Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-10
ELLEN ADAIR FINDS
LIFE'S ODD WAYS
INCOMPREHENSTBLE
The World Is So Full of
Such Wonderful Things
That I'm Sure We Should
All Be as Happy as Kings.
XIV.

for hours, and hours, to write the strange
new happenings of my life. In spite o
having made some friends--I had beer
here in Philadelphia since the end OF
July-yet felt the saddest girl on eartt
that rainy autumn night when 1 FIRST
started TO record the tale.
The rain kept dripping on the roof that
night, and my sad thoughts we're but poor
company. A mothers death, the loss Of
home and friends in England, with the
strangeness Of lodging house in this
new country. proved a burden very hard
to bear. The absence OF an uncle whom
1 knew would welcome me had he been
here was yet another disappointment, too.
october now is come, and life has tuned
up to brighter key. 1 still am stenog-
rapher, but now more reconciled to all it's
routine-though this position only lasts
another week.
Tonight 1 feel strange elation and
curious new sense of happiness to come
wonder why? will not, must not, look
too deep within my heart!
Last night I spent very pleasant
evening with most kindly friends. The
llIllG SplnSIGT WHO Hdu bGtH u AlttAASIA
of the Western Planet order gave
party in my honor in her house.
My dear" said she, II want to intro
duce you to the right sort Of people, and
you certainly will meet such at our
home! My brother has the incest sort of
FRIENDSHIP is a lawyer. and real stick
Ter for etiquette. We have these small
informal receptions once a week.
THE LITTLE GRAY GOWN.
To grace the evening I unearthed right
from the bottom of my shabby trunk
simple little gown Of gray. 1t is three
months now since my mother died, and
last night was the first occasion on which
wore anything but the deepest black.
TO me the thought that lies behind the
putting-on of mourning seems a purely
pagan one II we believe that relatives
and friends have passed across INTO
happier world than tbs, where tears are
dried on every cheek and every heart-
ache washed away. why mourn in deepest
black because their pain is gone? Are
they not happier far than we? know
that in another world my mothers KIND
" eyes are watching me. | know tHdI
she is happy. and II any heartache ever
could come to her there It Is because Sne
THINKS tnaL am INI'SAS AAN" '''N'' 49, 49,
gone away. ,
So nut on the little gown of Quaker
gray cut in the English style with one
white rose half hidden in the snowy tolds
of the wide hchu that | wore draped on
The shoulders of the dress. I tried to hX
NV hair right in the newest fashion out !
my hair Is curly and refused TO stay up |
in that stiffened way. 1t broke mo Ihe
oldest little waves and twists and theh l |
saw that with the gown OF quaker
array the old demure way must just suIt |
me best. And so I parted my unru!y |
locks right down the centre. with the |
curls caught up behind upon the neck |
in bigloose Psyche knot ! snow l
looked oId-fashioued. but no other style !
quite seems TO suit me .,
..Whv, Miss Adair, my dear, my utIIe |
hostess cried, when I arrived last even |
Inc, ar her house. Il am so very glad TO |
sec YOU, come right in Your little Eng
lsh gown is just the cutest thlnE' aII
so demure. You must Just make youISe''
a home among US all. ,,,,
thought her welcome was the Knan-
.st thinr she led me 10 a cosy, lamp-ht /
room and there her brother greeted me |,
cordially. I'VE are so glad TO see you |
here" he said, and introduced me 10 the
other guests. ..... md !
most fashionably dressed. The men We're
all in evening clothes, and the "hole az
mosphere was restful and refined Ie!I |
a little shy. yet otherwise at ease
sat down in a carved and higN-bacKed /
chair right in corner. Just ABOVE I.is /
hung a beautiful Venetian lamp OF every 1
glowing color Why do 1 love the oeau- /
tiful things Of life so much' / do not /
care for money, but ] care LOT an tht .
luxury that money brings. perhaps am /
n saIFmauder. who desires 70 basN in |
warmth and sunlight all day long l felt |
contented i'm this pleasant atmosphere
NEW HAPPENINGS.
A slrl got up to sing, and I'm the mld- T.
die of her song there was a stirring 10y /
the curtains AT the door. wonder If that /
faint. uulct movement reused a sudden /
premonitiou i'm mo- Be IL so or not, ! .
felt that some one there was watching
me-and I looked up,
7 cannot analyze what came 10 me with |
that one LOOKOUT something new cleo |
tric. stirred the air IN silent moments I
such as these the current OF a lie Is
sometimes changed. I wonder why?
only know that / looked up in answer /
10 another look. A pair Of rather sleepy, /
dark-blue eyes was watching me half ,
cynically from the doorway, I may have
been mistaken. but II seemed 10 me that |
in the lanruor OF that glance certain !
strange, magnetic power was hid. I !
thought 7 had a glimpse OF smoldcTins |
fires in those dark eyes.
IL seemed 10 me that through the sing |
eI song those handsome eyes held mine /
against my Will ana Judgment OF kif NJ 7
tinguess Of things. Then when the song
ended the spell broke, ] noticed then for
the first time that their owner was tall
and striking-loOkins man. with Q strong,
clean-Cut profile and a rather !anEuid
air. His host and hostess greeted him
enthusiastically. lie had a very fine and
courtly manner when he took the spin
ster's hand in his.
II must apologize for this most late
Intrusion" were the words I heard him
say-and then he smiled. I never knew
a smile could so transform a face, He
had most finely Chise,ed features and
certain air Of breeding and distinction
too il almost seemed as n I'd known
him for a hundred years Yet now he
did not look al lie
We had some violin playing and a cello
solo. and more songs, At length / heard
a voice beside me say, Why Miss Adair
my friend here wants 10 meet you, May
I Introduce him 10 you2'
/ looked up. There was my host, and
with him stood the owner of the dark ana
handsome eyes. He bowed but did not
smile-and sat down in a low chair close
70 me. / noticed in a vague way how the
close-cropped hair curled Just above each
sar-and then ne spoke. His voice was
very full yet very low I know now
that he had the Southern way Of speech
IL Is most beautiful, / think I could not