The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-06-06
FAIRY GODMOTHER
ICopyright, 1918. Western Newspaper
BY MILDRED WHITE.

tIiy Tue yOuuB-Olu eyes TtSdIu eu hcis
"You may take this home and keeI
1t, dear" said Mollie, "a voyage into
the pleasant unrealities will not hurt
you. When l was little girl, loved
the story Of the fairy godmother who
brings to the poor maiden all that her
heart could DESIRE" She smiled as the
shabby little figures went joyously
down the street.
ut takes so little to make them
happy" murmured Mollie. Whimsical
ly her thoughts went back to the fairy
godmother. What convenient old crea.
lures they were. happening along at
/ the opportune moment, returning some
| passing kindness by changing a hut
into castle, or bringing fairy prince
to claim his own. In real life all was
SO different. Here she was, after years
Of faithful attendance upon Aunt
Drusilla, left alone in the small cot
tage, it being her own only upon condi-
ton that she remain as tenant.
"Oh! for fairy godmother," sighed
Mollie to the yellow cat, then she went
to open the door. A bent old figure
stood knocking, and Mollie smiled at
her own fanciful thought as the
wrinkled face peered into her own.
Does Miss Drusilh Wentworth live
here?" quavered sweet old voice.
NO." Mollie answered hesitatingly.
In quick comprehension the woman
nodded.
"Gone. I suppose" she said, "like all
the rest"
"Yes," murmured Mollie.
"She was q friend Of mine years
ago." the woman explained; 1--WE went
to school together"
wont you come in?" urged the girl.
The visitor sighed as she sat before
the sitting room fire. at has been a
tiresOme Journey" she said; II ought
not to have come alone. But-they
were all so against my coming. Who
are you, my -dearr she asked abruptly,
and Mollie told her.
"Well, II you are Drusilla's niece"
the soft voice went on, you must have
heard Of Martha Manton2"
II heard" Mollie said, that she went
away long years ago, to be married"
The old lady laughed softly. "And
now" she said, "she wants 70 come
back" Again the keen eyes searched
the girls face. II think I Will tell you
about 1t.
my son has to go to war. He's my
baby, If he is thirty years old-and it's
very hard. Tom thought that / would
be comfortable during his absence at
my married sons home, but" The
old lady threw out her wrinkled hands
and smiled. II didn't seem to fit in.
At least, could not fit, in a bedroom
where the steam heat does not work.
And it's lonely spending evenings with
your thoughts, while all the others are
at dances or theaters, so 1 told
them / was going back to my home
town to stay with an old friend; and
the only friend I could think Of was
Drusilla."
The girl arose briskly. "well, take
of your cloak" she said, "and give
your bag to me. Perhaps you will
stay, say, for a week with Drusilla's
niece. / am lonely, too, and If we find
we like each other"
"Ohl" cried the visitor relievedly;
"may I really stay for awhile, could
you bear with an old body like me?
You could call up my son in the city
and find out all about me, dearie-"
1mpulsively Mollie bent and clasped
the trembling hands. "Why," she
laughed, 81 don't need to find out the
first thing about you; you're going to
be my fairy godmotherr'
1t was pleasant coming in of an eve
ming to find the lamp burning and the
silvery head bent busily over Mollie's
own sewing. Or to sing at the piano |
to a Joyously appreciative listener.
Pleasant, too, for the young and old |
faces to smile at each other across the |
table.
"Why. this is home at last /
breathed the girl.
This is my home" said the older
"And you will stayr' begged Mollie,
when the first week was up.
The answer was interrupted by a
to the front door. Past Mol
lie, into the parlor strobe q mans SOL
1ier-clad figure.
"Mother!" burst out the man:
whatever did you mean by running
away? John wired to camp, and
had leave Of absence to come back.
Why, motherw
"Dearie," she entreated, "don't make
ne go to Johns home again here I am
owed and wanted"
Il want her very much" agreed Mol
lie. And so, miraculously, during the
soldiers three days of absence, Mollie
lad two guests.
I'VE had to dismiss our city servants
md close up our big place." the man
old her; "too much of a care for
Mollie stared. "You must come and
tay with US some time-after the war
over" he went on. you don't know
What load you have lifted from my
leart. Leaving her happy makes 1t so
much easier. and" steadily his eyes
ooked into her, 81 want you to write
o me often, will you? That will help,
oo-the thought Of coming back-to