Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-06
Unusual Story ofLocvandDuty- Shirley Seifert

The possibilities were overwhelming There
was, FIRST the everlasting problem Of carpets
She might find down town a few small rugs
in soft, bright colors. They wouldn't be ORR
entail rugs, but would be good velvet carpetings
She might find two of them, say and with the
rest OF the money buy Gretel frame and the
yarns and . pattern for a hooked rug That
would be n present to Gretel, too, the lovely
work for her hands. Or might she find a real
bargain in good cushioned chair? Probably
not Furniture was so expensive! Later for
that Or a lamp Of hand wrought iron per
haps; and a soft-hued shade for one beautiful
corner at night? No. The family would stand
the lamp at the piano and place her under its
radiance and-that wasn't the idea! Curtains?
She could buy yards end yards of silk and
Gretel, again, would be happy to do the sewing
Perhaps the curtains would be best Shed
have to make list of posSibilities
THIS bit of womans planning frightened
Dora's eyes and lifted her mouth corners
until she looked quite happy as she went back
to the living room where Mrs. Skipping was
awaiting the hour for serving dinner.
What is keeping Dad?" asked Dora.
Heaven knows" said Mrs. Skipping Il
mean that literally, darling. When the Rev.
DR.. Skipping leaves home in the morning,
never know when I shall see him next"
A breath of cold air swept in from the hail.
rs that SOP" challenged rich deep voice
borne in on the draft DR.. Skipping had taken
of his overcoat. He was unwinding muf11er
and beaming in the generaP direction of family
chatter Somehow the picture of him stand
ing there smote home to Dora's heart. He
locked at once 80 young and old, this father
of hers. He'd always seemed just young before.
young and strong and ruddy with health. II
never exactly handsome; but now-she won
dered just what his years might be. His hair
was thinning rapidly The glinting gold Of
her own head was bleached sand on her
fathers His broad shoulders always
little stooped-they looked bowed today. Per-
haps 1t was just the way he had put on his
coat.
That dear man and his clothes! 1t was
blessing he had an orators voice and q pleasing
personality or no church of any dignity would
ever have claimed him as he walked about the
streets, he was baggy In the knees.
Not that Dora or anybody really minded
about his clothes. Not that he minded. Sc
renely oblivious to bagged knees and uneven
coat tails, DIR. Skipping held out his arms In
welcome.
My Dad," Dora said with a straneled gulp
We'll, WE'LL" Her father shook her gently
and held her off after kissing her. And have
you been In the house two hours and no kind
person told you about the smudge on your
face?" He pulled out a handkerchief and pains
takingy wiped of the one tear that she hadn't
been able to hold back.
The next day Dora had lunch down town
with her father. In the late afternoon, when
the family was shifting about the kitchen and
making eyes at two cherry pies-Mrs. Skipping
said at meal times they were like orphans with
their noses against the windowpanes-Dora
heard tapping on the front door glass and
let her father into the main hall unobserved.
Fifteen minutes later. Mrs. Skipping sat down
for the usual before-dinner lull
We will not wait for your blessed father"
she announced