Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-02

should take an upward turn. lie was
not dull-witted boy. but having been
brought up to accent the gifts of the
world as his particular inheritance, he
had been slow to adapt himself to the
idea of its sudden lcrcliction. How
ever superficial and restricted Alicia
Mohun's ambitions, they had at least
been constructive. Rob's were merely
noisy. They were both out of their
element now. Adyrrsity such rs this
was beyond their dreaming. The mere
suggestion by Cherry Of the stipend
which Bob might earn from m Office
down town in some useful. if humble
capacity. filled them both with Qucru.
lou~ rrprobation. Cherry pre- Sscd her
point beyond their protests. She had
decided to cherish no falls" notious Of
optimism. for the mere amcl"ration Of
their present distress, nor to permit
them to do so.
The sinister shock which had set her
mother and krother to futile planning
lad awakened Cherry to the rude neces-
stiles which faced them all. There was
something of her father in the sturdi-
ness with which she met the situation.
OF course she was ignorant, incapable.
ncvpcricnced---but she was not supinc.
There were the servants at the Oyster
Ibut lIIdte, tH' Hi''iiS "
b" paid and dismissed. Cherry had II
little money in her own small bank ac-
count and applied 1t to this purpose.
The wages of the indoor servants ut the
Seventy eighth street house. besides
tathcrwood and the second chauffeur.
were in arrears. Alicia Mdhun had
something less than Il thousand dol
lars in her personal account at the
bank. Bob had nothing. Without con.
tiding In either mother or brother,
Cherry found offers for both Bramblc
and Ccntipedc. the hunters. and sold
them at sacrifice. Most of the money
went to pay wages. Then. after an
interview with her mother. she OK
pressed her intention Of sending away
every servant in the house except the
second cook and one maid upstairs.
This brought new outburst of weep
in. and precipitatcd renewal Of the
discussion. so hateful to Cherry. as to
john Chichester. But she "udcd her
mother with vague promises to consider
that matte: at aslatcr moment, and rs
sop even acquicscrd in her mother 8
wish. for the present, to retain Lille,
her personal maid. II took some rour-
age and self -abnrgation on Chcrry's
part to dismiss the chauffeurs and to
offer all the cars for sale, for this meant
that thcr" would be no more rides into
the country unless she went by tram
or depended upon the kindness OF her
friends.
I,it the reduction of the force OF
servants was to be accomplished with.
out initiative from Cherry The delay
in the payment Of their wages had
alarmed item and so when Cherry
managed to pay them. most of the
servants gave notice. And the second
cook, who had been retained, was not
slow to follow. leaving only scullery
girl in the kitchen to do all the work.
The upstairs maid. furesecing extra
work. deserted. and even Lille, finding
some small duties thrust upon her, dis'
appeared one evening with her baggage.
Like rats they had deserted the sinking
ship.
This detection thrust new burdens
upon Cherry. who had three rooms !"
clean besides helping with the SICK
man ana relieving Miss Blythe, the
trained nurse, in her hours of duty.
Cherry assumed tie" new obiightions
with Il sense Of relief at having solne'
thing to do. But it was not long before
the lrudgrry nf the housewOrk began to
wear upon her. and she diminished one
by one al! tasks which were not abso'
lut"IY essential 10 somewhat dis-
orderly existence. Her mother, fret ting
constantly about one thing or another.
was her greatest trouble--tho solled
towel: in tA" bathroom, her bed badly
made, III" dust nccumulating on mnntcl
and dressing table. and Cherry, aware
Of r"r h"IplrSsn"sS. which showed up
sign "I coping with difficult situation,
lIu what she could for her comfort.
;\sIcIa MohUn spent most Of her time In
her own room, helping Miss Blythe ac.
chsionnIlE or wandering like ghost
about the lower floor, weeping into her