Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-03

want any supper anyway-and could
they not live on crackers and milk for
the coming few days?
But Miss Maggie laughed and said,
Nonsense :" And in an Incredibly short
time she was ready to drive back in
the grocery wagon Later, when he
went home, Mr.. Smith found her there
presiding over one of the best suppers
he had eaten since his arrival in Hill
lerton. She came every day after that
for a week. for Mrs. Jane remained
flat on her back seven days. with
doctor in daily attendance, supplemented
by trained nurse peremptorily ordered
by that same doctor from the nearest
city.
Miss Maggie, with the assistance of
Mellicent, attended to the housework.
But in spite of the excellence OF the
cuisine, meal time was a most unhappy
period to everybody concerned, owing
to the sarcastic comments of Mr.. Frank
Blaisdell as to how much his wife had
saved by not having a man to put
down that carpet.
Mellicent had little time now to go
walking or auto riding with Carl PEN
mock. Her daily life was. indeed, more
pleasure-starved than ever-all of which
was not lost on Mr.. Smith. Mr. Smith
and Mellicent We're fast friends now.
Given a man with a sympathetic under
standing on one side, and girl hungry
for that same sympathy and understand
ing, and it could hardly be otherwise.
From Mellicent's own lips Mr.. Smith
knew now just how hungry young
girl can be for fun and furbeows.
"Of course I've got my board and
clothes, and / ought to be thankful for
them" she stormed hotly to him one
day. And | am thankful for them.
But sometimes it seems as if I'd actually
be willing to go hungry for meat and
potato, If for OnCt-Just Oncc--l could
buy a five-pound box of candy, and
oil I tod 70
But now. why low | can't even treat
a friend to an ice-cream soda without
seeing mothers shocked, reproachful
eyes over the rim of the glass :"
1t was not easy then (nor many times
subsequently, for Mr. Smith 10 keep
from asking Mellicent the utterly alb.
! surd question of how many tive-pound
! boxes of candy she supposed 100000
would buy. But he did keep from it
by heroic self-sacrifice and the comfort
| ing recollection that she would know
! some day, If she cared to take the
trouble to reckon 1t up.
In Mellicent's love affair with young
| PennOck Mr.. Smith was enormously in
| terested. Not that he regarded it as
really serious, but because it appeared
to bring into Melicent's life something
of the youth and gayety to which he
| thought she was entitled. He was al
| most as concerned as was Miss Maggie
therefore, when one afternoon, soon after
Mrs. Jane Blaisdel's complete recovery
from her carpet tax" Gas Frank Blais
dell termed his wife's recent ilness)
Mellicent rushed into the Duff living
room with rose-red cheeks and blazing
| eyes, and an explosive:
Aunt Maggie, Aunt Maggie. can't
you get mother TO let me go away
somewhere-anywher right off?
why, Mellicent. Away? And just
tomorrow the Pennocks' dance?"
th1t'S it-that'G tC
co. flashed Melicent. Il don't want
to be at the dance-and | don't want
to be in town, and not at the dance"
Mr.. Smith, at his table in the corner
glanced nervously toward the door. theI
ing less conspicuous than the flight hC
had been tempted for a moment tC
essay But even this was not to be
for the next moment, to his surprise, th'
girl appealed directly to him.