Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-19
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,

"Diogenes Lends a Hand

ENXCITEMENT was in the air at
Tng'enook farm house. The two e'd
est daughters fitted about in gala at
tire. putting the last touches to an in
vitine dinner table set for three. Last
night this note had come from brother
John at college: David passing through
Wins'ow tomorrow on hurried trip.
Have persuaded him TO stop over just
one train. that you may all have the
pleasure of meeting my best chum. and
incidentally TO impress upon him what a
fine trio OF sisters is mine. Arrive II 80
Il. m. Do the honors up brown. Moth
ing to6 good for Davy."
Hence the excitement. for secretly
both Grace and Isabel Blair cherished
desire to. conquer this fancy free
young bachelor. whose praises John had
sung ever since going away. the friend E
shin between the two roommates caus-
ing them to be dubbed David and iona .
than bv their class.
But in the kitchen mutinv was seeth =
ing. Pretty Elizabeth Margaret. alias
Peggy, for short. the youngest sister.
whipped IN Il auffv dessert with rebel :
lious heart. Today Dad and the hired
men had gone to help neighbor with
his grain. 80 the household helper had
been promised holiday. Was it fair
for the others to decide that Peggy
must take her place and serve the din
ne- as we'l as cook it?
But maidIess dinner for such guest
was not to be thought of for minute.
OF course. he could not know that
vrGC fhA &c
John had told him Of three sisters they
could easily make excuses for her ab-
sence. Peggy was soreiy taxed with
the effort to keep back hot tears, for
since the little mother had slipped away
one sorrowful day, more and more the
dominating spirit OF the sisters had
pushed her, like Cinderella, into the
background. Dad was dear. but too
busy TO notice such things, and Peggy
scorned tatt'er.
This occasion, however, seemed the
last straw, for somehow this unknown
David had come TO be her Prince
Charming. and she treasured every
scrap John wrote about him.
On the edge of the kitchen table
nerched Billy, the fifth and youngest
member Of the family, still freckled and
ungrammatical. AS loyal a supporter
OF Peggy as he was an able tormentor
of the two "highbrows, his sarcastic
name for the presiding graces of this
affair, he also had been banished to the
kitchen for his dinner, for Bi'ly's man
ners might slip cog at any minute
and bring disaster to the party.
Gee! Peg" he cried in hearty sym
pathy, they know he wouldn't look
twice at them after he spoke to you.
But when the Prince comes along to fit
the slipper they'll be glad to hide their
big feet under the chair"
The train p1ffed in, and away again,
and though Peggy was aching to see
the. arrival, she spited herself by re-
training from the smallest peek. Came
the dinner summons. and she stepped
dertly about the table with her dainty
dishes. only red spots in her cheeks and
determined tilt to her chin betraying
any feelings which might be foreign to
serving maid.
All seemed to be going beautifully
though the sisters experienced an odd
nisgiving at the way the guests eyes
kept lingering on the kitchen door.
Time for the last course, but just as
1t was about to be carried in, wild
conmotion came through the open win j..
dows---such woofing, squealing and
grunting, while despairing vail echoed
near the back door. "Aw, Sis, for the
love O. Mike, come help me. Diogenes
is out again, and he's rsmpaging over
your flower beds like Bolshevikw
Down went the dessert on the table,
and away few Peggy to the rescue.
Safety first, for her beloved garden.
Round and round it sailed a fat pig,
christened Diogenes, because when he
wss small he had chosen tub for his
sleeping room, and al through his