Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-21
Mother and Daughter

v,,uE door was opened to Tony and his
wife by Fitch, the old butler Hit
,,os was wreathed with smiles as he
beld the door wide for them. Something
bIs impressionable old heart in mo-
men!; msYour mother is upstairs in her sitting
,oom Fitch said In a low voice to
Tonv "will you go right up?"
And Charlotte, still with that attitude
=, waving in a dream. followed Tony up
tbe stairs. Fitch carried the straw
They went along a hall richly carpeted
N A room at the farther end. Anthony
opened the door and pushed Charlotte y,
shead OF him. She was conscious OF
hooks and pictures. comfortable chairs
and woman with very dark hair seat
ed on n low couch before an open fire
There was a scent OF roses In the room
and the two large windows were draped
x;th rose cretonne over fine lace. The
woman looked up from the book she
was reading. and rose slowly.
well Tony?' she said smoothly. and
held out her hand.
Mother, this Is Charlotte" he said
quickly stepping ASIDE, so that the two
"Ah," said Mrs. Hartman still In
that smooth voice. How do you do
my dear"
She held out hand. a slim, perfectly
rroomed hand. on which several jewels
Cleaned and sparkled in the soft light
The fingers were softer than Charlottes
own. and they had a firm. flexible quail.
Nv, Charlotte had sudden memory OF
her own mothers hand, hard and work
worn, but tender nevertheless. little
sob rose in the girls heart, a homes'ck
little feeling Of utter wretchedness.
And so this is Charlotte, Mrs. Harri-
man was saying She did not kiss her
new daughter. but she let her keen eyes
run quickly over the pathetic little fig.
ure In It's cheap store clothes There
was no mistak.ng the fact that she had
no intention Of taking Charlotte to her
heart
or will you have tea first?" she asked
smoothly.
Charlotte felt that she could not bear
alone with Tony II only for a minute OF
reinsurance. She looked at her husband
mutely, and with a smile Mrs. Hartman
Interpreted that look
TONY. we have had the blue suite
made ready for you. Perhaps Charlotte
would prefer to go to her room now"
Thank you. mother" said Tony brief
ly He saw that his mother did not In
tend to make things easy for him. and
criticism forgotten, all Of his sympathy
was with Charlotte.
He put kindly hand on her arm and
led her like a child out OF the room.
They went up a little fight of stairs
down another hallway, and then Tony
threw open the door of the loveliest
room Charlotte had ever seen. II had a
gray rug and gray walls. Curtains OF
blue silk hung at the windows and ali
the appointments were blue. The furni-
ture was white, two little beds side by
side with puffy silk comfortables spread
over the foot of each. a dressing table
with triple mirror. writing desk. and
lowboy with a mirror hung above It for
Tony. There was a big, upholster red
chair and several other low comfortable
chairs Through the door could be
gimpsed a cleaning white bathroom
shining with nickel, and with n polished
Tiled floor. A little dressing room
hardly more than an alcove opened out
or the room on the other side. Char
lotte. forgetful OF the coldness of her
welcome. exclaimed like q child at this
fairyland. She ran excitedly from one
thing to another. until incongruousiy
she caught glimpse of herself fuil
length In the mirror that was inserted
INTO the door. Then she gasped, and
her eyes widened in that way they had
O, Tony" she exclaimed In agony OF
grief. There's something wrong with
me! don't fit In here at all |"
'romorrow. the girl who didn't belong. }