Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-29
rgE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Dreams
a.. KATHARINE A. NEWELL

ror with those copies. and put the
on w., s,or on that high powered car
ons on bv the Duke of Killicrankic.
Trsn in these days Of help shortage We
.rt efficiency just the same Miss
MT.hnson' s razorlike voice struck on Ann
iTjower's ca like ice.
litter Ot amusement went around
A. office at the head clerks intended
,.;,ticism. and many eyes were turned
w. moment to the gloomy corner
,ssere the girl had sat for two years.
,So target for all the teasing Of the de-
"artment. Somehow or other il had
Iooked ont that Ann Flower indugcd
IN day dreams. hence the nickname,
"prcnms," and the merciless sarcasm
that was her lot.
Ann pressed feverishly forward with
Nor typcwriting. She knew that she was
Glow that morning. but her head achpd
rbilc tears. big. silly tears. smartcd
b.r eyes. blotting out the splash of
snring sunlight on the grimy wall op.
positc--thc piece Of heaven sent gold
that told her the long, bitter northern
winter was over.
Today she longed to creep away from
,be clatter Of the office. 10 ait in n lane
bordered with apple trees and starry
with pear blossoms--to hear some one
rall, her Honey" or Dear" in that
soft endearing tongue. Away from tho
bsrbed jcsts of the clerks, who really
didn't mean to be unkind. and could not
understand.
"'Drpams. i mean. Miss Flower.
tho boss wants you in his Office. -
Again Mise Johnsons voicc smotc
AIMS ear like ice. and all eyes flashed
10 her corner.
THE boss?" repeated Ann stupidy.
"Yos. the 'boss. and don't keep him
waiting. snapped Miss johnson.
Ann Flower stumbled TO her feet. All
sres seemed to burn into her back as abe
rasscd MP the room. She knew she had
not done her work we'll during the Inst
week. but they did not know what il
was to sit M at night and finally have
to soc n golden haired baby die. Per
haps they did not know what II meant
to leave the distracted mother sewing
for living to keep two other little tow
beads from hunger. Ann had not been
tatisfcd with the doctor. and that
morning had herself tclephoned for an
ether physician. not the kind that
Usually calls at apartment houses on the
East Side Of the city. but there was
something SO insistent. So softly an
peaing and piteous in the girls voice
over the wire that DIR. Sunderland had
promised to come.
Good morning Miss Flower the
boss g voice came to the girls senses
through the waves Of pain but il had
lost itg keen edge and his steel blue eyes
looked NJ her with misty softness
"Sit down; no. just here" he ind.
catod chair near his desk. II was
then that Ann was conscious that there
VAS some one else in the office. a tall
young man with smiling eyes.
"Thie i DR.. Sunderland. ~"
"Oh. tho children are not worse ?"
Ann interrupted.
"\o the kiddios are gong I" pull
through in fine shape. thanks to your
foresight. Miss Flower.
The boss" cleared his throat. "Dr.
Sunderland mas told me. Miss Flower.
IA ,VU have uPen sitting up AT uig.t
with SICK lnby for over week. untIl
il GinI: you have also been helping tut
IL" 'un'm"r with two other child;p7 all
thiS winter With your salary yoL could
,N'r =, vel hive left her aud gone t.
moro comfort aj>le quarters.
but ! "Ou!dn : she was good to me
- and it was hard for h'r to get a
toardrr who liked children and
! did I'm sorry if my wor suffered
hire bit | couldn't leave her
when tho baby got il--and died. :" Ann
Powers purple blue eyes grew Zig and
LIi,OU>
"Honcy, the vore Of tho "hoss' was
just n soft aS any of her southern
'mammiee. and hc came tn her side
and p0ttod her on the Should"r. II did
not kn'w that ! had >r"h r"a'. liv"
ter reading expert is worth what 7 pay
h.rsS lnur h'art But Dr. SunG"raud
want, 10 have talk with YOU; YOU ve
como from home where thprC is n
pretty sick bunch. and he's afraid that
you may be in for dose. We don
want II spread around tho office. and
whatever tn" damNgr is. remember, |
fcot the bills.
po"r nttle "Drcams hcnd scothed
In a whir Of aches and surprises after
the boss" left her in Dr. Sunderand's =
care, II was so good to feel his cool
fingers on her wrist. to be treated with II
tenderness that seemed to want to make
those big, silly tears come again.
II was n dream OF wonderful peace,
In find oneself in a cool. gray and white
hospital room. with pretty red haired
nurse ready to do ones bidding. But
thrrc were days when littl" Ann Flower
did mt answer to DR.. Sunderland =
Dear" with n smile of shy welcome.
and nights when hC would come and
shake his head and turn hastily from
the pretty. fever flushed face and won
der why We have to find the best in our
scheme Of life. to los" II again. There
wer" days. TOO. when Miss Johnson and
the department could not bear to So"
the patch Of sunlight shine on the dust
covered typewriter cover in the gloomy
corner without a catch in their thronts
when they remembered how they had
teased dear. patient little Dreams.
DAYS when the boss would sit IN his
Office and think how much one little IN
derpaid typiSt had done while
he with his thousands, only ""anncd'
them 10 500 II ho was losing out on his
character reading expert in engaging
hop. Wha' had he to boast ct in tn"
way Of character anyway:
'T take nv vacation next week
6nd | nm going south, he announced
in his most professional manner one
doy.
The shadows got tangled M IN Ann
Flowers lashcs. 1t wnulh hc 50 lonely
without this big. dependable young
nOrthrrncr, who somehow could call her
both Honey" and Dear" just At en-.
doaringly as they did in the south.
This 'hu monia has left YOU pretty
weak. and ! want Won to make ~" trip
nndrr my care. he went on calmly.
"No butts in This ease. "" nr" going
n hc married before W. start. that is.
II YOU nre willing. Honey. dear"
And Ann Flower whisuored haUpll'
from his arms. "Thc, cant rnll me
Drcams' again. I've realized the only
dream ever had lust Il