Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-05-02
CHOOSING
A NAME FOR
THE NEW
BABY

(@ by d. J. Walsh.)

r OUISA SHAW walked slowly
through the gorge. Her basket
- was heavy. The gorge wasn't
place she cared to linger in, es-
pecially on a cold dark day like this.
Louisa was thin and tall, strict
mouthed, stern-eyed. Her gray coat
and hat bore out the air Of cold re-
serve that often repealed strangers.
But at heart Louisa was generous, af-
fectionate, kind, with shrewdness and
humor permeatlng the other excellent
qualities Of her makeup. She had re-
futed all the stepmother stuff by rear
ing the six children Of the man she
had married, after he had died. As a
consequence she hadn't much left for
herself, but what she had she shared
willingly. Just now she was on her
way to give Annie Pelton little
chirklng up. Annie had just had an
other baby, her fourth, and Jack was
out of work. -.I...
Suddenly rain began to pour down.
Louisa was midway Of the gorge with
4 long way yet to go. Her hat and
her gray coat were getting wet. And
her basket-already the white linen
cloth that covered the precious con-
tents was damp. Her toothsome rolls,
her fiaky-crusted pie, her cookies, cut
out animal shape for the kiddies, were
threatened with dissolution. Louisa
snatched up her basket and sought
shelter under a young spruce.
When you want car you never see
one. Not on that road, anyway. The
Scrapton bus went through here, but
1t wasn't due until one o'clock. 1t was
now but half after ten. Louisa, crouch
Ing under the spruce. heard the wind
come tearing down the gorge. It
rocked the spruce. A pailful of water
was emptied down Loulsa's back. Dis
gusted, she stepped out Of her treach-
erous shelter-and heard a motor car
numbering toward her through the
mud. |
With her glasses dimmed by mois-
ture, Louisa had notion that the car
was Hank Wilson's delivery truck. She
waved and shouted at the top of her
voice. The car splashed alongside and
stopped. door opened. Louisa con-
veyed her precious basket to safety.
Not until she was inside and had
wiped off her glasses did she learn
her mistake. The car was lined with
gray velvet. It had aircraft silver re.
hnements. The girl who occupied 1t
alone was dressed in the height Of
fashion. She was slim, young, hand
some. And she smelled like Louisa's
cinnamon rosebush when 1t was In
full bloom.
"Well, say! guess I'm in the
wrong pew" remarked Louisa, seeing
that both girl and car were utterly I'M
known to her. II guess you amt in
the habit Of picking up vagabongs out
Of the mud"
Il certainly am not But l couldn't
let you stand there and drown, could
1Tretorted the girl with some asper-
ity. With that she attended to her
driving, utterly ignoring the limp, eld-
erly woman on the back seat.
% But 1t wasn't long before there was
trouble. A rut did It. The girl had
been fighting to keep her front wheels
out of the rut, but she skidded and
In she went. Probably 1t saved her
from worse luck, for she had no
chains. At any rate she was stuck,
and stuck badly.
Louisa leaned forward.
Say! II my weights any object to
you, I'll get out" she offered.
"Stay right where you are I"
snapped the girl. And the things she
did to that car were caution. as
Louisa remarked privately to herself.
Don't bust II !" she pleaded mildly.
"Why don't you walt mite and ketch
your breath and let the car ketcb its -
1T won't pull an ounce the girl
exclaimed at last In evaporation.
"Jim will give me-
Who's Jimf Don't tell me you're
married, young as you looki I"
I've been married SIX years"
ANY famllyT
II hate children"
"Lawsl used to feel Just so until
NN " m"h WIN siA- Ouy It's
let up raining Suppose we get out
and walkf" Louisa opened the car
door and stepped out, taking her bas-
ket. III you'd help me up to the path
where Pm going I'd be much obliged"
she said, looking into the girls angry
face. my foot's bad and I'm short
winded. Besides, get spelly when I'm
tired sorta feel spell coming on
now" .... .N
How far Is itf" the girl asked.
"Just a little piece. There's a oath
right ahead Of you. But maybe It'll
spoil your shoes"
"Who cares about shoes? I've got n
ciosetful Of shoes" The girl got out
Of the car. Let me take that basket.
Now you 90 on ahead. I'll boost you
up the steep places"
The woodland path ended In a tiny
clearing In the midst Of which set
gray old shanty with length OF rusty
stovepiDe sticking up out Of the curl.
Ing shingles Of the roof The door
opened. In went Louisa, pauslng 10
pat the head OF the blue-eyed girl who
admitted her. Two other blue-eyed
girls gazed wonderlngly upon the Wis.
ltors. In n clean bed IN one corner OF
the room lay pale but smiling won.
an with a soft blue bundle pressed
against her bosom.
Louisn took up the soft blue bundle,