Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-14
CHAPTER XIV
From Me to lou With Lore


TT WAS certainly a gay one-that holiday
: week. Beginning with the James Blas-
dells' housewarming. it was one continuous
round of dances. dinners. sleghrides and
skating parties for Hllertons young people.
particularly for the Blaisdells. the Pennocks
and the GaylordS.
Mr.. Smith at Miss Maggic's saw COM
parativey little of 1t all though he had
almost daily reports from Rerny. Mellicent
or Miss Flora. who came often to Miss Mag.
gies for little chat It was from Miss
Flora that he learned the outcome of Mel
licent's present to her mother. The week
past. and Miss Flora had come down to
Miss Maggie's for little visit.
Mr. Smith still worked at tho taoie in the
corner of the living room. though The Duff
Blatsdell records were all long SEQ copied
He was at work now sorting and tabulating
other Blaisdel records Mr. Smith seemed
to find no end to the work that had to be
done On his Basdell book
AS Miss Flora entered the room ia greet
ed Mr.. Smith cordially, and dropa.d INTO
a chair.
Well they've gone at last" sh. ;.nied
handing her furS to Miss Maggie. 80 7
thought I'd come down and talk things over
No, don't go, Mr. Smith" she begged. as he
made a move toward departure II hain't
come to say nothin' private; besides. you're
just like one Of the family. anyhow. Keep
right with your works please"
Thus entreated Mr. Smith went back to
his table, and Miss Flora settled herself
more comfortably in Miss Maggie's easiest
chair.
so they're all gone" said Miss Maggie
cheerily.
Yes: an it's time they did. to my way
CT thinkin'. Mercy me, what a week it has
been! They hant been still minute not
| one of 'em. except for a few hours sleep
| toward mornin."
But what a good time they've had ~
exulted Miss Maggie.
Yes. And didn't it do your soul good to
| ""e N'''icrrt" Rrt Jane-.Tane nearly had a
fit She told Melicent that all this gaiety
| was nothing hut froth and fimsiness and
| vexation Of spirit. That she knew it because
she'd been all through it when she was Young
| and she knew the vanity Of it. And Melli-
| cent--what do you suppose that child said o.
"I can't imagine" smiled Miss Maggie
| "She said she wanted to the vanity
| OF it. too. Pretty cute of her. too wasn't il? {?
| still. it's Just we'll she's gone back to
school, think myself. She's been repressed
and held back Sc long, that when she did let
| loose it was Just like cutting the Duckering
string of bunched-up ruffle-she flew in all
directions and there was no holding her back
anywhere; and suppose she has been bit
foolish and extravagant in the things she IS
| asked for. Poor dear though she did get
one setback"
What do you mean"
Did she tell you about the present for
her mother?"
Across the room Mr.. Smith looked up sud-
denly.
well, she got it." Miss Floras thin lips
snapped grimly over the terse words But
she had to take it back"
Take it back !" cried Miss Maggie.
Yes. And 1t was a beauty-one of them
light purple stones with two pearls, Melli-
cent showed 1t to me-on the way home from
the store. you know, And she was pleased
| over it oh, / don't mind the saving all
| those now she cried when I ,yba
beautiful thing they've let me get for
mother And she went off Sc happy she just
couldn't keep her feet from dancing"
"I can imagine it." nodded Miss Maggie
We'll, in an hour she was back But what
difference! All the light and happiness
and sprnginess were gone. She was almost
crying. She still carried the little box in her
hand. I'm takin' it back" she choked
Mother doesn't like it, Don't like tha
beautiful pin " says l. What does she want ?
"Oh, yes, she liked the pin said Mel
licent, all teary; she thinks it's beautiful
But she doesn't want anything She say
she never heard of such foolish goings-on-
paying all that money for silly useles
pin. IL told her t present from me
but she made me take it back. I'm m!
way now back to the store. I'm to get tn
money, If / can, If / cant, I'm to get
credit slip Mother says We can take it VI
in forks and spoons and things we need.
told her t was a present, but Sh
couldn't say another word, poor child. Sh
just turned and almost ran from the room.
THAT was last night She went ava
this morning, l suppose. | didn't see he
again, so l don't know how she did come Gu
with the storeman." 90
TOO bad-too bad !" sympathized Mis-
Maggie (Over at the table Mr.. Smith ha
| fallen to writing furously. with vicious littl
jabs of his psnciL) But Jane never did be
lieve in present-giviug. They never CAV
| presents to each other even at Christmas
|, She AlwAys We'd Il foolish. wsstefal prae