The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-06-24
SHORT
STORY

y RONH and, one might
think, almost home
ly. But to her teachers heart this
little pupil was very dear, and what
to others was a plain, pale face was
in her eyes an attractive one.
you're all done, Elsa?" She
looked up from her mass of cor
rected examination papers to the
appealing countenance.
eyes, Miss Windsor, 1 would like
to go now"
'You may, dear"
But instead of scampering off the
platform and out Of. the room, Elsa
fingered.
miss Windsor
"Yes?" Miss Windsor smiled as
she questioned. In fact, she always
smiled. A sort of half-sad, half
pleading smile, it seemed.
'Why do you always stay so late
every night? The other teachers
leave so much earlier. They all
seem so glad that the day is done
and they can go home"
Miss Windsor's smile did not fade.
But there was suggestion of tears
in the lovely gray eyes.
mo-" was the soft reply. 81 am
not glad that the day is done and I
can 60 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. here
her voice broke-"because, you
see, dear-I have no home"
Phyllis Windsor's childhood ambi-
ton had been to study nursing.
Somehow, however, her plans had
been upset by a queer turn of fate,
and before she could understand
how she got there, she found her
self before a class Of youthful, vol
uble scholars.
Now, at the age of 26, she re-
GREETED that she had not at the be-
ginning given up her plans for
teaching and entered a hospital to
study the care of the sick and
needy.
The more she thought about it,
the greater grew her inclination to
abandon the school field and pre-
pare herself for the nursing career
that beckoned. Finally the impulse
became too compelling, and she de-
serted the profession to which she
had chung for the past four years.
The lapse of two and half years
found Phyllis Windsor looking for
ward to her graduation day.
"When are you getting through,
Miss Windsor?"
He was a fairly tall, kind-faced
young man in Immaculate white.
Of late he had begun to appear on
the scene whenever Miss Windsor
was at leisure, and he seemed not
a little interested in her.
when am I getting through? In
seven weeks, exactly" she replied,
and a little trenor in her voice
was instantly detected by him.
Then you'll go home for long
vacation, suppose?" he suggested.
'Home-for a vacation" Her
lips quivered visibly, and her face
blanched. Il never go home for
a vacation"
His glance searched the gray
eyes.
Because" she finished sadly, 81
have no home to go to-"
He gasped Looking about him
hastily to assure himself that the
ward nurse was safely in the kitch-
en-, he leaned toward her and said,
in low voice:
81 shall be through here a few
days after you. "Phyllis-I mean,
Miss Windsor-mother would be
glad to have you home with us.
She's so motherly to everybody.
And to you-why, am sure she
would just love you"
Her eyes were wet when she
looked up at him, but on her lips
was a smile.
"Oh, DR.. Shelley"
Call me Fred" he said, simply.
"Oh-oh, Fred-I think it is all a
dream! To have a place to call
home-it is too wonderful"
He took her hand and gave it a
friendly squeeze.
'You would make a wonderful
wife and mother" he said, fondly.
"All the kiddies here are crazy
about you"
1t was a long time before the
eyes of Phyllis Windsor closed in
slumber that night. She tossed on
her bed and pinched herself many
times. To her roommate she whis.
pered:
sally, are you asleep"
mo; what is it?" queried a
drowsy voice.
"Oh, Sally, l am going to marry
Fred Shelley!"
"Uh-huh-" the sleepy voice was
scarcely audible.
"And Lob, Sally dear, I'm going
home!"
Women Forget
Among the Betsileos of Madagas-
car, woman's funeral procession,
when nearing the grave, turns