The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-01-24

! htdlI DtNduSe VI GlOliu lBuOldlCG'
Didn't l say ! loved?" she demand
ed harshly. What do you know o.
love? You can't come down here anC
teach me anything. Pooh! | don't be
lieve you know what real love is, Were
you ever in love?"
Ordinarily to a girl reared as Gloria
had been no more serious affront
could have been offered her. 1t was q
meddlng with her private affairs
which was objectionable
Was you?"
Little Ella asked the question again
with the sharpness gained from lis
tening - the city attorney cross-ex
anime witnesses in police court. See
ing that she was almost compelled tc
say yes" or no" Gloria replied de
family:
yes, | was"
And yer not married."
No"
Coin TO be-"
A pause.
NO"
Say, yer overlookin' a bet. What's
the matter?"
Gloria felt herself fascinated by this
slight little woman who in her excite
ment had propped herself up in bed on
thin, trembling arm. The light had
come back into her eyes as she pur
sued her inquiries and they shone like
two burning Goals.
He didn't really love me-" Gloria
said more to herself than to the girl.
Did he tell you so? How do you
know" There was no answer "Huh
You asked me questions so I thought
I'd ask you some. Did he know you
loved imp"
He did, but--my father discovered
that he was unworthy"
This information seemed to Little
Ella to be a bond Of fellowship She
fell back on the bed TO rest, and re-
marked phlosophically
"Humph! My oil man thought the
Teller loved was no good, too. Guess
we've had pretty hard times, eh?" No
reply, What d. you think?"
I-I--he was unworthy"
1t was now Gloria who spoke list.
lessly.
so you had to choose between i'm
an yer father?"
"Was there any choice? gave
him up"
81 left home, So, you see, I've loved
more'n you've ever loved" she cried.
you didn't really love" There was
scorn in her Voice as she spoke. I've
gone through Are an storm fer the
man | loved. becaGae ! loved a real
man. You must "a loved some kid at
the ribbon counter. A real man
wouldn't "a let you give him up"
This was a tribute to the animal per.
lection of the graceful young creature
before her. The sight of Gloria rs
something TO be desired, to be pos
sessed, made Little Ella feel that no
man with red blood in his veins would
give her up without fight, She hated
her for her masses of beautiful hair.
her deep, soulful eyes, her complexion
of apple blossoms, and her delicate
white hands. She hated her for her
clothes which brought out her best
lines. A woman may be down in the
world, but she has eyes to see.
Look at me-" she cried beating her
fiat breasts with her red, bony hands.
"A man died fer mean he thought
was worth It. Did you love a man
well enough for him to do that fer
you?"
Gloria could only avoid the question
by tactlessIy referring to Little Ella 8
present state.
you don't know what you're saying.
Can't you sec what he's brought you
to-"
Don't you say word against him"
snapped the sick woman. "All men
amt alike, neither. 1t wasn't his fault
I'm here. It's the system"
"The system! What's that"
Here was the introduction of a new
element Gloria's curiosity was
aroused There was something mex
orable about it, TO Judge from Little
Elias manner of speaking.
We'll. call it society, II you want
to-" conceded soclety's victim.
What do you meant"
Say, are you stringin me. or was
you born yestiddy?"
She laughed harshly at the humoI
OF such a question.
81 don't understand" was all Gloria
could reply.