Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-12-21
A Girl Out of a
Million
BY cLARISSA MACKIE

"HE SAID that she was "a girl
in Million" said Mrs PEBBLES,
looking very young indeed with her
straight little figure. "And said to
Asa, What Is girl out Of a million?
. All alike chr"
"And what did Asa say to that2"
inquired Miss Callie Brice, the minis
ter's sister.
"Why, he just said, Mother, this
girl is so different Isn't that just
like man, Caller"
They both laughed at this, and then
Miss Brlce spoke. "Who is the girl,
AnabelT
Mrs. PEBBLES, standing there before
the stationery store, suddenly turned
her head and stared into the window.
Il think she's coming now, Callle. l
haven't met her yet-the girl in the
gray dress"
Miss Callie Brice nonchalantly re-
garded the passersby. She watched.
without apparently doing so, the APP
preaching young girls, one slimly tall,
with deep violet eyes and reddish
brown hair, dressed smartly In some
thing gray and cool. They were soon
gone around the corner.
Miss Callie spoke to another young
girl hurrylng past. "Ann Brown, do
tell me who the pretty girl In gray
is-she just went around the corner"
"Why, Miss Calliei Do you mean to
say that you do not recognize Cornelia
Blakef She used to play with all of
us youngsters before they moved to
New York to live. She has been visit
ing the Larks for mOnth-isn't she
darling2 The same old 'Neelle that
she ever was" And pretty Ann Brown
also slipped around the corner Of the
drug store and went up High street.
Little 'Neelie Blake?" exclaimed
Mrs. PEBBLES, swinging around swiftly.
"Why, Asa never told me that She
used to be a favorite OF mine" The
two women walked slowly home, up
the charming old street, under the
elms. 81 am hoping Asa will tell
me all about 1t tonight" smiled Mrs
PEBBLES in farewell
ASA was In the local bank a tall
outstanding young man, handsome, and
quite dependable" as people said. He
had always been more devoted to
sports than to girls, until his mother
had preached the subject the night
before, asking him who the pretty girl
was who was driving with him in his
small car.
'The one girl In million, Of course
mother" laughed Asa Jessup, and said
nothing more, but she knew that his
heart had been touched at last.
|
Mr.. PEBBLES was In the sitting room
reading the evening paper.
"Well, Eliza" he said, as his Wifi
Joined him, take this chair, my dear
and I'll read you some news"
Then he read from the newspaper
"'Judge and Mrs Carey Blake have
announced the engagement Of theil
youngest daughter, Miss Cornella
Carey Blake, to Archibald Fuller
Banding. Wedding plans are uncer'
! tain at this time'-knOw those folks
Eliza2"
"Heard of EN-" muttered Mrs
PEBBLES darkly, and then she went out
on the front porch to watch for Asa.
He came almost Immediately, and
when he ran up the front steps, she
was there under the piazza light to
confront him. Asa's face was white
through the sunburn, and his brown
eyes were full OF logged pain such as
n man bears alone.
"Why, motherl" he exclaimed and
him In her arms for moment In the
cool dlmness Of the summer night, very
stlll, very understanding.
When Asa was well away next day,
Mrs. PEBBLES telephOned to the Pear
son house and asked for CornelIa
Blake.
When the girls voice came to Mrs.
PEBBLES, she spoke quickly.
care you the litte 'NeelIe Blake who
used to play in our yard with my
SOM"
"Yes, indeed. Mrs PEBBLES" came
the girls sweet voice. "Do you remem-
her the tiny gingersnaps you used TO
make for our parties?"
"Yes, indeed, Cornella, my dear. Can
you come over this afternoon"
Cornelia said yes, and half hour
later she was In the deep, cool front
room where Mrs. PEBBLES was sitting
before a tea table. They kissed each
other and the girl put her soft white
felt hat on the sofa and sat down In
low chair. When tea had been
poured, Mrs. PEBBLES spoke frankly.
"Neelle, my husband read In the
paper last nlght-you know what-and
my boy left for his vacation this morn
ing. His heart Is broken--yOu know
whyT
Cornella smiled joyfuly. "Yes, do
know why Asa has gone. Mrs. PEBBLES,
II what you say is true. Because the
am not the youngest daughter II is
my sister Bessie no Is engaged TO
marry Archie Blandlng-and the cor
rectIon will be made in the next Issue. "
Mrs. PEBBLES wiped happy tears
away. "And do you really love my
bOyi" she asked.
Cornella nodded. 81 promised ASH
when was q small girl that when we
both grew up would marry him-and
not so lon ago, I found that ! had
not changed my mind!"
"YOu are n girl in million, then,
because you haven't changed your
mind" said Mrs. PEBBLES, and then
they concocted a telegram to Asa Jes-
sup that would make him quite the
happlest man in the world when II