Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-16
DAILY NOVELETTE,
HER MISSION
BY Annie White Noble
A MID the CRIME Of big city. n little

dwelling house. The lower story
vouches respectablity, the Iavishly
dressed second story windows declare
ostentation, while the third story look
outs. almost unnoticeable under the
arched roof by the passcrs by, seem
content only to gaze down in quiet
amusement upon the pedestrians
Across the street is very commodi-
Gus looking boarding house. the correct =
" gowned rubicund person of whose
landlady, Mrs. Atherton. proDounces
gentility, and whose little maid, in a
much befrilled apron and dainty cap.
proclaims the fact that she does service
in the home of the elite. Three weeks
before Grace Haverly took up her abode
at Mrs. Atherton's, the upper tenement
of the house across the way being va
cant, a furniture van drew up before
the front door and presently little
middle Aaged woman in black was see
ing that the goods were unIoTded with
dispatch and care.
There seemed to be nothing extraordi- =
nary about this little woman in black
but there was something out of the or
dinary in the fact that. although she
had not great deal of furniture, it was
of the finest selection. almost too good
for an inconspicuous third story tene-
ment, and, although she lived alone, she
had many visitors, mainly young WON
en-, all Of whom went there with hur-
ried steps and departed with faces that
fairly beamed as II from some hidden
pleasure.
So Grace Haverly envied the contented
callers, for the inducements the city
held out to her had not come up to her
expectations. She had left school in her
home town to come thithcr to study
stenography, and she found her asso-
ciates far from agreeable. the young
women whose friendship she would have
liked unapproachable, while even Mrs
Atherton's had its social strata and was
mainly Of middle aged and
elderly women, who spent most of their
time gossiping.
But one Saturday afternoon a fortu n
nate thing happened, for the little maid
was nowhere in evidence as Grace came
down the stairs, and in the lower hall
way lay letter, face up, with the name
Mrs. Somers. a missive which the new
postman had enormously left in the
Atherton house. Here was Grace's op-
portunity, and quick as a fash she took
advantage of it and FASTENED across the
street, and then, az if the gods of good
fortune had intervened, she found the
door Of the three fiat house left ajar
by some careless person, and was soon
up the stairs to the front door
Of the third story, whose brass knocker
she sounded somewhat timidly. as if her
failed her at this point.
Presently the door was opened by
Mrs. Somers, whose quiet smile and
honest gray eyes reassured her.
Here is letter the postman left at
he house across the way by mistake"
Grace said, handing her the missive.
Wont you come in?' came the an
sw9r, as the little woman graciously
stepped aside for her to enter.
And before she realized it. Influenced
BY the proffered hospitality, Grace Hav-
erly had entered the cheerful parlor and
taken a comfortable rocker just where
1Ht NltW VI lHt Vi
A young man on the wall opposite.
my son." softly ventured Mrs. Som
ers, when she caught Grace staring at
he picture. ''He was the only child
had" the tender, sweet voice went on.
trying to steady itself and almost afraid
Of breaking down. "He sleeps over in
France"
n
Grace would have made her departure
Il, when she rose to go, Mrs. Somers
had not waved her back. Thus, before
she knew it, Mrs. Somers was drawing
out bit by bit from Grace the story of
her life and her struggles In the city
among strangers.
II should like to help you," said Mrs.
Scmers in conclusion, ''but 1t seems
to me with what I know Of life that
you ought to go back home and study
more before you take up your fight in
the world"
Grace could only nod her head In ac
luiescence.
II didn't have much Of an educa-
hon, "resumed Mrs. Somers, people
lid not think much about It in my early
lays, but when I became older I was
sorry"
MRS. Somers," Grace said finally,
Is she rose to 60, II believe you have
lone me good. I have felt all along that
didn't know much, but I didn't want
% give In. But won't you tell mo one
hing before I leave, although I know
you don't care to talk about yourself,
lust how are you helping these people
hat come so often to see your"
Dear young woman" she said
;ently. my husband left me we'll sup
,lied with the worlds goods and I am
Using some of the means to help young
,irls receive an education. When they
complete their education and obtain
work, they pay me back, and the fund
s used over again for somebody else"
but Grace could say nothing, only
press the little woman's hand warmly,
ls she left the cozy little home, as
( from a shrine, the tears yelling up
n her eyes In spite of herself.
"She has found her mission" she
to herself, "and mine will
loon be at home.
The next complete novelette-On
Your Knees.