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Show LAZY DORA I "By tho way, Aunt Sally," tiald young Mrs. Billings and the fact that she stopped rocking to B&y It was a' BH sign of Its importance "there's n BH question I'vo been saving to ask you as soon as you came, nnd it wns aH t . could do to keep from writing It. Da BH you remember 'Lazy Dora?' " "Do I rcmombcr hor?" Tho active-looking, active-looking, black eyed woman sat erect. "Could I forget her? Ot all tho shift-loss, shift-loss, good-for-nothing girls I otor waw -H and I'vu seen some) BH "Sakes all vol" she added, turning to tho neighbor from tho floor boldw, BV who had run in with her mending. "You'd need to ecu her to bollevo alio -wns true. My niece and I gave her BB that name, just between ourselves", and; BB It fitted. We know her In Idahowhen my husband was doing a piece ot eh- -B glneorlng .out t)jcrc,.and wjo' Wero-boarding Wero-boarding with her mother a sensible, BB Industrious woman as over was. BB "Thero wac'plonty for Lazy Dora' to flB do, but no she'd Ho abed Until tlmo to dress for dinner that was at noon BB and then she'd appear and talk to tho men young engineers, you know1.' BB After that she'd lop down and read BB novels or sleep until evening, When" BB tho mon were hpme again. Then uho'i) BB come to life In earnest. My, hoW BB she'd sparkle! I used to blink BB couldn't believe my own eyes, she wan so different from tho daytlmo Dora." "And Auntlo," Mrs. Billings wedged B In, "do you rcmcmbor tho young' en- BB glnecr who was bo crazy bvefVoF?" BB "Do I? Rufus Chandler was hla nnmc. Poor man!" BJ Mrs. Billings laughed softly, "Vui sec, auntlo had an eye on him for mo,1' HJ she explained to tho neighbor from tho floor bcow. "She didn't know nt tho time that I already had my eye on Jack Billings, nnd It went hard with her to see this other splendid young man throwing himself away. Sho wan always corncrlug him and telling him what good pies I could mako and how I had kept house for my fathor since was 14, but It was no use. Rufus wouM slip away at the first sound of Dora isllppers on the stairs-. Ahd "''Aunt Sally would shake her'bea&'at mo in private und say: 'Just wait til) they're married. He'll find out his mlntako: Just you wait!'" "I was perfectly right, too," Aunt Sally persisted. "If he ever married her which I hope lor his sake ho ' didn't he's regretting It" ' H "Aunt Sally," announced Mrs. lilt-lings lilt-lings impressively, "he did marry her. and they're living In this bulldW now. In the.flat Tlght ;ovor;-us." "You don't say I Poor fellow 1" "And he's blissfully, happy.'V "Then maybe bo's made enough money to keep her In Idle luxury." "No; he's hard up. He's told Jack JH about his financial troubles', but he says Dora Is the bright star ot his lifo. They can't even keep a servant." "You don't mean to ay that sho .B does her own work?" 'H "No; he does her own work.' lib HJ makes the beds nnd gets brcaklont J and washes tho dished boforo ho HJ leaves, and he ulways brings homo" tho BJ provisions for tho dinner he's going BJ to cook at night. Yob, and he's rigged BJ up a wlro frame to hold' her book', fio BJ that she can read ' without getting tired." B "Eunice Billings!" . "It's all truo. Sometimes she mutt- . tors energy to meet him down on tho BJ front steps, and then be puts dowo bin BJ parcels and carries her up two flights BJ of stairs and comes running down BJ again after bla meat and vegctablen BJ looking as If she'd given him a king- BJ dom." "Yes, indeed," tho neighbor, said. BJ "I've seen that often." BJ "Is she sick?" Aunt Bally Knitted. .BJ "No more than sho was when wo BJ knew her, auntie. Su'o'b just too cholco BJ and raro to bo allowed to exert her- BJ self. Sho did have a touch ot rhcuma- ',BJ tlsm In her shoulder n fow montlm BJ ago, and slnco then ho bus dressed licr 11 In tho morning and dono up her hair. BJ That's a fact. Sho told mo herself. BJ And ono Saturday afternoon Jack' BJ went up thero to seo Mr, Chandler on BJ a business matter and ho couldn't BJ mako nnyono hear when he rappod. BJ Tho sowing machino was going anil it BJ made such u noise needed oiling, ot BJ course and nt last Jack pushed open - BJ tho door, and thero wns Rufuo'chnn- 'BJ dlcr down on tho floor, working tho trcndle of that machino with' his BJ handH. whllo 'Lazy Dora etltched a BJ seam." , y$ "For the land's sako! What did , t! Rufus Chandler Fay to Jack?" ' , "Ho camo In tho hall to talk buul- t''nfi noss, bo that Dora wouldn't bo wor-' rled, and before ho wont back ho , Jjjjfl said: 'ftMllngB, If over a man vnt privileged to llvo with an angel, I am that man.'" "Well, I never!" ejaculated Auut "Jxi Sally, dropping back into her chair 1; "What I'm getting at, Aunt Sally," fflij Mrs. Billings went on, "Is simply this:' -Jfr' I was brought up wrong. I mend and ' 1 3,ff sweep and dust nnd clean for JuVk .. S'rj, Billings, Just aa I always did for fa- "hl ther, but do you suppose I'm an x- ' W alted angel, that' lt'ti a prlvllcgo to &fl& llvo with? No, Indeed! I'mjust a Jfflf?. good, ordinary wlto, doing my duty; 'M that's all. Think how yon uMod to Bay, mS' 'Just you wait,' and then eoo how ' gfiS; Rufus Chandler adorcu hor, after being Wm 'anarricd to hor seven years! I 4a3p :jM sho's fromomlously elovor, nnd I'd ika ?JBJ to tako lossonB ot her." Bl "Eunlco Billings!" Aunt Sally rh BJ vlvcd at this heresy. "You don't mem jBJ a word you Bay. Just you wait. Rufus nH Chandler Isn't tolling all he thtakH." Jl Chicago Dally Nbwb. 'IH |
