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Show Dowager's Rights J By FAYE McGOVERN j McClure Syndicate WKU Features. T EI MING," complained the! dowager from the depths oi her silken bed, "you aren't going to work In that hospital again today?" Her daughter continued fastening her quilted black jacket. "Yes, Mother. They need me." "But must you degrade yourself? Isn't there something more genteel you can do?" Lei Ming shook her smooth dark head. "They need every helping ; hand they can get The city is full j of refugees In need of medical at- j tention." i "But how can you expect me to i arrange a suitable marriage if you I perisist in such associations? No man of character will want you." I "There are too many children who need attention now," sighed Lei Ming, turning away. "Many of them are homeless." She turned back suddenly. "If you would only come with me!" The dowager settled her plump, perfumed self deeper among her pillows pil-lows and sighed. There had been a time when the many splendid rooms of her house were filled to overflowing over-flowing with prominent, notable, important im-portant people. But with the war's coming lavish social affairs were frowned upon, and life was exceedingly exceed-ingly dull. And Lei Ming was becoming be-coming harder to understand. Tears ran down her cheeks, and with her plump hands curled helplessly help-lessly on the coverlet, her small mouth drawn into a pout, she fell asleep. When her frightened handmaid hand-maid shook her she awoke with a start. "Madam! Lei Ming needs you. The ricksha boy who brought the message waits without. Make haste! " For the first time In all her sheltered shel-tered life the dowager hurried. Tottering Tot-tering on her tiny bound feet she arrived at the rambling old mission "I told my brother." hospital, her hair awry. The curious eyes of weary, hungry refugees followed fol-lowed her progress across the crowded courtyard. Greedy hands twitched at her silken trouser leg, and shrill voices pleaded for alms. Angry maledictions followed in her wake as she swept past, unheeding. Rushing from the bright sunlight into the gloom of the building she collided with a very dirty-faced little girl who had been standing directly in her path watching her approach with awe. "Must you stand in the way, child?" the woman scolded. "Goodness, "Good-ness, don't shriek so. Here." She dabbed at the child's tears. Immediately the howling ceased, and a radiant smile lighted up the youngster's face. "Mmmmm," she cried. "You smell good." An odd, half-forgotten warmth jwep't over the dowager. "Thank you, child," she said abruptly, and hurried on. She stumbled through three crowded rooms before she found Lei Ming efficiently bandaging a man's shoulder. "What does this mean?" demanded the dowager indignantly. in-dignantly. "I thought you needed me." "We do, Mother," Lei Ming said without ceasing her work. "Hand m the scissors, please." Trembling with anger the older woman obeyed. "I never dreamed you could stoop to such trickery." "I merely sent word you were needed, and you are. I'm sorry if you were, frightened." "Frightened! Of course I was " A tug at her clothes caused her to look down. The little girl she had run into was holding a dirty little boy by the hand. "I told my brother if he would let you wash his face he could smell you," cried the child eagerly. The small boy grasped the dowager, dowa-ger, pushed his face against one leg and inhaled deeply. He smiled and clung, staggering a little. She stooped and picked him up. His head dropped against her soft shoulder and almost instantly he was asleep. For a moment the dowager dowa-ger looked uncertain. But when the child stirred and sighed, her clasp tightened. Decision brought pink spots to the plump cheeks she hadn't taken time to rouge. "I'll take these two home with me." "Oh, thank you, Mother," Lei Ming cried. "But are you sure you can manage?" "With a houseful of empty rooms and servants? Of course I can," was the retort. Then, with vigor, "And tell Dr. Wu if he wants to retain his fees he'll get the rest of the children up to my house at once!" |