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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1921)
I rr" LENA EVERHARD stood there on the but step of her fa ther's new country bom. She I miked the picture, cf Bummer In her thin, fluffy dree of white dashed with color from the pink ribbon at her waist iDd sleeves, and with the light breere miflini; her sunny hair. Her eyes, a soft brown, twinkled brightly with humor eyes that the mi n light now turned Into ft golden brown. She raised herself on tiptoe. "Oh, dear! How can anyone cover up a beautiful rose hedge with a high atone wall, ugly and, yes. Inhuman. It must be just hearcnly behind that hedge and to think that a grouchy old man Is to be there and so romantic a spot She gave a little sigh. "He must be a grouch, or he'd take that old atone wall down." Unsuccessful Ib obtaining on little peek orer the wall, she aettled herself on the doorstep, and began reading her brother Ted's letter from college. Soon ber little white shod feet began tap ping the step. Ted seems to bare found a para gon," she half sneered. "I always bated idols on pedertola. This chum, Jim Burton, must be a wonder. H'm! This hedge Interests me mora. I wlab Ted could get home. He's been gone so long. We art such chums. Why eouldnt he hare coma with this Jim of hlr She sighed a little, folded the letter, and Jumped to ber feet She stood gaslnf th enormous clusters WELL, Freddie, what's the trou ble now? Got th I'm right th world's wrong" blues?" "Oh, nothing particular." Th non descript yellow head sank dejectedly on th lanky hands. Freddie was not handsome nor yet even good looking, but there waa something In his honest pale blue eyes that won your respect Then," the girl was insistent "what Is the particular little thing that'a wor rying you? Out with it child!" And Marjorle drew op a chair near him, re gardless of th unwritten letters in her note book. ' "Well, if you must have it It's about the picnic. I haven't anybody to take, and I cant go alone very well." Marjorle laughed with relief. "Oh, is that all! Why. Freddie, I didn't know you cared about girls. I thought you were going with the fellows!" The girl laid on slim whiter hand on tbe boy's sleeve, and murmured con solingly: "Never you mind, Freddie dear. Just sit tight until the picnic comes, and I'll see to it that you dont go alone!" And she waa gone. Freddie's Jaw dropped in amrzement What struck her? Gone sentimental? Girls are fanny. How on earth could she help him? Freddie never had taken a girl out in his life. It must be I'M sorry, dear, I know that I prom ised to take yon to the done to night, but something cam up that make it necessary for me to work. It means ft whole lot to m It I finish It tonight," said John. "Well, it seems to me." flared Mar jorle, his wife, that you might eon- aider m in the scheme of things one '. tn a while. If you dont take me 111 go, anyway, so there." "Marjorl," answered her husband, sternly, "yon know what I think of , women who go to dances without their husbands." 1 dont ear what yon think," said Marjorle, hotly, "other women do It, and if yon dont think enough of me to drop your tiresome old work for one night and take me to this dance that I hare planned and planned on I'll go alone." "If you do, Marjorle," said her hus band, getting up from th table, "then you and I will b through with each other. Remember what I say." "Very well, I'll be good and glad of ANOTHER night call," muttered the young doctor, as he took down th receiver, "and it's from Marie's house. "This has been a hard day. This morning when I called to see Marie she said that her cousin was coming from the country and she'd have to entertain ber. I don't see why she got mad when I told her if she wss willing to wait for tbe ring until next month I'd help her. She might know I can't spend money on entertainments and save up for the diamond. Anyway, she refused to wear mother's peart. It seems to me girls are getting awfully exacting. But I wonder why I dont feel tbe least bit sorry. I hope It isn't she that's ill," he added. Emitting a deep sigh, he flung on his overcoat, put on his hst snd picked up his bag. When he reached tbe house be a met at the door by Mrs. Carver. "Oh, weren't you good to come out at this hour," she thanked bim. "Joe must have eaten too much pie or randy, for he complains of fierce cramps. Jennie is upstairs trying to ease him. Isn't it awful that such ft km . , EC. I. , of red and of pink rosea that hung over the top of the wall "They're hanging oxer In my yard, and I'm Just going to get a ladder and pick some before that grouchy man moves In there." The ladder proved .too short to se cure many sprats, but finding a hols in the wall, aha felt repaid at the sight of a glorious riot of rose color in the garden. "And all for one lone, seMsh man to enjoy. It's a shame." she murmured, aa she stood perilously balanced on the ladder, she caught the smell of cigar smoke. "Why, I do hellers the Grouch, that's his name, baa arrived. He mustn't see me," and down the ladder twinkled two little white feet. The wall waa long and well filled with overhanging roses, and they sup plied Lena . with flowers for several days. Never one could ahe catch a glimpse of the grouch behind the rose hedge. i But on day as ahe stood perched high In the air a stent voice bellowed: "Stop stealing those roses!" So astonished was the pretty thief that sh lost her footing vainly fried to grasp a roae twig and fell to the the effect of voting! "Well, if you want my opinion," chirped Miss Murp. nibbling fudge, "I've always liked Freddie. He's ft nice boy, and I dont blame Marjorle one bit! I dropped my notebook th other day, and he picked it up for me aa nice as you please." Miss Sophia, another stenographer, single, golden-haired and with high matrimonial aspirations, listened eagerly, but said nothing. She was as cold and haughty as a lovely statue, making It a nil never to mix with those beneath her. Th subject veered to the picnic. It was to be a sort of outing for tbe em ployes of the company, and a whole day had been allotted to It Therefor It waa quit an event in the drab lives of the office force. . "Going. Miss Sophia " queried Olive, th engaged one. Miss Sophia's fine eyebrows were elevated. "I haven't decided yet I'm sure I don't know." It I'm Just getting sick and tired of your tyranny, anyway." ' But after he had left for .the office, and Marjorle had put three-year-old Marlon to sleep for the afternoon, she threw herself on ber bed and cried passionately. After ft while she fell into troubled sleep; snd while she slept she dreamed. Th divorce proceedings were over. Marjol had defied John and gone to the dance, and he had kept his word. She aat In her mother's parlor, with Marion a sympathetic court had awarded the child to her), thinking over her future. "Now, Marjorle," began her mother. "I am going to make a few sugges tions, which I think, if you are sensi thing should happen tbe first night she is here. Marie wouldn't get up. bbe said to send for the doctor, because ahe couldn't do anything." "What an agreeable cousin Jennie must be to tend to tbe ceaseless wants of an 11-year-old boy with cramps!" thought Dr. Branbridge. "I wish I knew such amiable people." When he got upstairs he found a neat little young lady bustling about in a very methodical manner. "I had some very good powders with me, so I gave bim one. He feels much better now, I think," explained Jennie. "You are Dr. Branbridge. I suppose. I feel as though you were on of the family, so I did not hesitate to speak to you. You must pardon my audacity, but I felt grieved to bear that it was on my account that a dispute arose be ween Marie and you. She ought to jisaajajaaaajg,,, j The Untuned Nurse j'". Happiness IhSi',' ground, where ahe lay moaning, un heeding sights or sounds. Suddenly a tall form landed beside her. "Are you hurt at my beastly words? I thought it was boys. Will you ever forgive me!" "O-oh, my ankle hurts so," walled the girl, then looking up, she quav ered: "Ars you-the-the grouch's garden er?" She began to whimper a little, the pain was so Intense. "The what, who?" queried the man gravely, yet with eyea that twinkled with humor. 1 "I mean the grouchy old man's gar dener? Our neighbor, here!" "O-oh, I see. Ye-es, yes. I take care of the roses. Come I'll help you Into the house." "Do you think I'll be laid up long with my ankle. Please say no do," she begged. "I sincerely hope not Yet a sprain Is slow, you know. See here, I dont suppose your folks would allow a gar dener to call and see how you pro gress? It was all my fault" Lena shook her head. "I-don't-suppose so," she drawled longingly, as he noted how handsome was th face bent over her. "But I don't care if they don't Why "Oh, my dear, you simply must go; and wear your golden outfit and youll win the beauty prise." "Well, maybe." la bar corner, stenslbly clacking net typewriter, Marjorle listened, and 'her eyes spsrkled. Oh, th very thing! Just then the bell rang for lunch, and with on accord the office force arose, pushed back chairs and rushed madly tor th lockers. Marjcrle cornered Miss, Wilkinson. , "Oh. Miss Wilkinson, I wonder if you would help me out of a fix. I've prom ised Freddie Lockes I'd go to lunch with him, and I've such a headache I simply cant mak It Would you go in my place? He's such a disappointed baby! I'll spend my lunch hour in th rest room, I guess. Will you, please?" "Why, yes, I will, Miss Stewart. Sor ry your head aches," snd she swept grandly toward the washroom. Mar jorle chuckled, then sought Freddie. That worthy gentleman was in th act of putting his shabbj brown hat on A Picnic Farce A Dream Forcast ble, you wilt listen to. I should advise you to go to the city" "But, mother," faltered Marjori. "I intended to stay her with you." "No," said her mother, flrmly"that would not do, neither for your own sake nor ours. "In tbe first place, Randvllle is s small, narrow-minded town, and yon know what their attitude Is toward a woman whose husband divorces her. It would be different If you had di vorced John; but as it is, you and Ma rlon would bar to suffer untold slights and snubs, and you were always sensitive! Another thing, your sisters must have their chance to marry welt, and It Is not fair to them that you stay here. I may seem hard to you, but I can not forget that after all it be excused for not wanting to beip Joe, for I know that she would do all she couJd for her brother if she were tn better humor." "It wasn't your fault In the least. If Marie wasn't satisfied, I would rather that she find It out in time, than al ways to be repenting. You seem more like a city girl than the country maiden I expected you to be," he compliment ed. ' "Well, you see, I I," she stammered. "I am really a city girl, but father and I have lived so long In the country that 1 suppose Marl considers me rather a rural cousin" Tbe little sufferer, who had been th object of their attention, had mean while been blessed with sleep. "I hope I shall meet you soon again," be said, as he held out his hand, "but dont be disturbed with thoughts of mm. juat come, that's all." "Well, they cant stop me throwing roses over the wall every morning, can they?" "No!" the girl answered decisively. So every morning found fresh rosea on Lena's table. One dayvshe even found a note tucked Inside the cluster. "How presuming!" ahe gasped, while her eyes glistened at his bravery. Together with the roses a long let ter from brother Ted enlivened a little the slow crawling hours. She even telt a slight Interest In Ted's hero, Jlra Burton, who had won such glori ous track meets, and was such a fa vorite. She wondered if he was as handsome as the gardener. He couldn't be. "I hope Ted won't conjure up match-making visions of J. B. and me. Yea, here It is!" And she read: "Little Sis, I'd want no better thing to happen than for you and Jim to meet he saved my life, you know and some dsy perhaps " She tossed her pretty head. "While Jim Burton may be a hero, and while I'm so grateful to him for Ted's life, and long to tel! him ro, It doesn't mean matrimony." Right her the gardener's pair of merry gray eyes seemed to dance be tween the lines of the letter. Coming th back of his yellow head. "Freddie, put your hat on straight and go wash your hands and face! I've told Miss Wilkinson you'd take her to lunch. Hurry now!" "You what!" "Oh, you stupid! Didn't yen want m to help you get ft girl? Well, I've got the prettiest one in the offlce; and you stand there gazing b!snlil7 at me. Get a move on! She's washing up now." But Freddie was grasping her firmly by the shoulders, regardless of time. "Explain more fully!" he demanded. So Marjorle explained in a very few words, then pushed the astonished Freddie toward the waahioom. H wat hopeless. When he reappeared his freckled face was shining, bis hands remark ably clean and his hair sopping wet Marjorle produced her powder puff, and in spite of alf protests managed to put encugh cn his face to cover the awful, shine. is our own fault; you had you: chance at happiness, and you deliberately threw It away." A month later found Marjorle in stalled in a tiny apartment In a near by city with Marion, end a trim little maid Who was to perform the double duty of caring for Marlon and the lit tle apartment. Marjorle, with the small income at her disposal, had started a small mil linery establishment. Before her mar riage to John, she had taken a(course la millinery; 'she had the knack of making smart hats and it stood ber In good stead now. As the weeks flew by she always cherished the hope that. John would relent and come for her. - She knew he had loved her deeply, and she was sure your cousin. During tbe following weeks, In which Marie seemed to be enjoying herself without Bob Branbridge's help, the doctor wss so busy that he bad little chance of seeing the fair nurse. One day, as he was making a call, he saw Jennie taking a walk. He quick ly caught up to her In his runabout "Would you like to come for a spin?" hs asked. "I have to make a few visits, but I won't be long." "Certainly," she consented. , His first stop was at the Deanes'. Little Albert had a bad case of croup. When he took his patient's tempera ture, he saw that a raging fever had set In. 8ome serum thst held the only chance of the boy's recovery was In his office five miles away. If he went . back, there was no hope that he would return In time. What was he to do? UEUa,.H, XI, By back to earth ahe shrugged her shoul ders and puckered up her pretty mouth. "Absurd!" Lena overheard, letting visions like those enter your brain!" Yet that same little sly mint select ed an upper back room overlooking a certain rose garden, where she nursed her sprained ankleJust to catch a glimpse of the roses, of course. And on day she actually threw a weighted message right Into the gar den and It was picked up by the man whose name the note bore. It said: "Where is th grouch still smoking behind the hedge, while you tend his roses? I'm awful lone some. I may sit near the wall Wednes day If they'll let me." Artful little thing, as If she didn't surmise the answer that followed : "I'll be there. If you'll reply to my line on June, etc. Grouch still smokes In the same place. Never mind; he's deaf!" So ft cams about that girl dla tractlngly pretty, It a pal blue gown hair glistening In th bright June sun, eyes shining with expectation, sat on afternoon beneath th rose wall. "Oh, what Is so rare as a day In June!" sang a1 musical voice on th other side of the wall. Back came the answer: By Abncr "Ther now!" she straightened his tie "go along and have a good time. Got money enough? Well, here's a liver, and don't forget to pay It back Friday. Take her to Morrlno's; tip the waiter half a dollar; ask her to the picnic and. for the rove of Tete, act as If you knew something!" "But what are you going to do for tunch? Does your head ftcbe very badly?" "NO. silly, it doeen t h at all. That was only an excuse. Go along now!" Then she (led. Miss Wilkinson then Joined him very much painted, powdered and coiffed. 6h was Just a trigs more congenial than usual. Together they went down In the elevator strange pair. That luncheon was a terrible or deal for poor Freddie. Mis Wilkin son's coot, appraising eyes seem to see through tbe miserable tittle farce. When dessert came along. Freddie swallowed his Adam's apple with con siderable difficulty, snd blurted "Miss u that some day she would com home from tbe little shop and find him wait ing to ask her forgiveness and take her and Marlon back home with him. . But no word came 'rem him, and one day when she was looking over Uie home paper which her mother always sent to her the room ruddenly went black before her eyea On the very fror page she read th announcement that John was to marry one of the sea son's most popular budr,. Surely' she was to pay In full for her folly. She had nothing further to live for. She was face to face with the fact that she had been living all these Dreary months In the hope that he would come for her. After a time she became calm and thought out ft course to pur sue. Then he thought of Jennie. He won dered If she could drive. H ran out to ask her, The girl was seated In the machine. ' waiting patiently for him to return. "I have very sick patient," be told ber. "If I had on of my serums In th dark bottle on tbe left hand side of my desk, I might save his life. Can 70U driv Into town and get It?" "Well, I know bow to steer the car and how to stop it. If you start it here, I can get someone In town to start It there. I'll try my best to bring back the bottle In time." He got In and set the engine going. She slid Into tbe chauffeur's seat snd whisked away. What an eternity It seemed that he, had to wait. But Jennie was handing him the serum In a llttl over half an hour. A hard battle for lift was on. Phil Moore ' "It would be If Lena war all In tuna." A laughing mass of masculine humor and sunshine landed plump at her aide, and bowing low presented her with an Immense bunch of the choicest roses. "Oh, I thank you, Mr. Mr. why, leal It funny, I've never heard your nam, Mr. r "Lindsay, at your service, fair Lena," supplied th man. "Excuse me, that's all th nam I've heard. "Lena Everbard. Listen. My broth er Ted comes next week. You'll Ilk him. They may let m go to meet him." "Unsay's ys danced at th sight of her. Say that's great. Boob that I was to cause that sprain. I'll make It up to you." "Mak it up Bow r "Oh, In roses, or somewsy." "But the Grouch may not Ilk It By th way, he must be pretty easy on you. You seem to biv so much time, you know." "He's not grouchy when on knows him. Stone walls don't make a grouch. Say. wouldn't It be Jolly If he'd pull down this wall Just grow the rose hedge?" Lena drew in her breath ecstatically. ' "Why, It would b a ros heaven!" Anthony Wilkinson will you go to the picnic with me?" Then th 'girl opposite him melted. "Why, yes, I will, Freddi. It's nlc of you to ask me. I wanted to go so much." And so It wss settled, yet Freddie didn't seem as happy as he should have been, Somehow the blue eyes of plain little Marjorle seemed to haunt him. He might have asked her! He never thought of It! Th day of th picnic th merry crowd gathered at th appointed place, and special ears conveyed them to th woods, a wonderful spot full of col ors of autumn. Miss Wilkinson sat be side th radiant Freddie a creature of wonder beauty. Her sport skirt was of golden silk, her blouse of sheer white, her sweater and smart toqus of golden silk, and her hair was beautifuly arranged. Surely she would win the beauty prize! Yet, as the day wor on, Freddie wasn't as happy as be thought be was. By Elsie Endlcott Sb rang for the llttl maid and told her to pack Marlon's small suit case and get her ready for ft short trip. "I am going to send her to her grand mother's tn the country. SJi hasn't been so well lately, and it will do her a lot of good," she explained. Then she sat down and wrot a short nota to her mother; . "Dear Mother I am beginning to realize that you were right. I did throw away my happiness and I have nothing to look forward to now. I hope that John wilt be happy In bis new life. I am sending you Marion and I want you to give her to John. He always wanted her and I know that she will be happy with him. I am go ing to end It all. With all the love In tb world. MARJORI E." How he wished he had an experienced nurse with him! If he did, tbe fight would b so eay. As he turned around, ho saw Jennie standing In attendance with a bor rowed apron. "I Just love to do this kind of work. Can't I help you?" "I am Inclined to think that you are a heaven-sent gift!" he replied. There! he was always saying some thing wrong, because he had made her blush. But she was as pretty 'as a budding rose when the red stole Into her cheeks. Over the bed of the little sufferer, they bent, easing his pains. It was Just at sunset that they had the pleas ure of seeing the flickering life flame up strongly. The battle was won! He stretched out his hand to thank her. As he drew her to the window to watch th sun go down on a successful sb breathed. Before she could add another word a lively ahout of "Hey. little sial" sounded from th gateway. "Ted! It's Ted! and I can't go to html" she trembled. Dut tb college boy had vaulted over the gate. "By all that files high in th air, Burton Jim! Where did you come from, old follow? I should Judge by Lena's pink cheeks that you were old friends,"' Ted chmkled. Ther sat Ted's sister, wide-eyed, open-mouthed, with not on sign of welcome for Ted. "Burton, Jim!" she gasped, and aat gazing Into th smiling, mischievous eye of th man at ber feet Then at his garden suit. ' ''Then you are the Grouch behind the hedge you, tb owner of tb roses and ugly wall and Ted'a paragon?" At that th "paragon" roared, as hs replied: "Jamas Lindsay Burton, "at your service, ma'am, and owner of th roses and you, I hope soni day," hs added audaciously. Ted threw his cap high In th air, yelling: "Say yes, sis. Best fellow In th world." But all the girl said was: "And yon, too, In It, Ted? Come her and get -four kiaa of welcome?" At which Burton looked so longing ly at them,' th Irrepressible brother shouted : "Yours won't be long on th way, Jim!" Silly," blushed Tod's sinter. Marjorle wasn't ther. Miss Wilkin son was plainly bored, and more aloof than ever. She tost out In th beauty contest to a dainty slim little thing whose cheek were like wild roses and guiltless of cosmetics. It didn't seem to soften ber any. Freddie wor ried a little about his finances. Girls were expensive! At 6 o'clock the limit was reached. Freddie couldn't stand It "I say. Miss Wilkinson, shall we go back now?" "Yes, we might aa well. ' Fve got an engagement for the evening." So back they went in comparative silence, for Freddie waa deep In thought When he left her at her door, the boy hurried to the deserted offlce building. As he was th first on m each morning, he had ft key and ha quietly went In and consulted th roll bonk. . . . "Stewart Marjorle, 6497 Suffolk street." He closed th book, and went down to ti e street A half hour later he rang the bell at th Stewart home and snked for Marjorle. When she appeared,' with amazement on her fart, h took her hand. "Mar jorle dear, come out to supper with me and let's go to ft movie. Wll you, please?" , The girl looked at Ms gr, homely face, the blue eyes pi lng and said: "Wait 1 11 get my bat and coat!" She gave th maid Instructions to deliver the note to her mother, and ahe kissod the tittle girl good-by. "Have ft good-tlm at grandma's, dear, and don't forget mother while you are gone, will you?" she cried. After they bad gone sb put th llttl apartment to rights and retired to her room. She closed the window tightly, placed a rug against the crack of th door, and stuffed some paper Into the keyhole. She then turned on the gas and threw herself-on the bed. "Wake up, dear," said John, shaking Marjorle gently. "It Is after 5, and you'll have to hurry If we are going to the dance. I finished my work earlier than I expected, and I tried to get you on the 'phone to let you know, but no one answered. Marjorle looked at him In a dazed manner, and ' then burst out crying. "Oh, John, I had a dreadful dream." "Now, now, stop your crying, and get ready, because If your eyes are all red, you won't make a hit at th dance," laughed John. day, he murmured to her that old, yet ever new, story. As sho spoke her consent with her eyes, the sun, smil ing on the lovers, set In the west 4 O ' Had OIlAriti. Bill and Sam met for tbe first time In everal months. It was th conven tional greeting, In which each "asked after" the health of the other, and they drew off to on side of the street to have a few moments of conversation. "Where've you been all these days. Bill?" Sam inquired. "You haven't been laid up. have you?" "Yep, been laid up for a time." "You aren't looking awful good. Hope It wasn't anything serious." "Not so very serious, but It's th first time I've been out In three months." "What was the matter with you?" "Nothing at all, as a matter of fact but I couldn't make the Judge see It that way." We hope somebody will make a moving picture of the British cab inet In session. Wo would like to see ft celluloid George.