The day book., June 24, 1916, LAST EDITION, Image 27

About The day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

-CONFESSIONS OF A WIFE
ANY GIRL AS TOLD TO MARGARET WAVERLY
(CONTINUED)
"I did not realize, Margie, that I
had very little money untiUafter I
started to pack up a few things","then
I found that I had only enough to pay
for my tickets and stateroom which
I had thoughtlessly ordered.
"Ola went down after -the tickets'
and came back quickly saying there
was a red-headed young man down
at the ticket office who said he knew
me, lived in my town, and that, as it
happened he was going home that
evening, too, he would look after
everything.
"I did not even ask his name, for
all I could hear was: 'Your mother
is very ill, come home immediately.'
"But when I got down to the train
I looked up into the ugly, freckled
face of Jeff Perrigreen, crowned with
its shock of red hair.
" 'I am so sorry, Miss Newton, you
are in trouble," he said. 'I am going
through tonight and if you will al
low me to look after your baggage
I'll be mighty glad to do it
"I gave him my checks without a
word and was ushered into my state
room by the porter.
"All night long the grinding wheels
kept pounding out the words: 'Your
mother is very ill, come home at
once.'
"It was daylight before I fell into
a troubled sleep, and it was after
9 the next day when I rang for the
porter and asked him to bring me a
cup of coffee and an orange. I had
quite forgotten that I had ho money
to pay for them until after he had
gone.
"I was almost in a panic, but I hap
pened to think of Jeff and hastily I
got up and dressed.
"In a few minutes the waiter
brought in my tray on which was a
great bunch of violets, as well as the
coffee and fruit
" 'The young gentleman says if
you are not too tired can he call and I
give you your checks, miss?' said the
porter.
" 'Tell him to come right in.'
"In a minute Jeff came in and
blushed almost as red as his hair
when I thanked him for the flowers.
Then, Margie, I blushed, for I had to
confess that through some negligence
caused I suppose by my mother's ill
ness, my father's secretary had
failed to send me my allowance
which had been due to reach me the
morning before.
"Immediately Jeff's face lighted
up and he handed me a roll of bills.
" 'I don't want all of them,' I pro
tested. 'If you will lend me $20 I will
have dad send you a check just as
soon as I get in today.'
" 'Don't hurry, Miss Paula,' said
Jeff, and then he got all red again.
"I think I'll ring and see if I can
get the morning paper,' I said, but
as my hand was on the push button
Jeff sprang up.
" 'Let me get it for you,' he said,
and disappeared outside the door.
"He came back shortly saying that
there were no papers to be had and
that he would try to get me one at
the next station. I could hot help
thinking that he had grown a shade
less ugly ana- remarking on the coin
cidence of his traveling home with
me. I asked him where he had been.
" 'I am at Yale, but some very im
portant business is calling me home.
I shall only spend one day home, as
I must be back as soon as possible.'
" 'Did you see last night's papers?
I was so. upset I never thought to buy
them. There might have been some
thing in them about mother's sudden
illness.'
"It seemed to me that Jeff stut
tered a little as he informed me that
he, too, had been too busy to see the
papers.
" 'Won't you come out and have
luncheon?' he agked a little later.