Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-21
flutter, Chatter, Laughter
Lefty Lacked These Magic Gifts
oi riapperdom Until She
Made the Great
Discovery.


home her eyes fell first on letter on The hall
floor. IL had come through the quaint slit in
the quaint door. and II lay face up. II was al
most as though somebody. softly welcoming, had
called her name. for the envelope was addressed
10 her,
Lefty picked ID up: walked into the room at
her right. tearing IL open.
Dear Miss Manneringt I am more sorry
than can say that cannot keep my promise
10 Margaret 10 spend the coming three days
with you. ! stumbled on the stairs last night
and sprained my ankle. which viii. OF course
Keep ine indoors for many days, Hut want
YOU 10 come at once TO stay with me-her~ at
my boarding houss-untii your sister comes
back. ! am 10 sorry that this accident happened:
for. aside from the pain and Inconvenience 20
myself. I ala hope 10 show you something OF
Boston before Margarets return But As II Is
can only direct sou what 20 DO. Cordially.
"ADELiNE BURTON
"P 81 should have said first OF all. of
course that Margaret was very well when she
left but hcartbroken that the sudden call 10 New
York took her away during the first days OF
your visit"
Lefty read the letter twice. sat down with II
In her hands. She became eonscious-shc could
rot ignore it-of a soft sense OF relief the first
faint melting OF an inner tension. Most poig-
nanty she yearned to be with Margaret and
Paul-she had seen neither since their marriage
last June-but even more she yearned TO be
alone for a while. She wanted to make a little
mental survey OF herself. she wanted to consider
problem which In the last year had loomed
larger and heavier In her consciousness; n prob
lem that during her visit to Dora Elwell had
developed malignant weight and ache. She did
not want TO go TO this unfamiliar Miss Burton
She did not want 10 20 anywhere where there
would be strangers
She glanced about her-from the tiny draw
ing room to the TIMER dining room. to the even
timer hail. How quaint II was-Margaret had
written that her little two-storied. six-roomed
house was older than anything In their own
flourlshing middle western city--and II looked
every year OF Its great age. Yet how hospitable.
with Margarets share OF their mothers things
giving It a poignant familiarity, Margaret's we'd
ding presents making II gay!
The many paned windows of the drawing
room were on line with the shoulders of the
passersby. But how few there were Of these:
and what a friendly street---so narrow and curv-
Ing with trees here and there; a great murmur-
ous, fragrant linden at their very door! She
would not-could not--be afraid OF solitude In
these dollhouse surroundings. Her mind sud-
denly snapped to resolution. She would stay
alone there. And on the impetus Of that first
snap she wrote sympathetic and appreciative
letter to Miss Burton. declining her hospitality.
There was Ice in the ice box: bread In the
bread box: cake In the cake box! MILK and
there were, In addition, eggs oranges, honey,
lettuce. strawberries-all she might need for
dinner and breakfast. Lefty rummaged into
this squat cubby hole Of = closet; into
that slim -doored. long -paneled one. The Joy OF
youth in the adventure was setting into palpita-
tion all kinds Of emotional currents In her mind,
O. II only they would wash her problem away!
Hut the problem stayed--iike worry.logged
chest, caught SO fast on the floor Of her mind
that no current however happy, could stir 1t.
Must she think Of It now?
On her question the bell tang-her trunk.
She began feverishly TO unpack 1t in the square
back guest chamber
II feel as though ought to take out family
OF dolls and a set Of dolls furniture" she said
to herself. III only knew little girl in this
neighborhood believe I'd buy lot Of toys and
20 straight to playing house!"
But what emerged from the trunk-"flapper
fluff" her brother described twas lace and
ribbon trimmed piles OF lingerie that went into
bureau drawers. organdy and taffeta files OF
gowns that went on hangers into the closet; a
bathing suit a tennis racket. sport shoes Sleeve
less sweaters in every color, tams to match.
She disposed Of them all with a neatness so,
lons drawn out and metriculous that time with
cred away before 1t. Dusk approached and she
flew feyerishly to the preparation Of her supper.