Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-15
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE BUTTERFLY
Ry Katherine MOulton

~ the steps of the big house on the
avenue. Behind the door that had just
closed. Margaret Allen-in n simmer
ing rose and silver evening gown-stood
for moment in silent wonder anu
then ran back to the living room.
A puppy was curled up on cushion
before the open fireplace, n picture of
absolute little dog bliss. Margaret,
knccling down. rudey disturbed his
sumbers.
Listen. Terry. dear" she confided.
holding the protesting pup up before
hcr. Listen to your poor missus' woes.
| NV own brave soldier man, Captain
Dick. has come home at last. But he
| doesn't love me any more.
Terry. seeming to realize the gravity
of the situation, blinkcd the sleepiness
| from his eyes and cooked one ear in
tclligcntly. Whcrpat his mistress set
tied him more comfortably in her lap
aud went on:
"IIe thinks I'm just a pink and silver
butterfly, Tcrrykins, all on account OF
this old dress. And my hair. He links
| cut it short on purpose, just for fad
won't tell him the truth, though; so
there, Do you suppose he's fallen in
love with another grl?" At the over
whelming hcartsickncss OF this thought
two tears spashcd down on Terry, and
he wriggling up sympathctically, snug
glcd his cold nose against Margaret S
soft cheek.
Meanwhile. Captain Dick, walking
along briskly. was trying to solve
his problem in the cool night air. He
had come home filled with longing for
his sweetheart, Margaret, and anxious
to claim her as his wife.
When he sailed abroad, three years
before. tho understanding had been
that he would ask her on his return.
They were both spoiled, eager for all
the pleasures to he had in life. Now he
realized. with a pang, he had changed !;
while Margaret was the same frlV-
olous girl of her care-free days. IN
willingly he compared her, to her dls-
advantage. with the brave nurses who'
with blanchcd faces and taut nerves,
had assisted him in critical operations,
while the cncmy's guns doomed dan
cerously near. He thought of the
plucky girl ambulance drivers he mad
met and the intrepid canteen workers.
| Such woman one could ask to share
ones life. But not Margaret, who had
probably wasted away the last three
voors The incident of her hair was
enough TO show him what kind of girl
she was. He had been thoroughly
shocked at his first glimpse of Margaret
that night-with ridiculous curls clus-
terod around her pretty head, in place
Of thc uxuriant brown hair he re-
mcmbprcd Of course, she would think
! him cad
His problem was still unsolved in the
morning. He tried to Danish all thought
of il. for he had an active day at the
hospital.
ate that afternoon. Doctor Porter
sat in the Office of the superintendent
of the hospital. AS he talked, he IDLY
fingered pack of index cards before
! him. Suddenly his attention was at
tractcd by the name on the top card ::
"Allcn Margaret '. r.
The superintendent, noticing his in
tercst explained:
"Thosc are the names of our gradual
! ing class. You know you are scheduled
70 make the speech at their exercises
next week and give out the diplomas.
pr. Porter held up the top card and
asked:
"Do YOU happen to remember what
the initials ". r. stand for in Miss
| N. ! know
vet it doesn't seem possible
The other man leaned back and
laughed.
1.-The ". r. is for Van Rensselaer,
You probably do know her. Her faith
cr's quite wealthy, and we were sur
prised when she entered the hospital.
But she stuck it out gamcly. 1t was
pretty busy here for while. Porter. We
all wondered at her endurance and
nluck. Then. when the worst of it was
over she was taken sick herself and we
came near losing her. 1t was too bad
her hair had to be cut. but she had a
very high fever. She recovered all right,
though. and completed the course
As he finished speaking, Doctor Por-
ter pulled out his watch.
| '1 on II excuse me. doctor, he SAID.
Il have an important telephone call to
make.
A few minutes later. Margaret was
happily surprised by the message of
apology and praise and sympathy that
came. over the phone from her Captain
Dick.
"But how did You ever do it, .dar-
garet DEAR" he asked finally.
Margaret laughed softly as she an
swcrcd. "Of course. ] was hoping to
get across. But thought. too. that it
was only right for a Doctors wife to
know something about his profession. /"
Dick chuckled. May hope to be
the fortunate doctor? viii you marry
me. dcar-iust as soon as ! have given
you your diplomat
Now. it is very unOrthodOX to ask the
question over the telephone. SO Mar
'garet made him ask it over again that
evening. with only Terry for an audi
rnrc. in way that was more satisfy
ing to the two parties concerned.
The next complete novelette,, "A Good
Scout"