Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-04
The TEARS OF DOROTHEA By Mn
And the Surprising Tale Of an
: Up-to-Date Prince Charming
Who Turned Them Into Pearls.

TIME day had been tho kind that even poro-
thea Hutton mentally designated as hard"
l. and Miss Hutton was a determined opti-
mist.
II had begun with a late March storm. In
which she had 20 walk five blocks 10 the subway
train that bore her 70 her downtown once. Also.
Il had begun with one OF her mothers bad
SPELLS" which frequently confined the old lady
20 her bed for days and neeessltated much ac-
tive nlal service in the hours preceding dawn
Further. II had included a two-weeks notice"
given Miss Hutton with painful abruptness by
her small maid OF all work-an invaluable young
person who had been with her for two years
and to whose continued companionship she had
fondy looked forward.
The eject OF the final cataclysm was almost
beneficial. II made Dorothea forget her other
troubles. To lose Nora was nothing short OF
tragedy. The little creature was so honest. so
neat, so cheerful. so reliable in every way! She
not only took from Dorothea's shoulders all the
responsibility OF the work In the modest apart
ment. but she endured with surprising equa-
nimity the temperamental manifestations OF Mrs.
Hutton-a lady whose husband had consistently
spoiled her until ne died. and whose daughter
consistently continued the process. Everything
In the home the two occupied together revoved
around mother"
Dorothea organized the domestic system and
paid the bills. Nora did the work. and the old
lady sat In her shrine as omnipotent bronze
august memories OF her past.
No ono else would be wonderful with
mother" as Nora had always been. No one else
would be as devoted TO Miss Hutton herself.
Nora was devoted still. Indeed. she was so over
, taxed by the difncuty OF lending her usual con-
versational charm to the unwecome topic Of her
departure that tears filled her eyes as she
broached It, But her voice was firm, The world
reeled under Dorothea's feet as she listened.
But Nora," she gasped. II can't believe
you're seriousl Surely you don't mean you're
actually leaving"
''Yss Miss Hutton. am I'm sorry to say 1t.
for know you'll feel awful bad about it," Nora
frankly conceded.
But why? Why? II it's a question Of
money"
Dorotheas voice faltered. Nora's wages,
like those Of all her class. had gone up rapidly
in the past year. She was now paying the girl
$50 Q month, out OF her own salary OF $3.50.
Seventy y-fve more went for rent. How to feed
the three Of them, dress her mother and her
self. and pay Doctors bills and all the other
penses out Of the remaining $125 a month had
become a problem that was increasingly taxing
Miss Hutton's agile mind. It accompanied her
by day and whispered its unanswerable ques-
tions In her ears In the sleepess hours Of her
nights. Thus far she had failed to solve it.
Twice during the past year she had been forced
to draw from her small reserve in the savings
bank. and each time she had done 1t with an
actual physical pang. That reserve was the life
line to which she and her mother must cling
II she were temporarily out Of work or if either
OF them had serious illness.
Dorothea had cut down her personal ex-
penses to the last notch. She was economizing
In the marketing to degree that made even the
sympathetic Nora raise her eyebrows To add
IS q month of expense to her present budget
meant sailing close to disaster. Still, anything.
anything rather than to lose Nora!
= III it's a matter of wages, Nora" she went
en-, more firmly. II can give you IS more-pos-
sibly SO a month more" she added with the
recklessness Of despair. What would her mother
do. left alone all day with a new. unsympathetic,
probably ineficient maid?
mo. Miss Hutton. 1t amt the money" Nora
spoke quietly but charm had given place to
caution. She was not to be cajoled out Of her
decision. "I've made up me mind" she added
hrmly. II want to better myself like all the girls
is don'. I'm going to work in hotel with me
friend. Annie Riley. Well have mornin's
off, till Ian" she added, more expansively,
we're goin to study to be rnannycures!"
Dorothea was due in her office in half an
hour, but she ignored this obligation. She sat
down, seated Nora opposite her. and plunged
into what proved to be the most impassioned
oratlon Of fairly eloquent life. She was on
familiar ground. for she was social secretary
in a great corporation whose $50 women en-
poyes were expected to turn to her for guidance
In their personal crises. and who conscientiously
did 80. to the numbers OF dozens each day.
Dorothea knew how to talk to them, often how
to convince them Of the accuracy Of her point
Of view. Nora listened, but her little mouth
slowly shaped itself into an unfamiliar line Of
set determination.
'Ive got to better meself II can, Miss Hut
ton." she doggedly repeated, and she added
austerely: "1ve looked out over these back
yards and ash cans for two years, and I'm tired
Of thin
Dorothea Hutton knew when she was beaten.
Every WELL Nora" she said, and rose weari-
ly. feeling already on her shoulders the cumula-
tive domestic burdens of the months to come
Nora glanced at her obliquey, and the lines Of
her mouth relaxed. Victorious she could be
generous.
III you get the new girl few days before
60 the end Of the month" she offered. 'I'l
break her in for ye; and I'll make her see.'' she
added piously. that it's fine, good place She's
gettin' here"
On this agreeable understanding. Miss Hut
ton blew toward the subway, and her problems
followed her. "How are you going to get on?"
they Kissed. Mora was so careful and economi-
cal. Almost any other girl will cost you rs per
cent more. Where will you get It? Is there
anything more YOU can give up or cut DOWN."
There wasn't. and she knew 1t. She and her
mother could not board. A home was an abso-
Lutte necessity to the invalid--a home with air
and sunshine and quiet, and nourishing food
and q reasonable amount OF intelligent service
Now, at o'clock in the afternoon. at her
desk in her private Office downtown, she leaned
back In her swivel chair and passed tired hand
across corrugated brow. The day so inau-
spiciously begun had not frightened with its
passing All sorts of trying things had hap
pened. Two Of her most promising proteses
had come to her in Mysteries as the result of a
quarrel which had upset an entire department
A girl she herself secretly preferred to all the
rest and from whom she had expected unusual
development had suddenly confded to her the
details of sordid and sickening love affair with
. married man.
1t was at this inauspicious moment that an
offce boy entered.
"Gen'rman to see you. Miss Hutton he