Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-10

keeps fresh flowers always. She says
it's the nearest thing she can come to
putting flowers on his grave, POOR man "
Good heavens!' breathed Mr.. Smith
falling Imply into chair.
And she doesn't go anywhere, except
to church. and for necessary errands."
That explains why ! haven't seen
her. I had wondered where she was"
Yes. She is very conscientious But
she is going later to Niagara. I've per-
suaded her to do that. She'll go with
party, of course-one of those per-
sonally conducted affairs, you know.
Poor dear! She's so excited All her
life she's wanted to see Niagara Now
she's going, and she can hardly believe
It's true. She wants "A phonograph, too
but she's decided not to get that until
after six months mourning is up-it's
too frivolous and jolly for a house or
mourning
oh, good heavens" breathed Mr..
Smith, again.
1T is funny. isn't it, that she takes
Im afraid Bessie was a little
naughty that she get the phonograph.
but not allow 1t to play anything but
dirges and hymn tunes"
But. isn't the woman going to take
any comfort with that money!" de-
manded Mr.. Smith.
Indeed she is! She's taking comfor,
now. You have no idea, Mr.. Smith.
what 1t means to her, to feel that she
need never want again, and that she
can buy whatever she pleases. without
thinking of the cost. That's why she's
frightened-becaus she is so happy
She thinks 1t can't be right to be so happy.
It's too pleasant-to be right. When
she. isn't being frightened about that
she's being frightened for fear she'll
lose 1t, and thus not have it any more
l don't think she quite realizes yet what
big sum of money 1t is, and that she'd
q 80
lost it all"
"oh. we'll, she'll get used to that, in
time, They'll all get used to it-in
Tine time .n,r declared Mr. Smith. his face
live sanely and sensibly, and spend the
money as 1t should be spent OF course,
you couldn't expect them to know what
10 90, at the very first, with a sum like
you do yourself? Yes, what would you
do?" repeated Mr.. Smith. his face sud
denly alert and interested again. What
would you do If you should fall heir
TO hundred thousand dollars-tomor-
What would ! do? What wouldn't I
do?', laughed Miss Maggie Then alb
ruptly her. face changed. Her eyes be-
came luminous. unfathomable. There
Is 90 much that a hundred thousand
dollars could do-so much Why, I
would" Her face changed again alb
ruptly. She shifted as at an odor from
SoheWnere' Ihen llghtly she sprang to
her feet and crossed to the stove,
What would l do with a hundred
thousand dollars?" she demanded. whisk-
ing open damper in the pipe. I'D buy
a new base-burner that didn't leak gas
That's what I'd do with a hundred thou
sand dollars. Are you going to give II
to me?"
'Eh? Ah-what?" Mr.. Smith was
| visibly startled
Miss Maggie laughed merrily
Don't worry. I wasn't thinking OF
charging quite that for your board
But you seemed so interested, ! didn't
know but what you were going to hand
over the hundred thousand Just to see
what l would do with it." she chal-
| lenged mischievously. However I'll
stop talking nonsense. and come down
TO business. If you'll walk this way, Mr.
New Boarder. I'll let you choose which
| of two rooms you'd like"
And Mr.. Smith went. But, as had oc.
| CURED once or twice before, Mr. Smiths
face, as he followed her, was a study.