The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-23

Society, frivolity, charity, and the
greatest of these Is charity"
Anice covered her rosebud mouth,
half blown into yawn, with gloved
hand as she stood in argumentatiVe
attitude before the Pickering gas log.
"Im sick of the first two, lady
mother. Therefore will practice char
ity."
We'll" said the mother plaintively,
taking UP a novel, do be careful with
that automobile. Don't let 1t run away
with you. You'll get smallpox or some
thing down in that awful Ghetto, as
you call it. And he sure to shange
your clothes before"
But her tall. willful daughter was al
ready halfway down stairs. Pausing in
the hall and thrusting her hands into
the sleeves of her long raglan. she said:
"Go back to my rooms. Celeste, and
bring me the violets to wear
"Oui. mam'selle, bue re violets have
faded since yesterday. re pink roses
go better with milady's gown"
Miss Anice repeated her order more
1mperatvely She would heve told you
that she detested dictation and pink
teas.
DR.. Givns he'd been guilty of the first
i'm an eminent degree. In consequence
he was carrying around returned dia-
mond ring in close proximity to a very
heavy heart, which had also been de-
clined with thanks. as though it We're
an unavailable manuscript.
Charity covers n multitude Of heart
aches. Therefore was Miss Anice
speeding>on errands of mercy this clear
10th day of December.
And the fateful Juggernaut car
which had ridden ruthlessly over two
fond hearts and brought about this
state of affairs was no other than the
little white electric, runabout which
was now carrying her Ghetto-ward.
Harvey was always so SUPERIOR"
she thought >scornfully as she pressed
down on the accelorator and shot
around Dead Mems curve, narrowly
grazing a policeman, and scattering his
convoy of pedestrians. II can run the
White Arrow as wellSa as he cam" For
their quarrel had been brought about
by difference Of opinion as to her
qualifications as Chauffeur
TO be sure, the little Jewish newsboy,
to whom she was playing Lady Bounti-
full, was laid up with a pair of smash
ed toes as result of contested right
of way. In the encounter her automo-
bile had come out on top in every sense
of the word, and had been since gal
lantly carrying supplies to a defeated
foe whose wound the far-seeing par
ents would not allow to heal too rap
idly.
But of course everybody has to
learn to be anything" she comforted
herself. not choosing to remember that
Harvey had counseled her to wait till
she did learn before venturing. out of
the park. Papa bought me the White
Arrow only in October I think I've
done pretty we'll in that time"
She sighed when she thought how
long it had been, because it was only
the week after that Harvey Oh
dear! And he had said something
about a pearl necklace for Christmas!
Now, among her tiresome gifts. not
one from him, not even bunch of
flowers--he who had sent her violets
every day! But she blushed as she
glanced down at those tucked under
her coat lapel.
She was winking so fast to keep the
tears back that she did not see the
numerous warning symptoms Of the
great lower East Side. the hundreds of
children, abundant riches of the poor.
Becoming mistily conscious OF
gurgling squall stopped halfway down
a baby throat, she looked back and saw
a sprawling infant in her wake.
The White Arrow had gone complete
ly over the child "straddling" it neat
ly. so she picked him up more frighten-
ed than hurt. After comforting him
with some confectionery supplies she
rode on, leaving him with round eyes
still staring tearfully and rounder
mouth peacefully stuffed with raisins.
Arriving at last in Hester street, she
checked brake and lever in front of the
tenement where Ikey abode. She was
at once swarmed upon like queen bee
by hordes of children, to whom the
daily visit of the white horseless buggy
was a great event.
1t Is sad to relate that with all her
vaunted capability as chauffeur Mis-
tress Anice forgot small but very I'M
portant matter. She went upstairs
loaded with good things to gladden. the
heart of Ikey and his numerous rela-
tives, and forgot to take from its
socket the little plug of the White
Arrow. With that tiny key safe In her
chatelaine bag the capacity for mis-
chief in the combination of small boy |
and automobile was reduced to mini
mum. Her electric horse would be |
hitched fast. But with the brass plug