Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-02-22
ALL. IN
REGINA'S
ABSENCE

Il ALI. came or Regina Goulu ~
Ing sent to California ms delegate
i for the Woman's club.
There's Just one way | can go
Ellen" she told Ellen Nugent. "lf
you'll come and look after mother.
can't leave her alone you know, even
with Mary Sweet. AS matter of
fact, Mary Sweet needs quite as much
managing as does mother, and you will
be equal to every occasion"
Ellen Nugent smiled family. Moth
Ing so nearly like a blessing had ever
come To her before, but of course, she
was moi going to tell that to Regina
or anyone. She had come home tired
and discouraged and 50 nearly III that
the doctor had recommended complete
rest for her Added to that she had
lost her job-the job that she had re-
lied upon for the past seven years.
ever since her fathers death made 1t
necessary for her to earn her own llv-
Ing. lie had left nothing, poor father,
but tender memory and parcel of
debts which Ellen hal somehow paid,
Thus today she found herself without
job, without savings, without the
necessary strength for getting another
job and very lonely and sad In the
cheapest room of Mrs Hoif's boarding
house. And now of sudden came OPP
portunlty, change, diversion and all be-
cause for some unaccountable reason
Regina Gould, rich, fortunate and beau
tiful, should feel that she was the one
dependable person to whom she could
look for favor.
an come of course, Regina" she
said, trying to keep her voice steady.
But shant be you. And your moth
er and Mary Sweet won't be per-
suaded that am Still, I'll do my
level best"
A week later Regina was on her
way to California and Ellen, accompa.
MED by n shabby suitcase, was occupy
Ing Reglna's pInk.andcream bedroom
in the splendid Gould house.
She sighed as she hung her two
wearable gowns on the nickel rod be-
side Regina's superllulty of frocks.
And she sighed again when she went
down to lunch and found herself
nlone, served by Mary Sweet efficient
maid, who eyed her with scOrn as
She sat there In Rcsln8's chair Mrs.
Gould seldom left her room She was
tiny, wspy old woman with oIronic
ilI-health and an obsess 800 to' n4l'H
turbed quiet, whose chief ert.ua.n-
unnpfgfnI ne
curative form OF literature md isieu~
ing to her canary chip seeds
After lunch Ellen attended 20 few
duties prescribed by Regina and then
went TO the library to read Choosing
an nrmful Of tempting books she curled
up on the davenport, tucked a pillow
behind her and gave herself up to an
afternoon OF real enjoyment. It had
begun to snow In the thick. cl0tty
March way and this made her sense
Of security dOubly delightful.
She nnd lost herself In her book
when Mary Sweet ushered visitor in
upon her unannOunced. She would
not have done such thing with Re-
gina, but she did II with Ellen.
~ beg your pardon" the man said,
wUnderlngly. "You are not Reg Miss
Could"
"Nol In the least" Ellen uncurled
md arose. He was tail, she was short,
and shc had to look up AT him Up
lifted IilIen's eyes were slngularly
lovely with their blue depths and their
black pcncllngs. For the rest she
was Just nm ordinary little tired per-
son, most unlike the golden and rn.
dinni Regina. "YOu wished to see
Miss Gouldi I'm very sorry. She
Just started for California this morn.
Ing"
And l." said the man with n smile
that Ellen loved Instantly, "hnve Jus,
come from California 10 see her.
arrived late last nieht My name IL
Gordon David Gordon
"Oh" Ellen caught her breath so
he was David Gordon, whom Regina
had waited so long for He had gone
away long time ago and Reglna ex
pectcd him to come back and finish
his interrupted love making He had
been too proud II seemed to actually
propose to an helress. And now here
he was and there Regina wasl How
unfortunate Ellen wished she could
comfort him fIe must be so terribly
disappointed And poor Regina
won't you sil DOWN. she asked
him
He sat down lie was still sitting
there when the room became so dim
that Ellen had 10 pull on the light
behind her Then he arose TO 60 She
hated to have him go. She liked him
so; he was 50 big. so honest. so inter
esting what would Regina do In her
place? What would Regina expect
her to do2 She asked him 10 stay
10 dinner
Mrs. Gould came down and kept
them company She was very glad to
see David. but she did not say much
She fed the cat and let Ellen and
the guest do the talking.
The next day David sent flowers. II
was u graceful return for hospitality
Then for sonle days she saw nothing
~ him She had hoped he would
come ngnlr lie had made strong
impression upon her. She was not
susrrlhillr she had never had low.
OF nini yhr had thought she could care
fni 80 man But David Gordon had
got into hri thoughts, into her heart,
into her lite Itself and the more she
itl,d Fec ~ e him The more his mem
Dry prfs'.td
1i,r hc rIuo aln. Ten days Of
sr,I :, u and Tr I and clangc lad
.rf d = 80 a0azlngly She had
b. ''a us. Years and lJ.tid 81 t.
DR.. z. RRNRYHOuGH.