Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
DAILY NOVELETTE,
LITTLE THINGS THAT
COUNT
BY Mary McNIaln

NIJELLO, Miss Nan! Margaret
IL wants TO know If you'll please
come over this afternoon and tell her
some stories"
Little Ted Morrison stood at the cot =
tage gate and waited for the reply of
the pretty curly haired girl in the porch
hammock. Mans first impulse was to
refuse, for she had made other plans,
but she instantly checked herself and
cheerily called:
"All right. Teddy. I'll be over early
and we'll have some brand new ones
today" and Ted went happily on his
way.
Margaret was his little sister. just
recovering from a long illness, and
Miss Mans visits, with her never fail =
ing supply of stories. helped the child
wonderfully in her struggle to win
back her health Nan was usually de
lighted to go, but today she couldn (
help wishing there was some one else
who could take her place and leave her
free to carry out her own plans.
With her aunt. she was spending the
summer at a little beach in Maine,
There were several other young people
in the colony, and they were constantly
planning trips and outings of all kinds.
This afternoon they were going to one
of the islands down the bay, to picnic
supper on the rocks, coming back by
moonlight, and Nan had looked forward
to the trip with more than usual pleas
ure.
There was another reason she felt
so eager for the good time. Among
the more recent arrivals at the beach
was DR.. Robert Gordon, a young physi
clan. Nan had heard so much of DIR.
Gordon's skill and Of his kindness to
children especially. that she became
quite interested in him. Now that she
had met him at the beach, he had
proven altogether likable, and sht
found great pleasure in his company.
With his boyish love Of fun no gather
ing was considered complete without
him. But though he was always courte
Gus and agreeable. Nan could not SEE
that he had any particular interest in
her. Why should he? she asked her
self. With so many other pretty girls
in the crowd. some of them very ac-
complished. Nan felt that there wa'
not much about herself to attract any
man. Nevertheless that did not lesser
her enjoyment of the Doctors society
and she had therefore been very auxiou!
to 60 on the picnic this afternoon.
Eor a few moments Nan sat there
trying to get over her disappointment
Why should she always have to be tn,
one to make the sacrifice? Did it really
pay? She almost wished she were Heller
or Ruth or Marjorie, whom every on,
seemed to admire so much, but to whom
they would never think of going fol
little favors as they did to Nan. Il
was always, ASK Nan. she'll do it,
or Get Nan to wait for you, she won
mind" and so on. Oh, well. perhaps
some day some one would think she wa.
important enough to have her pleasur,
considered first of all, and with las
sigh she rose and went about her few
duties. mentally constructing a stor,
that would bring forgetfulness of pair
to little Margaret.
Later in the day, while Margaret
lulled to sleep by her sweet tones. was
seeing wondrous, visions Of fairies who
made little girls well, Nan again fel
to dreaming. But now her thoughts
were happier. After al, wasn't it worth
any sacrifice to bring to little child's
face that look of eager joy with which
Margaret had greeted her? And wasn't
it wonderful thing to be able to ease
the pain by the magic of her stories
Suddenly she started. Could that b,