Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-01
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Darby and Joan
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her. plain as the nose on your face"
Though the statement was made be-
hind oupped hands to the group assem-
bled in the upper corridor of Strathville's
Home for Aged Women, the stage whis-
per penetrated an adjoining room, halt
ing like a gunshot a frail little BODY
on her way to the door and causing
her to sink tremulously into chair.
The chorus of "oh! Well, there! Now,
then I" brought fiuttering hands to her
ears, which could not stem the tide OF
1--WE suspected something for spell" !"
said Mrs. Poindexter, with the look OF
malicious small terler who has touno
a kitten to fly at. "'Member when that
old berry man came last week? She
slipped out straight away and never got
In till s, and she sneaks her orange un-
der her apron tc take outdoors
Amanda Smith, a young spinster OF
seventy-two, who almost felt as II she
had receiveda proposal when the bald
spare minister said in his sermon, And
now, beloved" clucked In righteous nor
ror. "The idea Sech doins achelly
make me blush. knew when she come
here, actin too nice to be hullsome. She
hadn't orto been taken in. anyway
stranger with every one of US bern
The supper bell tostled the seat of
Judgment and sent its occupants sIn hians
proval took her place in a silence which
! could almost be felt, and when CONVEX
sation began she was pointedly boycott
ted. She almost checked over her tea,
hut forced down a few mouthfuls.
Don't ye be feelin' we'll, Mrs. TrentT"
inquired the warrnhearted second girl,
solicitously, noting her loss Of appetite
mo, Norah." was the faltering an,
swer. II think must be excused and
she rose to go to her room. feeling like
company. The girl followed with offers
Of assistance, and the unexpected kind
ness brought tears very near to over
flowing.
"oh Norah." she said sadly, I'm that
lonely and nobody likes me here"
THE devil roast EN-" said Norah with
more eloquence than refinement. If
It's that Is botherin' ye. darlln', don't
waste a thought on 'em. For mischief
maxim get a passel O. wimmen that
don't have business enough Of their own
to mind and go muddlin' into that Of
their betters."
The next afternoon was hot and sultry
and o'clock saw Mrs. Trent trying to
hurry home, but with footsteps tagging
slower and slower, Her cheeks burned
at the thought Of those cruel old ladies'
criticisms, but there seemed to be no
air to breathe and her heart was too
skunk in the back way, hoping for Norah
and was confronted by the matron.
How Is this. Mrs. Trent? You said
you had no friends In town, yet after
going out every day this week you have
put US to the inconvenienee Of first
waiting supper and now getting II ready
for you again."
But the poor little truant only muir
INJURED that she'd been to walk and the
heat made her late and she didn't want
any supper. Norah. following later with
tea and toast, found her lying on the
bed bonnet, shoe and all, weak and fe-
verish and with capable hands undressed
her like child.
All night she tossed restlessly and
next day young Doctor Stafford, such a
that any old lady would cheerfully put
up with aches and bitter medicines for
tho sake of his visits, SAT beside her.
Mrs. Trent he. said gently. don't
cure your body by telling mo what Is
on your mindT Please trust me-"
Shaking with sobs. she threw pride
| to the winds,
"Its Jasper" she cried pitifully. ''rny
husband With sickness and hard luck
we lost everything. He wouldn't hear
of me going to the poor farm with him,
but we came here where nobody knows
us and he got me In here with the last
of our money, while he went-there-all
alone" Sho fairly wtthered at the ter
rlble exposure. He tried to pick berries
| to sell here for an excuse to see me and
then I took to meeting him outside and
| they think I'm not respectable. Fifty
years we lived together and it's break
| ing my heart to know there's nobody to
trim the back Of his neck for Sundays
and keep his buttons sewed on Jasper
always was a master hand for shedding
buttons. I'd rather live at the pocr-
house with him and have everybody
know It than be the queen of Sheba
without him. This minute he'll be by
the river wondering where I am. Won't
| you coax him to come and get me?'
The doctor swallowed hard at some
thing uncomfortable In his throat which
felt like a big green apple and patted
find him. and don't you fret one bit till
| l get back"
Her eager eyes never left the door and
at last it opened softly. Jasper |" she
cried. and held out yearning arms.
"Why, Rhody." he quavered and laid
his anxious old face against hers.
Jasper. l can't stay here any longer
to please you. Wherever you are I'm
going to, My minds made up forever"
The, doctor stepped from the back
ground and stopped the answering pro-
test. Listen, dear friends. I never
knew what a parents love meant. for
| an orphanage was my only home till I
could look after myself. Success has
come, Out I've noDcuy 10 snare lt, won l
you have me for your boy and come to
my home, where we all three can take
care OF each other as long as we live?
believe God meant It 80"
Bewilderment, joy and unbelef strug-
gled for the mastery, TIL he was obliged
to repeat his proposition Then the lit
tie adopted mother, encircling her hus-
bands neck with one arm and her stall
wart sons with the other, whispered,
"If I'm dreaming. don't ever wake me.
but II it's real. let's go this minute"
AS the big car purred down the drive
way on that triumphal journey home.
eight old ladies gazed after 1t In crest
fallen silence. Then:
my land" said Miss Smith, enyiously.
some folks get everything with hus--
band besides. -, Aln't this q iep-sided