The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-04-20
LEM TODD's GIRL
BY JANE GORDON

LIS IL all Do IL w" AAIo thS NNuh-
try station looked about in happy an
ticipation.
Rosa-Lee wondered with a thrill, If
her fathers name would still 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"
II came" Rosa-Lee faltered, "to
see my fathers old store. I am Lem
Todds daughter"
The young man was politely atten-
tive. Il bought the place." he told her,
"from Jared Wilson. Came here from
New York. Not very well acquainted
myself. Anything can do for you"
The young woman stood silent. In
her busy life among strangers she had
kept little happy dream of 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. us Mrs. Simpson still In
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 I came here" the
young man said. "a woman from Bos-
ton has tearoom there now. You
will find it very nice"
Rosa-Lee sank into resigned disap-
pointment. II don't think 1 will try
the tearoom today" she decided.
The beautiful spot in Covers wood
where she and Larry used to have
their picnics, must at least be un-
changed. She would buy things for q
picnic luncn now.
"You know Larry Stephens? she
questioned, as the young man wrapped
her packages. He nodded, 81 have
heard of him. Making name fol
himself in the city-they are going ia
send him to congress-"
Rosa-Lee went on her way, q whim
steal smile curling her lips.
Larry Stephens going to congress r
and she had laughed, long ago, at his
presumption in asking Lem Todd's
daughter to marry him.
The old spot in Covers wood wa:
unchanged. She leaned against q
friendly willow and let the breeze lif
the waving hair from her hot fore
head. A man, whirling from the oppo
site side of the tree, faced her. 81 bes
your pardon" he said, jumping to hi.
feet, II was just going" He had {
pleasant, frank face, this big man, ant
his black hair was grazing at the tenn
Piles.
Rosa-Lee smiled. ut seems to me,
she remarked, that I should be tn,
one to apologize for trespassing. Pv,
been looking the old town over-I uset
to live here and thought this would b,
nice place to rest" She paused
looking up at him, wistfully eager. Il
you live here you may remember m.
father. I am Lem Todd's girl"
The mans face frightened. 81 d.
remember Lem Todd. Used to ham
around his store with the gang Tha
was before my family sent me away t
college. 1 have been away from Or
chards ever since. Thought I'd drol
off the train today and renew old &C
quaintances. Sort of'-the big ma
smiled former citizen re
turned to show EN- But most Of tn
folks are gone or are busy. Wome
seemed to be canning things where
ventured to call, and felt in the wa
and came out here. AS I remember
this was favorite counting place O
mine. There was certain Minerva
through all these days Of my bachelor
hood I've remembered the sylphlIk
Minerva. She was one Of those a
home today" The big man laughed
"She Is sylphlike no more" he sale
"and her young family were gathere
about her ample skirts"
Impulsively Rosa-Lee motioned I
the grass at her side. Wont you 81
down." she invited, land tell me VIII
you used to be and partake Of my pi
mic lunch?"
a." the man told her, as he promp
ly accepted the invitation, sam job
Tabor, son Of better John Tabo
the towns old attorney. Yeu mu.
have been little tot before left
81 have often heard my father spea
Of yours" Rosa-Lee said delighte dly
I'VE shall have an old-town reunion
you and !, as we eat our lunch"
The enchantment Of Covers woo
was upon them when they reluctant
arose later to say good-by.
''My train will soon be coming" tt
young woman said.
"And mine" John Tabor added r
gretfully. But 1 cannot 20 withol
hope of seeing you again-though
live three thousand miles away,
California"
why" laughed Rosa-Lee, 81, to
am travelling to California. 1t Is thel
that our company has its main Office
And less than three months afte
ward John Tabor stopped his car
California-that his wife might a
mire a certain view.
Reminds me Of Covers wood"
said.
And Lem Todd's girl smiled.
81 do believe, john" she said, eth
you married me so we might rem
nisce together about our old hon
town."