Richard arose, leaning over In the
bright electric light Of the court In q
boyish desire to attract her notice. The
girl saw him; she was glancing over
the building before drawing her shades
for the night. For moment Richards
earnest gaze held hers. Then, slowly,
not ruthlessly. the opposite shade was
lowered.
Richard felt unaccountably happy at
the fact Of her recognizance.
A strange sense Of honor kept him
from questioning, as he might -
woman who came to straighten Hs
rooms each morning and who knew the
girl across the way.
So the pantomime acquaintance con-
tinued with but the thrill Of look, q
smile, to give him courage. Instructive
ly he knew that Miss Dora Maybe
had read her name and address on
''Mickie's" collar-would brook no
friendship. without proper introduction.
Deliberately he coaxed 'Mickie" to his
apartment. The white cat came by
way Of the roof and through an
opened window, unlimited. Patiently
Richard would await the musical call
Of the cats mistress. Teddy" she
would call, troubled; and Richard
would release the pet.
Richard could not know that In her
opposite CHEEKY apartment Miss Dora
May wondered and troubled, too, over
his, apparent loneliness. And It may
be admitted, as timeand smiles passed,
that Miss Dora May regretted con-
ventional fate which threatened to
hold apart forever, two longing souls.
For she could read now Richards long
ing in his tense watchful face. and she
realized her own.
On a certain morning, Richard, i'm
patient over his estranged position,
neglected to feed the goldfish in their
crystal bowl, or to close, against flies,
the window without screen. Dis
couragement was with him all day.
and he desperately determined, as he
walked home, to write letter to Miss
Dora May, requesting her to think Of
some mutual friend who might prop
erly present him. And AZ the apart
ment door few open at the turn Of his
key, Richard stood still in delighted
establishment. For Miss Dora May her
self, unbelievably, yet truly, was
there in his reading room. Dora Mays
cheeks were prettily flushed. and the
white cat was In her arms.
"Oh! Mr.. Webster" she began
"your cleaning woman has told me
your name-Mr. Webster. was sitting
at my window when CHANGED to see
Teddy enter your window. And a
moment later he was actually trying
to paw one Of your goldfish from its
bowl. Teddy likes fish and he liked
to see 1t wiggle. Butt did hurry over
and got the key from Mrs. Mccarthy.
and was just in time to save the fish,"
The girl from across the way smiled
placatingly, charmingly.
Richard found difficulty, now that
opportunity was his, in making reply.
But presently, looking into those blue
eyes, he found his voice.
do you think" he answered irrele-