The Washington herald., 1914-10-22
DAILY SHORT STORY.
LETITIAS LECTURE.
by CATHERINE COOPER.
CCopynEht, lSlLJ

(CopyiEht lslIJ
my dear Letitia, you are no more
!, suited to the lecture platform than am
TO open q mothers meeting" Norman
Prince gazed fondly down at his sweet.
heart. There was, however, sufficient OF
masculine superiority in his expression
to irritate Letitia.
Men always make such absurd COM
parisons," she retorted quickly. Just
because you cannot preside at a moth
ers' meeting is no reason to suppose
cannot lecture successfully on better ba-
bies."
The idea Is absurd" Norman said.
more hotly than he realized. "A girl Of
your age can't know anything about
either better or worse babies, and as for
lecturing on the subject to women who
have brought up children as old as you
are-well, your own common sense should
teach you the folly Of such an idea"
And your own common sense should
tell you that 1 would not consider lee
turing on a subject 1 had not mastered
Just because women have brought up
children is no sign they have brought
them up properly"
And you are going to- teach these
mothers what their children might have
been had they heard your lecture frs"
Norman laughed long and heartily.
Letitia's eyes were fixed wrathfully
upon him. She was very serious over
her proposed series Of lectures before the
club, and she did not like being laughed
at. She was very sorry Norman was so
fine a specimen OF manhood. It was
difficult to give him up, but perhaps
when she had succeeded in showing him
and her world that she was an efficient
speaker he would come back to her and
L., oolr- Lad ,f kar -
Before she could speak the fiery words
that would terminate their engagement
Norman himself gave expression to his
quickly matured resolution.
''Ietitia, / am sorry to have hurt you,
but think understand you better than
you do yourself. also realize that you
are going to give me back my ring and
tell me never to darken your door again.
Isn't that right?"
'cYesr' retorted Letitia defantIy
"Well, under the circumstances, I
think you are right. But see no reason
why we should sever our friendship.
have always been your best friend and
always want to be-" He looked earnestly
irfto Letitia's surprised eyes. Cant you
manage to promise me that?"
Yes" agreed Letitia, trying not to
seem amazed at his readiness to sever
the closer tie. But will be very busy
during the next week or two preparing
my lCcture,' she added by way OF in
Producing the new Detitia. She more or
less reluctantly pulled of the beautiful
ring from her plump little finger and gave
1t to Norman.
"Oh, thanks" he said, with a merry
smile, I'VE almost forgot to end things
properly" He put the ring in his pocket
with the casual remark 81 suppose II
Is up to me to find another girl before
this solitaire burns hole In my pocket"
Letitia's head went up into the air, but
she made no comment. She was fright
fully hurt, but defiant.
II want to help you all can," Nor
man told her. with his usual gentle man
ner toward her. IF you just study up
your lecture and practice It on me it
idea how difficult It II to speak the things
mind. especially before a seething mass
OF people. Your voice sounds like lost
soul when you first speak and you get
positively ghastly weak In the knees"
He laughed in recollection Of his own
first attempt. $50 II you just practice
upon me a bit you'll md It viii help
a lot when it comes to the nerve-rack-
ing ordeal"
Letitia essayed a smile, but she felt
rather weak In anticipation Of her first
speech.
you are certainly cheerful and encour-
aging" she said finally. However, I
think your suggestion IL q good one /
will be very glad to speak my lines over
before you. 1t ID good Of you to think
of it."
In her gratitude, Letitia would have
offered him the habitual lovers kiss. but