The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-04-17
INCIDENT MRS. LESTER
BY OSBORN JONES.

Lester DeSettlng sin was 1nuolence.
"Of course, any woman could have
pretty hands and well-manicured nails
if she didn't ever have to do anything"
said Mrs. Lands, the boarding-houSe |
keeper, To the old maid school teacher,
who replied promptly:
Yes, and any woman could seem |
light-hearted if she didn't have a care |
or trouble in the world"
As a matter of fact, Mrs. Lester was |
INDECENT. But she was not altogether |
happy
If any one had asked Mrs. Lester
why she boarded instead Of keeping
house she would have said it was be
cause her husband chose TO live that
way. They had always done it in the
three years of their married life. The
boarding house was convenient to the
big factory where her husband worked
and houses were not plentiful. But
sometimes 4 single tear fingered in
those soft brown eyes of hers and
there was a fieeting note of sadness in
her voice.
Then came the time when Mrs. Lam
dis son had pneumonia at college. 1t
didn't prove TO be hard case, but it
was sufficiently alarming 10 make it
necessary for Mrs. Lands to pack her
wicker suitcase and betakc her portiy
person to the college town. She
stopped long enough To give the cook
directions for ordering and to commit
Tho f.opn nf IA IA,
| keeping. Then she went to Mrs. Les
| ter's room and told her.
Il know l can't do much" said Mrs.
| Lester, but it makes a lot of work for
| poor Martha. Let me do the ordering
while you are gone
! This happened just after breakfast,
| SO that Mrs Lester went marketing
that morning at nine and bought even
more economically than would Mrs
/ Lands herself, and no one at the
! boarding house knew the difference
| For Mrs Lester, though she said moth
| ing of it even to he'd husband was
pleased with her achievement. Lester
returned TO the factory office that
night, and Mrs. Lester SAT alone. 1t
was eleven when she first heard Mar
tha's call for help-poor, fat Martha,
whose age was beginning to tell in an
occasional heart attack.
Only Mrs. Lester heard The call for
help ana went tiptoeing mp to the gar
ret bedroom to be of assistance
/, And then came the doctor, who as
Sured Mrs. Lester that a few days OF
rest would put Martha Back on the
working list again.
by the time Mr.. Lester came back
from he factory Mrs. Lester was
tucked in among her Pillows-as ne,
poseful aS Il She had lain there al the
evening.
IN the morning She slipped from hei
room at tive-blandly lying 10 her hus
band that She WAS cold and had gon,
10 rest in 4 warmer room that had re
Gently been vacated. And as Mrs
Lester seldom took breakfast With he
husband, he never guessed that while
lie was eating she was working furl
ously in the kitchen nor dreamed tina
the coffee and cereal, bacon, eggs ant
mullins were all the result OF hi
wife's efforts with the cookbook an,
stove.
After breakfast Mrs. Lester ordere,
quickly and deity over the phone an,
then came the stupendous undertaking
of getting 20 luncheons ready for tn
men ut the factory by Il 80.
Then came dinner, and though Mrs
/ l aStnr'c arms aphp1 from, tho NM, ,.,,,.
toned labor, and though She was al
4 most dropping under the task, she WI
d supremacy happy. She had left not
III her husbands room saying that sh
o had gone 10 spend the day with
Il friend aud would not lie home till Eint
and ut that hour she stole into Mr.:
d Lands room long enough To put .
her big cloak and hat that she had LEI
e there for that purpose. Then. pincl
ing Il little color into her tired fac,
she ripped smilingiy into her alr
n bands room. 1t had been Il wouderfi
day of achievement, and she coul
r hardly wait till Mrs Lands returne
she was due at ten that night
5, hear what she would say.
n ''Such wonderful day as l hav
= had.' she said TO her husband by wa
;" of explaining the happiness that ST
knew must be shining from her face
q Wonderful days" Knocked her hu
g band; YES, and | have been shaving
&c the Office. Grille, I'm getting tired
q this-just little. I'd like TO have
q little house of our own, but | don
he dare to suggest it. You're too muC
/ of a doll. It's worrying over that b
N sides worrying over the business III;
keeps me so loW-hearted"
Ill and you have wanted to keep hou!
L and haven't told me-" She whispere
IT, and for all these months and yea
nc I've longed for something to DO al
didn't dare ask YOU"
III But that was all she had time
say, for Mrs. Lands rushed throu.
the half-opened door. She had arrive
! and Martha, now down stairs for 4
first time, had told hsF.
art eH.n