The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-05-01
g 3 6
CHAPTER X-Continued
Il

sorry for her. His was nature quick
to sympathy.
He told his mother about her.
Selma was deeply interested and
stirred. do you think she'd spend
some Saturday and Sunday here with
us on the farm? She could come with
you on Friday apd go back Sunday
night if she wanted to- Or stay until
Monday morning and go back with
you. There's the spare room, all
quiet and cool. She could do as she
liked"
Matte came one Friday night. 1t
was the end of October, and Indian
summer, the most beautiful time of
the year on the Illinois prairie. About
the countryside for miles was the
look of bounteousness, of plenty, of
prophecy fulfilled as when beautiful
and fertile woman having borne her
/ children and found them good, now
sits serene-eyed, gracious. ample
bosomed, satisfied.
Into the face of Matte Schwengauer
there came a certain glory. When
she and Selma clasped hands Selma
Stared at her rather curiously. as
though startled. Aftervard she said
to DirR, aside: But l thought you
said she was usly!"
well, she is, orwell, isn't she?"
Look at herr
Matte Schwengauer was talking to
Meena Bras, the housewOrker. She
was standing with her hands on her
ample hips, her fine head thrown back,
her eyes alight. her lips smiling SO
that you saw her strong square teeth.
laughed. 1t was the laugh of Il young
girl, care-free, relaxed. at ease.
For two days Matte did as she
pleased. which meant she helped pull
vegetables in the garden, milk the
cows. saddle the horses; rode them
without a saddle in the pasture.
at got so I hated to do all those
things on the farm" she said. laugh
ing a little shamefacedly. Il guess
It was because l had 10. But now II
comes back to me and | enjoy 1t be-
cause it's natural to me, ! suppose.
Anyway, I'm having grand time,
Mrs. DeJong. The grandest time l
ever had in my life" Her face was
.'adiant and almost beautiful.
IF you want me to believe that"
said Selma. you'll come again."
But Matte Schwengauer never did
come again.
Early the next week one Of the uni
versity students approached Dirk. He
was Il Junior. very influential in his
class, and member of the fraternity
to which Dirk was practically pledged.
A decidedly desirable frat.
SAY, look here, De.Jong. / want to
talk to you Il minute. Uh. you've got
to cut out that girl-SwinegOur or
| whatever her name is-or it's all off
with the fellows in The frat"
what d'you mean. Cut out |!
What's the matter with herr"
Matter! She's Unclassified. isn't
she! And do you know what the story
is? She told it herself as an economy
hint to girl who was working her
way through. She. bathes with her
union suit and white stockings ON to
save laundry soap. Scrubs em on her !
s the Gods truth" =
Into Dirk's mind there flashed pic.
ture of this large girl in her tight
| knitted union suit and her white stock
ings sitting in Il tub half full of water
and scrubbing them and herself SIM
ultaneQusly. A comic picture, and a
revolving one. Pathetic, too, but he
would not admit that.
'Imagine!" the frat brother-to-be
was saying. "WeK we can't have a
fellow who goes around with a girl
like that. You got to cut her out, see !!
Completely. The fellahs won't stand
for it."
Dirk had mental picture of himself
striking a noble attitude and saying,
''Wont stand for it. huh! She's worth
more than the whole caboodle of you
put together And you can all go to
h-lw
Instead he said. vaguely. "Oh. Well.
Uh--"
Dirk changed his seat in the class
room, avoided Mattie's eyes, shot out
of the door the minute class was over.
One day he saw her coming toward
him on the campus and he sensed that
she intended to stop and speak to
him-chide him laughingly, perhaps.
He Quickened his pace. swerved lit
tie to one side, and as he passed lifted
his cap and nodded, keeping his eyes
straight ahead. Out of the tail of his
eye he could see her standing mo-
ment irresolutely in the path.
He got into the fraternity. The fell
labs liked him from the first. Selma
said once or twice, "Why don't you
bring that nice Matte home with you
again some time soon? Such nice
girl-woman. rather. A fine mind. too.
She'll make something of herself.
You'll see. Bring her next week, h'm?"
Dirk shuffied. coughed. booked away.
"Oh, dunno. Haven't seen her lately.
| Guess she's busy with another crowd,