Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-01

and Jim and Flora were in school and
wanted to stay there. of course. So
Maggie came. Poor girl! 1t was real
so fond of books. But she came, and
went right into the home and kept it
So Frank and Jim and Flora could live
there just the same as when their
mother was alive. And she had to do
all the work. too. They were too poor
to keep girl Kind of hard, wasn't it?
and Maggie only eighteen ~
1T was, indeed" I" Mr.. Smiths lips
came together a bit grmly.
We'll, after a time Frank and Jim
married, and there was only Flora and
Father Duff at home. Poor Maggie tried
then to go to college again She was
over twenty-one. and supposed to be her
place where she could work and pay
her way through college, and Flora
said she'd keep the house and take
care of Father Duff. But, dear me: it
Maggie had to come home again. Flora
wasn't strong, and the work fretted her.
Besides. she never could get along with
Father Duff, and she was trying to
learn dressmakng, too.
''She stuck it out till she got sick,
though, then, of course, Maggie had to
come back"
We'll, by Jove!' calculated Mr. Smith.
Yes. wasn't it too bad? Poor Maggie,
she tried it twice again. She persuaded
work, either. The first girl and her
father fought like cats and dogs, and the
last time she got one her father was
taken sick, and again she had. to come
home. Some way, it's always been that
way with poor Maggie. No sooner does
she reach out to take something than
It snatched away, just as she thinks
she's got it. Why, there was her father s
cousin, George-he was going to help
her once; But a streak of bad luck hit
him at just that minute, and he gave
out"
And he never tried-again?"
mo. He went to Alaska then. Hasn't
ever been back since: He's, done well.
too, they say and l always thought he'd
send back something; but he never has.
There was some trouble. ! believe. be-
he went to Alaska, so that explains it.
probably. Anyway, he's never done any
thing for them. Well, when he gave out,
Maggie just gave up college then, and
though l guess she's always studied
some at home; and 1 know that for
years she didn't give, up hope but that
she She Sas Sasd noW go Poor Mag Maggie f"
How old is she?'
why, let me see-forty-three, forty
four.yes, she's fortyIfive, She had her
/ gave her handkerchief for a birth
day present-when she was helping me
take care of Mellicent through the pneu-
mona ana that was Two years ago.
She used to come here and to Jim's and
Flora's days at a time but she isn't
quite so free as she was-Father Duff 8
worse now, and she don't like to leave
him nights. much so she can't come to
us so often. See?'
Eyes, I-see." There was a queer
something in Mr.. Smiths voice. "And
| just what Is the matter with Mr.. Duff
Matter" Mrs. Jane Blaisdell gave a
short laugh and shrugged her shoulders
"Everythings the matter-with Father
Duff Oh, it's nerves, mostly, the doc
tor says, and there are some other
| things-long names that l can't remem-
| ber But, as / said, everything's the
matter with Father Duff. He's one OF
| those men where there isn't anything
quite right. Frank says he's got so he
| just objects to everythng-on general
| principles. If it's blue he says it ought
| to be black, you know. And. really,
don't know but Franks right. How
| Maggie stands him ! don't see but she's
devotion itself. Why, she even gave ur
| her lover years ago, for him. She
| wouldn't leave her father, and. of course
nobody would think of taking him into
| the family, when he wasn't born into 1t
| so the affair was broken off. / don't
know really, as Maggie cared much
| Still, you can't tell. She never was one
to carry her heart on her sleeve Poor
| do something for her
There, how l have run on! But
then, you asked. and you're interested