Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-12
CHAPTER xVIII-Continued

A turkey was sent TO every house
on Mill street, without exception, and
so much candy given to the children
that half OF them were made i'll, much
to the distress OF Miss Flora, who
il was said, promptly sent physician
to undo her work. The Dow family
Woodworking and thrifty, and the
Nolans, notorious for their laziness
and shiftlessness, each received a
hundred dollars outright The Wha.
lens, always with both hands meta
phoricaIiy outstretched for aims, were
loud in their praises OF Miss Floras
great kindness OF heart; but the
Davises (Mrs. Jane Blaisdelrs impe-
cunious relatives) hsd very visible
difficulty in making Miss Flora I'M
derstand that gifts bestowed as she
bestowed them were more welcome
unmade.
Every day, from one quarter to an
other, came stories like these to the
ears OF Miss Maggie and Mr.. Smith.
But Miss Flora was seen very sell
dom. Then one day, about a month
later, she appeared as before at the
Duff cottage, breathless and agitat-
ed; only this time, plainly, she had
been crying,
why, Flora, what in the world
is the matter?" cried Miss Maggie, as
she hurried her visitor into a COM
Portable chair and began to unfasten
her wraps.
"I'il tell you In a minute. I came
on purpose to tell you, But ] want
Mr.. Smith, too. Oh, he amt here,
is he?" she lamented, with disap-
pointed glance toward the vacant
chair by the table in the corner
u thought maybe he could help me,
some way. / won't so TO Frank or
Jim. They've-they've said so many
things. Oh, ! did so hope Mr.. Smith
was herep
"He is here, dear. He's in his
room. He just come in. I'll cali him"
comforted Miss Maggie, taking off
Miss Flora's veil and hat and smooth
ing back her hair. But you don't
want him to find you crying like this,
Flora. What sit, dearl"
Eyes, yes, | know. but I'm not
crying--1 mean, won't any more
And I'll tell you just as soon as you
get Mr.. Smith. It's only that I've
been--so silly, I suppose. Please get
Mr.. Smith"
can right. dear"
Miss Maggie. still with the dis
turbed frown between her eyebrows.
summoned Mr.. Smith. Then togeth-
er they sat down to hear Miss Flora's
story.
at all started. of course from
from that day brought the letter
here--from that man In Boston with
seven children, you know"
yes, ! remember" encouraged
Miss Maggie.
well, IL did quite a lot Of
things after that | was so glad and
happy to discover ] could do things
for folks. =
at seemed toto take away the
wickedness Of my having SO much,
you know; and so gave food and
oh, los of places here in
town--everywhere, most, that I
could find that anybody needed IT,"
Eyes, | know. We heard Of the
many kind things you did, dear"
Miss Maggie had an air of one trying
to soothe a grieved child,
But they didn't turn out to be kind
all of EN-" quavered Miss Flora.
Some of EN- went wrong. I don't
know why. ! tried to do EN- all
rightp
"Of course, you didp
81 know; but I amt those l came
to talk about. It's the others-the
letters"
"Letters?"
eyes. ] got 'em-lots OF 'em-after
the first one--the one you saw. FIRST
! got one, then another and another,
till lately I've been getting 'em every
day, most, and some days two or
three at time"
"And they all wanted-money,
suppose" observed Mr.. Smith, "for
their sick wives and children, l sup.
pose" y
"Oh. not for children always
though it was them a good deal. Blu,
il was for different things--and such
a lot of them! ] never knew there
could be so many kinds of such
things. And l was real pleased
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