Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-26
DAILY NOVELETTE,
MOTHERS DAY
BY Lois Emery


WHEN the afternoon train for Alpine
w whizzed past the train from Alpine
to Woodville, Lottie Hayes was in the
former, both unconscious of each others
presence.
"I'll get to Alpine about half past
five," Mrs. Hayes soliloquized, "and
I can get to Lottie's boarding house in
time for supper. How surprised she
will be to see me. She was so disap-
pointed because she couldn't get the
afternoon off and there are no Sunday
trains running. 1t will be worth the
five dollars it's costing me to be with
my girl on Mothers Day."
Lottie had presented herself at the
Office ready for good days work when
Mr.. Carter, her employer, rushed in,
looking quite distressed. 1--WE will have
to give up our work today, Miss Hayes.
My mother is dangerously i'll and they
have sent for me. l won't need you be-
fore Monday afternoon. I've been so
busy l haven't been to see my mother
as 1 ought when she was. well, and
now
Miss Hayes" he broke off suddenly,
''be good to your. mother while she is
living. Don't wait until it may bc--too
late"
''I'm going home to her now,' said
Lottie. After purchasing n dozen onr-
nations she took the first train for
Woodville.
At six o'clock Mrs. Hayes, trinity clad
in new black suit and her last sum
mer's hat, rang the bell at Lottie's
boarding house, but her holiday spirits
were sadly dashed by Mrs. Jones, the
landlady.
%NIiss Hayes? Why, she went home
on the afternoon train. She said she
wouldn't be back until Monday. And
you are her mother?
"Isn't that too bad. OF course, you
can have her room and all that, but
what a shame for your holiday to be
spoiled"
After Mrs. Hayes had refreshed her
self up in Lottie's room her mother
spirits revived. The gong sounded and
she descended to the dining room. What
few boarders were left at home looked
rather blue.
She eagerly studied their faces. There
was pretty blond fellow, a jolly fat
man, young Englishman, and a real
cross looking fellow at the table beside
the boarding mistress.
Miss Hayes must have felt awfully
disappointed when she got home and
found the house all shut up said Tom
Laylor, the Englishman. .'Well, see
how lucky we are," chimed in the
blond. Here's a good mother for us
all to celebrate Mothers Day with, even
if she isn't ours. Would you let us
borrow you, ma'am?'
Hayes. 81 don't quite understand"
why, like this explained the
blond. Here we are with no mothers
near us to keep Mothers Day with, and
you have no girl. So we will borrow
you and you can borrow u.s."
"That is a beautiful idea," exclaimed
Mrs. Hayes joyfully.
"Will you go to the theatre with me
tonight, mother?" asked the blond.
Eyes, indeed" said mother, for she
liked the frankness of this boy.
"Me next" broke in the Englishman.
"She goes to church with me tomor-
row." The cross looking fellow said
nothing.
The theatre was delightful treat to
the country bred woman.
I. 81 haven't had such n good time for
MONTHS" confided her escort. "My
mother is in Ireland and haven't seen
her for five years" The next morning
large box of candy was beside moth
er's plate, which proved to be from the
fat man. Two hours later she and the
English fellow started for church. The
sermon was glowing eulogy of mother
hood and mothers and most of the con-
gregation wore flowers in honor of their
mothers.
AS they reached the boarding house
on their return home they saw car
standing by the curb and the cross
looking fellow was tinkering with the
engine. He lifted his cap surlily as they
passed him. she seems to hate the
world and everybody. in it," remarked
the Englishman as they went into the
house.
Mother pushed open the door OF
Lottie's room, but before she had time
to enter she was seized with pair of
loving arms.
"You dear, dear mother. To think
that you came up here to see me-"
"Why, Lottie Hayes, how did you get
back here and no Sunday trains run
ning?"
"Mr. Martin came after me in his
car. That sour looking fellow, you
know. He's driven eighty miles to
Woodville and back SO you wouldn't
be disappointed of seeing me-"
"You don't mean that cross looking
fellow, do your" she asked, as she
extricated herself from Lottie's en-
brace.
"Yes-and on the way home he told
me all about himself. His mother died
when he was a little fellow and he has
never known what q home is.
" No motherly woman ever comforted
me when was child, he said to me.
When ] saw your mother ! wanted To
DO my part. was too shy TO say
anything, but knew could do this.