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7
Stories of Adventure and Love
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Wh t he War OrpJi an Found by EWc Endico( j
laM
Pi.f.Are. do not mix up those flies
while im away." said Marga
ret Bailey a she closed up Ihr
Icsk for her annum . .-.
I leav the check for the Fatht
Children of Franc Society with
Mm Marshall Just nail It (o
s usual. I'm lot (rung to leave mr
(tdress b eus t do not know just
where rtr going to atay. Howfwr, If
nr matter of great Importance cornea
n and you must get In touch with me.
note to Quebec U1 probably ranch
me"
Margarrt Bailey held a vary exact
ing poaltlon In a broker's office. Since
oar father's t. atb eight years barora.
be had practically supported bar
mother and tittle tlater and brother.
Soma of the younger ones were now
able to work and for the first time In
her Ufa Margaret Bailey felt ah could
afford to take her vacation Bar away
from home, she had decided on Can
ada. A week or ao before aha terpen into
tourist agency to ask about a trip,
l arge placards about the office ad
Head the tourlat to "Suinmai m Can
ada, nearest of our allies 1
And so Miss Margaret derided to
spend her Tacatlon in Quebec.
The train was pulling into Montreal
before Margaret realired that for the
first time in her life she Margaret Bai
ley, had set foot upon foreign soil. She
was on the boat bound tor Quebc, h.
fore she began to notice a decided
change in manners and customs
A dear old lady, a passenger on the
boat stood near Margaret looking si
lently into the water 8uddenly -In
exclaimed. "O moo dleu, mon dieu
how dreadful 11 muat be to be at
tacked by a submarine:'
Mlaa Margaret looked at her and kg1'
very sweetly. "Don't worry. No sub
marines can get Into the 81. Liw
tgnce."
"I can scarcely wait to get home.'
said the old lady. "you. too. are going
to Quebec r
"You lire In Quebec. 1 presume,
said Margaret, a quliilcal expression
on bar pleasant face.
"I call It home. I've been down In
the States since t&s war broke out I
am going to visit my sister on the out
skirts of Quebec. And how happ I
hall be when 1 get there .Jacques
Jacques he ,i there. Just back from
France! And rg thought him dead!
We mourned htm. Hut he lives, men
dleu. he lives:'
Margaret led the old lady, now shak
ing with emotion, to a steamer chair
and tried to soothe her.
The deck steward as serving after
hoon'lea before Ihe old lady offered
ant further comment
"We lived In France. My son. my
.Is. q'.ies. was so happy. He HveS for
his little child She never knew a
mother's cure, but her fnther lavished
enough affection on her for both. Then
the cruel war earner' Jacques Joined
the colors. He placed the child wit
neighbors. We have never heard a
word. O. mon dleu. I pray for her al
ways that she may be safe from the
Hnn! '
Margaret was listening Intently.
But how did your son get to Can
ada?' she asked eagerly.
, He was reported dead, but later he
was found in one of the hospitals. He
has been discharged. He had a nerv
oils breakdown. He Is with my slstet
near yuehec."
"Perhaps you could tell me of. som--quiet
place where I could get board
at a reasonable rate," Margaret found
herself saying.
"You might try at my sister s. Come
with me. I shall try to arrange it."
A summer day was Hearing Its end
when a carriage bearing Margaret and
ihe old lady drove up to the portico
door of a quaint little w Idle farmhouse.
Honey-am kle scented the air. Ripe ap
ples dangled from heavy laden boughs
-of the trees. Flaming firecracker
flowers nestled st the base of the tiny
while cottage.
Presently Ihe old lady's sister, wear
ing the queer bonnet ol the Normandy
peasant, appeared In the doorway. She
clutched her slater ravenously. They
kissed each other again and again.
"Jacques. Jacques, coin quick!" she
called "She la herel She Is here!"
The old lady was introducing Mar
garet to. her slater Mine. Marland.
w hen a handsome soldier, w earing the
uniform of his beloved France, stepped
oul on Ihe veranda. Ills bronzed skin
attested trench Hie. His lnk-llack
hair seemed ever blacker against the
while back-ground afforded by Ihe cot
Wage. In anolher monienl be had gnth
ered hta frail little mother In his
powerful arms, and sh tears of joy
ran down his cheeks he smothered het
w-ith kisses,
Th'e'old lady turned to Margaret and
said. "Th la my dear son. Jerques
Const And this. " turning to JACqnea.
"is Miss Margaret Balloy. front the
Btatea."
As Margaret exn tided tier hand to
the soldier of France a flush she w as
unable tp conceal crap Into her oth
erwise pajc face. Neither spoke, but
each looked deep into the other's eyes
for more than a moment.
Then followed a wonderful week,
long walks Into the country, trips on
the river, moonlight hay rides all
these found Jacques and Margaret
close companions. Already health and
energy wars coming to the girl. Slowly
but surely Jscques' Var-shattered
nervea were mending.
They were seated on the river bank
one night. Jacques took Margaret's
hand In his. Both were silent for s
few moments.
Margaret broke the silence by ask
ing. "Is yours a common name In
Franc t"
Jacques, like a startled dreamer, ex
claimed. "Why. no; why do you ask
me?"
"1 belong to an American society
that takes care of the fatherless chit
dren of France. My cliarge Is a little
girl of the same name an yoursCor
det." "What Is her first name?" the sol
dier asked eagerly.
"Marie- Marl Cordct I have her
picture, ' Margaret-added, as she drew
the picture from her handbag.
Jacques struck a match He gar
one glance at th picture, then seised
Margaret In his arms. He crushed her
to hlin. ,
"Mon dleu. mon dleu. he cried out.
"Mon dleu, you hare heard my prey
era I A miracle has been done. ti
woman 1 love has found and nourished
my own dear baby'"
Margaret was crossing the Interns
i inna! border line back Into the States
The customs officer asked drnlly, "Clt
lien of what country?"
Margaret looked at the man hesld,
her and with beaming countenance, re
plied: "I am the wife iff a cltlxen of
France."
In due time arrangements to bring
Marie to America were completed.
And when a certain old lady earn
down the river to visit In the States
again she repeated again and again
the romantic story of Jacques Corde'
and Margaret Bailey. "And she a!
ways concluded by SHj-lng. "And little
Marie w ho thought herself a fatherless
orphan of France, found not ouly her
falber. but a very lovable mother "
I sefnl Though I'nesed.
The modern view Is that a woman is
not necessary a failure because her
life has been Miss-spent
Why Reuben Came
By Abricr Anthony
FtH'B. Of Henry Sampson s daugh
ter wr married. - Lelia.
tttt to the youngest, was 26
and still on hand.
"Daughter." said Mr. Sampson
Wearing his throat, a was his habit
when about 10 make an important an
nouncement "I've .lust had a letter
from Josiai l-ane. His son is com
ng to Portland to visit relatives, and
we must do something to entertain
him."
"Well." retorted Lelia. her face sud
denly burning with angry surmises
I'd like to know what we can dor'
We can hat- dance and dinner
party afterward." said her mother,
who always before had loathed enter
taining. "Of course e can. agreed her fa
titer. "He's a smart lad. Josiah tells
me be n doing well at law. He's the
only child and JoaiarB is pretty well
fixed."
Now Lelia s surmises became rooted
suspicions
"What's his name?'' she inquired ab
stractedly.
"Reuben." answered her father in a
defiant tone.
Leila frowned. "His name sounds
about as countrified as his father
looked w hen ho visited us 10 years
ago," she said scornfully.
That night. In her room, she chuckled
to herself as she vlsioned Reuben
Lane from Sandy Crek leading her
to the altar.
She looked at herself cfitically in
the glass. "How do I know that he
will ask me to marry blm. even If It Is
his father's and my father 'I wish?"
"Leila.'' said her mother next morn
ing, "your hair is very' becoming In
that French twist. It shows the con
tour of your head, which Is lovely.'
Even her father looked over his paper
and grunted approvingly.
"Did you see the pink charmeuse in
the w indow of Smith Eastnn s."
went ou her mother; "the one wlih the
tunic of gold-beaded net. and narrow'
underskirt. I wonder if that . w ouldn't
be nice for you?"
"I don't need II." objected Lelia.
"Yes you do, dear: pink is your col
ar and you haven't anything pink now
except your little Cotton dresses."
Leila felt the net tightening about
her. But. like a lamb to slaughter,
she followed along to Smith & Eaton's
and came home dutifully with the pink
gnwn under one arm and desperation
in her heart.
At 8 o'clock the following niht Hie
doorbell rang and Lelia heard her
father's hearty voice: "Well, Well,
my boy: So this Is my old friend Jo
slab's son."
Llla hurried to her room as an idea
popped Into her head
Her mother was away, so she need
not tear her comment. She hastily
dug out one of ber sister's old dresses,
about four sizes too small for her. and
put u ou. together with a pair- of
Dutchy shoes about three sizes too
large. Her hair w-as combed out
straight and the lovely contour of her
head was well hidden under the im
mense pompadour roll which reached
all the way round.
She switched off the light, rau down
the stairs and. trembling, stood In the
parlor door. Her father and Reuben
rose. Then for a few seconds Lelia
forgot everything. The piano and
chairs whirled, the walls and pictures
whirled and out of the general whirl
her father's voice reached her with the
words of introduction and she found
herself looking at the haadsotuest man
she had ever seen.
He was in full evening dress and
everything tip to date.
In a flash she adored Reuben Lane:
In another She hated him for being an
onlooker at her bldeousness.
Leila lived through the evening
which was more than she at first
thought she could do. Once mote back
In her room she Jerked soft the old
dress, lore It in two pieces and threw
it in the closet.
S"iie dropped Into a chair with hei
face in her hands. "1 must ee Reu
ben I .sue clothed In my right senses
and my best dress, hut how 1 II going
to be accomplished"
Just after breakfast the uext morn
ing the telephone rang.
It was Ella Lorlng. where Reuben
was visiting. "I am Inviting about 30
young people for an Informal dance
this evening to meet Cousin Reuben.
Will you corns?"'
Would she? She flew up two stairs
at a time. The despised pink char
meuse was slipped joyfully from Us
case and the satin slippers to match
Hei hair was dressed' In the becoming
French twist and little curls rell care
Jcssly about her face.
"Why. Leila Sampson, you're a per
fect picture." said Ella that evening
as she removed hei wraps
"Sh! Don't call mc Sampson. I
want you to Introduce ,mc to your
cousin as MIbs Curils." ,
"Come along, then. There goes the
bell."
Reuben Lane bowed low. "Miss Cur
tis'' he repealed after Ella and show
ed nol a trace of recognition. After a
most enjoyable evening I,ella was
waiting for a taxi to take her home.
"Must yntl go?" asked Reuben lane.
"I'm afraid I must. 1 wish the time
wouldn't fly so quickly." answered Le
ila, Reuben's race brightened. "May I
see you home?" he asked. "Y-e-s."
she stammered, too happy to think
how It might complicate matters to
have Miss Cuftls left at the Sampson
gttl.
He closed the door and sat down be
side her. "Leila, why did yon do It?"
he asked.
''How did you know? "she asked In a
wavering voice.
"How did I know? Because I'd hem
worshipping your Jptctur for threi
montha before I started out here."
"My picture? Whera did you get If
"Your father sent It to my dad."
"And and It wasn't a scheme" Ton
didn't come to pleaBe your father? sh,
gasped.
"Why, no. I cam beraua I wanten
to com. Where did ydu get that Idea '
You haven't told ma yet," tin eontln
tied, "why you "
"I I can't." h Interrupted.
"Merer mind." said Reuben gently
"Tell me something else. I cams 2,00
mHes to ask 1L Will you marry me?
"By your own frea will?" aha asked
eagerly.
"By my own free will." he answered,
his hand lightening over here.
Leila was too overcome with ecstasy
to aay mora than "Ten, Reuben," and
to her It was the sweetest nam In the
wrrld.
ipi hi n iisihs Mil ill w I -" r- " '" 1 I
One Never Can Tell
By JocIIa Johnson
"I
M tlrM. and I guess 1 need a
Tacatlon:" exclaimed Marion
Row land to her girl compan
ion in the ofBce. "I'd like to go out
into the country aomewhere for a cou
ple of weeks and just roam around at
will, with nothing to dobut enjoy It."
"I don't blame you." returned her
friend. "Why not look through the
paper? We might find Just what you
want." But they didn't.
They were beginning to despair
when a friend from across the corri
dor, to whom tby appealed, recom
mended a place at which he had
stopped one fall on a hunting trip.
Their names were Dufton.
"Of course," he added, "t don't know
'he people very' well, baring met them
only that tmce; but they appeared like
nice peotdo to me."
"It osaa fTod:" enthused Marion
as the young man described tbe place,
and I am going to try it."
Two weeks later found ner comfort
ably settled In a big rambling room,
with the smell of apple blossoms and
the songs of the birds coining through
the great open window.
Tbe people of the house father,
mother and son were ever solicitous
as to her comfort. The father always
seemed to be exceptionally quiet: yet
when he did speak you knew at one,
it was his nature to be so. and your
liking for the man was bound to In
crease. The boy was the Image of his father
In all hfs characteristics; but his con
versation and manner easily betrayed
tbe fact he had nut always lived In the
country. And mother gently but irm
ly ruled her household with an air that
endeared her to you Instantly.
All the anticipation of the outing
Marion had enjoyed 111 reality. Some
times it was a long afternoon of Idle
ness under a leaf) maple with a good
book. Again it would be an early
morning lu sonic little glen where she
could watch nature at its best. And
perhaps it was a long afternoon walk
over an old road. Twice John Dufton
had accompanied her, and it had been
a pleasant walk, indeed.
Marion's vacation was drawing to a
close, and It must he admitted it was
with disappointment she saw- the end
approaching. She discovered that she
was beginning to admire John Dufton
very much. His quiet, unassuming
yet confident waj in which he carried
himself appealed to ber. She had never
experienced the company of a young
uianj who was ever looking to her
pleasure without overdoing the situa
tion by senseb'ss flattery. His talk
may have been brief at times but U al
ways possessed a tone of sincerity. For
that alone Marlon found what at first
was interest now becoming admiration
and from there to the next Is but t
step
As she was sitting in the shade on
the wide vine-covered porch she saw-
the two Duftons mc toward the
house, and Instantly sensed a display
of anger in their gestures. When they
came within hearing Marion was con
vinced. Plainly she heard the younger Duf
ton exclaim. "We've got W kill him.
that's all!" Nothing more was said al
the dinner table which would give Ma
rion any clue of enlightenment. The
rest of the day went by In a fog of
conjectures and w-onderings on the
part of the Duftons' boarder.
Even when she retired that night,
ber mind was still at sea. Just when
she was ready to drop off asleep, the
sound or a distant shot -can borne on
the breath of the night, stillness.
Instantly Marlon was wide awake
listening Intently, wild thoughts as
sailing her Finally she heard steps
approaching across tbe grass to the
house. Just as she stole to the window
to peer out Ihe two Duftons loomed up
in the gloom. She easily recognized
them. Although he spok quietly Ma
rlon distinctly heard John Dufton say:
"Lucky 1 shot hiin Just as he came
at me or I wouldn't have been here.
He'd have beaten mo off that cliff!"
-The elder Dufton made some reply
but Marlon Couldn't ealch It as they
were then moving out of earshot.
There was no more sleep for Marlon
and a terrible suspicion began to rorin
in her head. Her imagination began
to run riot. It was in this torture of
mind that she discovered the undenla
ble truth she loved John Dufton.
Next morning John was absent from
breakfast, and Marlon, with new nils
giving assailing her. -was templed to
Inquire but thought better of ir and
remained silent.
Sttrelv thefe was nothing to do now
but to leave and that mult be at tb
earliest moment. She would give
some excuse to cover the situation and
depart. Sh" had about completed Hi
packing of her bag when she heard
Mrs. Duf ton's voice.
"Well. John Durton: Where did you
get that?"
"Ob, dad and 1 finished him last
night," returned John with a laugh.
"Isn't he a big one?"
Marlon, somehow feeling things were
not as bad as she thought, stole down
stairs an appeared on the scene Just
as John srose from measuring tbe
spread of wings on a monster eagle
wlifr-h lay on te porch
Mrs Dufton, in answer to Marlon's
look of amazement, explained that
John and his father with a flashlight
and a revolver had climbed up a rocky
ledge where the eagle's nest was and
killed It. The flashlight bad blinded
it for a moment, but it soon gathered
for the attack, and when 1t rmSed.
John shot It.
"It has been attackidg our sheep
and I am glad they got It, The mate
they couldn't find."
Aa Marlon, her face suffused with a
pretty flush, raised her jro to John's
he discovered in them a light which
she was unable to hid and wag Meant
for no One but him.
What Marlon and John said to en.
other when they stole off by Uiero
selres. only the bird can tell, and
thro' have never been known to give
'hose secrets awajr.
"Hum!" remarked Marlon' boss, as
he read a telegram which said "Can
I have another wrkT" "Must b en
Joying herself."
Ht
Miss Movie Fan (at bar first hall
game) -Oh. I like thjg let's stay and
that part over again Where he
make the home run.
Was She a Coquette?
By Phi Moore
CERTAINLY wish to empha
size the tact that the title of
coquette properly belongs to
I ou. Muriel."
The words were spoken angrily and
the speaker seemed to hurl them with
a vicious enjoyment at the girl beside
bim.
Muriel Whovlet winced a llttl and
hurt look i ame into the bright eyes
as she remarked:
"May I ask yotfr reasons tU ssi fit
.og that title to me?"
For an Instant there was alienee
ben proudly drawing herself up. sh
dct Wurh
"Sit, eon wirewei I uon t care
what your reasons are You have
suokeo unjustly tonight. Kenneth
right, and I shall remember our
word s being symbolic of you True
I ha danced wttk ywi. sailed with
you, motored with you and had a
pleasant lime generally, but all on the
grounds of friendship, and in no wai
have I earned the title which you have
just given me If I Were what rnu
have termed me, I would have let you
go on and make declarations for which
you might be sorry after this glori
ous summer was gone, but because I
lgJJto4 you to have no such regrets
on my account. I asked ySu bot to
talk In Ibat manner. Of cours. If 1
cared for you. I might grieve deeply
over the Injustice you have done me.
but as It is I shall forget it by morn
ing, tiood night. Kenneth. "
Without waiting for an answer, she
walked quickly Into the bote!, leaving
him alone in the secluded comer of
'be veranda where they fid been sit
ting I
When hs reahea slM had gone, the
man walked over to the raihng and
looked out into the night. Hia face
was pale and remorse plainly written
on it. "What a cad I am!" he mut
tered (n himself. "I hare done her an
unpardonable wrong merely because
my pride was injured. Jove how I ad
mired her as she stood there, with
flashing eyes, defending herself and my
unjust accusation. Muriel, llttl girl,
although you said you did not care,
perhaps If I had proven worthy of
your love, it might have been differ
ent.' He stood there alone In the summer
night Inside were strains of music
around him gay laughing people now
and then from the water came the
sound of splashing oars and snatches
of songs. It all " l'i to increase his
remorse and It was far Intjo the morn
ing when restless and tinhappy he
1 '
sought his room
Muriel Wheeler closed her book and
wearily looked out of the car window,
wishing her Journey were at an end.
As was- the usual case now, her
thoughts were of Kenneth Wright, arid
although It was early spring, memo
ries of the previous summer were still
freeh In her mind. For three days
following that evehtrul night nbe had
kept to her room and refused to see
him sent back unopened the notes he
sent cfaring forgiveness. Then he bad
gone, and since that time she had nei
ther seen or beard from him. A tear
trickled down her oeekpow and she
wished, as sho had many times since,
that, -he f.ad not been quite so obdu
rate Crash: ShrlekB of horror filled the
air snd Muriel wan thrown violent!
from ISf seat amidst sounds of smash
ing glass and splltnterlbg wood- then
something fell upon her and her
senses failed. When consciousness re
turned, what a sight greeted her! The
wrecked train people moaning atul
dying Around her confusion and suf
fering everywhere. Willi some effort
sh pushed off the timbers which held
ber dow n and crawled to her feet, real
ising with Joy rhat she tins unhurt
aav for a few scratches and bruises.
Her Srl thought was to help Ihe suf
fering ones around her and, noticing a
doctor hurrying around among Ihem,
she quickly offered him her services.
Glad of her help, the doctor accepted,
and together they bound up wounds
and extricated bodies from the wreck
age. At times she felt she could stand
no more, so great was the strain she
bad undergone At length she was.
on the verge of fainting from sheer
exhaustion whentbey came upon a
man unconscious, lying on his face.
They started to work on him, ann
when tbey turned him over Muriel's
eyes fell on his face, and she cried
out:
"Kenneth! O doctor, save him!"
With some little work they restored
Ills senses and. with his head pillowed
on her breast, he opened his eyes and
murmured "Muriel."
The doctor, whose home was near
by. Insisted on having Kenneth tuk' n
there, and with Muriel's careful nnrs
ing. In a few day they were ready- to
start homeward. The evening beforr
they left, as they sat talking with the
doctor, Kenneth said:
"I once very unjustly called her a
coquette, doctor, but now. contrary to
my expectations she has forgiven me 1
The doctor smiled and replied, "In
my inlhd the title of heroine should he
applied to her." y
1 "I quite agree with you. doctor.
Kenneth replied "but she Is soon to
have a title which will bring me un
limited happiness."
The rosy color whlih suffused Mu
rial's race at this remark, and the hap
py light which shone In the eyes she
raised In Kenneth, told olalnlj bx K
would also bring to lier an equal
amount of happiness.
Knew Women.
"Now , to conclude"
"Hold on. I tinmen' you said you
are reading from a woman writer."
"And so I am."
"Oh. no; you ara not."
"Wlat mak'H yon say that?"
"A woman uevei concludes.'