Produced by Al Haines
1917
The June Holiday Home was one of those sumptuous stations whereindigent gentlewomen assemble to await the coming of the last train.
Breakfast was always served precisely at seven o'clock, and certaindishes appeared as regularly as the days. This was waffle morningon the Home calendar; outside it was known as Thursday.
The eyes of the "new lady" wandered beyond the dining-room andfollowed a young girl, all in pink.
"Who is that coming up the walk?"
Fourteen faces turned toward the wide front window.
Miss Castlevaine was quickest. Her answer did not halt the syrupon its way to her plate.
"That's Polly Dudley."
"Oh! Dr. Dudley's daughter?"
"Yes. She's come over to see Miss Sterling. They're veryintimate."
"Miss Sterling?" mused Miss Mullaly, with a sweeping glance roundthe table. "I don't believe I've seen her."
"Yes, you have. She was down to tea last night. She had on alight blue waist, and sat over at the end."
"Oh, I remember now! She's little and sweet-looking. Somebodytold me she had nervous prostration. Too bad! She is so young andpretty!"
A tiny sneer fluttered from face to face, skipping one here andthere in its course. It ended in Miss Castlevaine's "Huh!"
"I think Miss Sterling is real pretty!" Miss Crilly, from theopposite side, beamed on the "new lady."
"She has faded dreadfully," asserted Mrs. Crump. "They used tocall her handsome years ago, though she never was my style o'beauty. But now—" She shook her head with hard emphasis.
"She has been through a good deal," observed Mrs. Grace mildly.
"No more'n I have!" was the retort. "If she'd stop thinking aboutherself and eat like other folks, she'd be better."
"Nervous prostration patients have to be careful about their diet,don't they?" ventured Miss Mullaly.
"She hasn't got it!" snapped Mrs. Crump.
"She thinks she has." Mi