The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-04-12
LEM TODD's GIRL
BY JANE GORDON

THE young woman who stepped from
= the train as it drew into the coun-
Try station looked about in happy an
ticipation.
Rosa-Lee wondered with a thrill. II
her fathers name would stu be over
The Big Store" Though her father
had died in her very young girlhood.
she had been known everywhere as
Lem Todd's girl"
Il came" Rosa-Lee faltered. "to
see my fathers old store. I am. Lem
Todd's daughter"
The young man was politely atten-
i've. L bought the place" he told her,
from Jared Wilson. Came here from
New York Not very well acquainted
myself. Anything 1 can do for your"
Inc young woman stood silent. In
her busy life among strangers she had
kept little happy dream of a home
coming to the old town of her parents.
now gone.
Jared Wilson," she hopefully ques-
toned, "he-?"
Died" the young man answered
briefly. 81 bought the place from his
wife, who left town"
And the old Orchard house?" Rosa
Lee asked. as Mrs Simpson still I'm
Charger She was recalling the pleas
ant hotel woman who had frightened
her childish days. And the Sunday
dinners there-her father had often
taken his motherless girl to Mrs.
simpsons Sunday dinners-fresh vege-
tables from the garden, green corn. a
little rocking chair for her on the wide
veranda, afterward-
Mrs. Simpson went to live with her
daughter before l came here" the
young man said. "a woman from Bos-
ton has tearoom there now. You
Will find 1t very nice"
hosa-Lee sank into resigned disap-
pointment. II don't think 1 will try
the tearoom today" she decided.
g Inc beautiful spot in Covers wood
where she and Larry used to have
their picnics, must at least be nm
changed. She would buy things for a
picnic luncn now.
You know Larry Stephens?" she
questioned, as the young man wrapped
her packages. He nodded. at have
heard of him. Making a name for
himself In the city-they are going to
send him to congress"
Rosa-Lee went on her way, q whim-
slcal smile curling her lips.
Larry Stephens going to congress ~
and she had laughed, long ago. Mt his
presumption in asking Lem Todd's
daughter to marry him.
The old spot in Covers wood was
unchanged. She leaned against a
friendly willow and let the breeze lift
the waving hair from her hot fore
head. man. whirling from the oppo-
site side of the tree, faced her. "I beg
your pardon" he said, jumping to his
rect, Il was just going" He had
pleasant, frank face, this big man, and
his black hair was grazing at the fem
pies.
Rosa-Lee smiled. "It seems to me-"
she remarked, that I should be the
one to apologize for trespassing. I've
been looking the old town over-I used
to live here and thought this would be
nice place to rest" She paused
looking up at him, wistfully eager. "If
you live here you may remember my
rather. l am Lem Todd's girl"
The mans face frightened. "I do
remember Lem Todd. Used to hang
around his store with the gang That
was before my family sent me away to
college. / have been away from Or
chards ever since. Thought I'd dron
or the train today and renew old ac-
quaintances. Sort of'-the big man
neutrality-suspicious. former citizen re-
turned TO show en- But most of the
folks are gone or are busy. Women
seemed to be canning things where 7
ventured to call, and felt I'm the way
ana came out here. AS I remember
this was a favorite counting place of
mine. There was certain Minerva
through all these days of my bachelor
hood I've remembered the sylphlIke
Minerva She was one of those at
home today" The big man laughed
"She Is sylphllke no more" he said
and her young family were gathered
about her ample skirts"
lmpulsively Rosa-Lee motfoned To
the grass at her side won't Won sit
down." she invited, land tell me who
sNN N'SN W NC anu DdTIdke OF nv pic
mic lunch?"
IT, the man told her as he prompt
ly accepted the invitation. "am John
Tabor, son of better John Tabor.
the towns old attorney. You must
have been little tot before I left
81 have often heard my father sneak
of yours Rosa-Lee said delightedly
I'VE shall have an old-town reunion.
you and I, as we eat our lunch"
The enchantment Of Covers wood
was upon them when they reluctantly
arose later to say good-by.
my train will soon be coming the
young woman said.
"And mine" John Tabor added 70
gretfully. But ] cannot 20 without
hope Of seeing you again-though I
live three thousand miles away. In
California"
Why laughed Rosa-Lee. ct. too.
am travelling to California. II Is there
that our company has it's main Office"
And less than three months after
ward John Tabor stopped his car-in
Callfornia-that his wife might ad-
mlre q certain view.