New Britain herald., 1924-05-19
The Halting Tribute Edith Fairfax
 Paid Madge

'I shall have no more worry over Leila" I commented confidently at Edith's fierce little assertion concern ing Bess bean.
 Editb looked at me- gratitude and something else in her eyes.
 "You-have-been-wonderiul 10 Inv little sister, Madge,' she sald ,teadiy, but as if calm speech were an effort for her. ''I--cannot-thank you as I ought"
 "Please"--I put up a protesting hand. You know I love Leila dear ly. suppose-shall we go upstairs now! They surely must have told Mrs. Durkee of your coming by thls time.'
 T think she was as glad as to terminate the interview, which had held so much of emotional stress Tor both of us, and we hurried upstairs .o Mrs. Durkee's room, finding the little woman excitedly glad and ner- vously hospitable. :,
 "Edith, dear child !" she exclaimed as ushered Leila's sister lnto the room, "What a delightful surprlse But Leila tells me you haven't had thing to eat yet and you've been here"
 "ProbabIy ten minutes" Edith laughed, stopping and kissing her warmly. q, no doubt, shall faint with exhaustion in another second or two"
 Lead Me To It v
 "I don't doubt 1t a bit" Her Fluffi- ness responded with the delightfui child like manner she has of taking a preposterous jest with such perfect seriousness that one doesn't know whether she really believes 1t or not. Leila" with pretty sternness, "i should think you'd be ashamed. IT 1t were my sister, now
 We are laughed merrily at her ysbemence. and Edith again ex- plained that she had iunched at the station.
 "After awhile I'll drink a cup or your famous tea with you" she said. '.but not know. I want to talk hrst'
 "ru tell you what" Mrs. Durkce said, her eyes sparkling like those of a little girl at her first dolls tea party. "I'll make you all cup of lea up here. before Dicky and Madge have to go. There's ssme of my Christmas cake wrapped away yet, and It's"
 Fruit cake :" Dicky interrupted. "some of yours Lead me to 1t Why do you wait for anything so banal as tea"
 "sit down and he quiet, Dicky," 1 admonished with assumed severity. "We're all as anxious to taste that cake as you are, and you'll have 1t in duo time"
 "Pn 20 right away and start things.v Leila promised, and kathcr- inc slipped out with her, while little Mrs. Durkee questioned Edith mi- nutely concerning Aunt Dora Paige. whom she likes immensely and the appearance of the North Carolina 'long-leafed- -pineland," which she loves.
 The Kindly Plot "Works"
 It was a quizzing she kept mp long after Leila and Katherine reap peared with the tea things. and there
 
 was such unconscious wiSfulness in little Mrs. Durkee's face eO she lis- tened to Edith's glowing descriptions of spring in the Southland that think we aS realized no finesse would he needed to induce her 10 make the trip we all wished for her.
 I saw Edith lift her eyebrows at Katherine in mute inquiry, and Katherine's affirmative nod. So was not surprised when Mrs. Durkee exclaimed:
 "vioets and daffodils and lilacs budding '" to hear Edith bend for ward and say, coaMngly:
 "I am the bearer Of an invitation to you 10 come to see those blossoms 3rst as soon as you are able to make the trip. The last thing Aunt Dora said was: Make her come right away. I'm SO lonesome down here'.'
 The invalid's eyes sparkled.
 "oh. wouldn't that be scrump- tious '" she said. "I don't know any think I'd rather do. But Leila she paused uncertainty.