Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-06
CHATTER XG-tcontinuedl.

Obediently Sally took her place at the
esCrltoire arranged sheet OF the mono
grammed note-paper used by Mrs Cos
mold for correspondence with personal
friends las distinguished from the formal
letterhead of Gosnold House. with its
brstling array of telephone numbers and
telegraph postofiice, railroad, and steam
boat addresses), dipped pen, and waited
with mind preoccupied by visions Of
the night to come. Her first ball! The
first real function of Society!
MY dear friend" Mrs. Gosnold enun-
ciated deliberately in n colorless, placid
voice. "Colon. dash, paragraph 1t was
only late last night. and then by merest
chance I learned you had come to the
island yesterday instead of sailing last
week. in accordance with your announced
intention (period). So l cannot decently
begin by beratlng you (dash) as I should
had you been here twenty-four hours
without personally letting me know
(perod)."
A pause Sally dreamed n beautiful
dream of a crinollne costume, behowered
and hef1ounced, such as Vogue had lately
pictured as a forecast of autumn fash
ions, an rdescent bubble of dream
shattered by the query: Where was l.
please?'
Letting me know" she quoted alb
sently.
"Oh. yes (Paragraph) I hope with all
nv heart your change of plans was not
brought about by any untoward accident
Csemicolon); but Italys loss is the
islands gain (semicolon); and l am look
ing forward with the keerest pleasure to
seeing you again (perod, paragraph).
May | hope that It will he not later than
tonight (point of interrogation)? I have
arranged an impromptu masquerade by
moonlight on the terrace (period). It
should be a pretty sight (perod). From
10 o'clock till any time you like-(dashl-
masks until (perIodD. DO come and help
make the evening happy one for me
(perlod)."
Another contemplative pause. But this
time Sally did not dream. She sat quite
still in speculative wonder. troubled with
a vague alarm as disturbing as the sound
of distant thunder in the evening, of an
August day.
Cue. please?"
The girl replied in low tone: Eve
ming happy one"
Yes. Add: Affectlonately yours-or
wait! Have you written"
Affectonately yours'-yes."
mo matter; leave a space for my sig
nature, and add this: p. s. You will be
glad to see, no doubt that your letter to
Adele has borne fruit (period). Miss
ManwarinE does Rplendidly as an aman-
uensis (perlod) Your Judgment was al
ways trustworthy (period). And address
the envelope, of course, to Mrs. Corn
wallis English. She is stopping, l hear,
with the Lorimers. at Bleak House-the
gray stone house on the hill at the end
of West Harbor drive"
After a time Mrs. Gosnold said almost
sharply "Well, Miss Manwaring! You
have little time to waste. Bring mo the
note. please. and a PEN"
With a gesture OF despair tho girl twist
ed In her chair and showed the woman
stricken face
care you sure" she stammered.
"Yes?" Mrs. Gosnold prompted, with an
accept of surprise. What is It, Sally?"
The girl gulped hard and mechanically
put a hand to her throat, rising as she
spoke.
Are you sure Mrs. English is on the
island?"
what of it? Why. presumed you
would he glad of the opportunity TO
thank her for that letter Of"
There was no letter!'
81 beg pardon?" Mrs. Gosnold opened
wide her eyes.
II say" Sally faltered, yet with deter
mination, there was no letter. Mrs.
Standish-that is-we both lied TO you.
don't know Mrs. English; never spoke
a word to her in all my life. I didn't
take any letter to Mrs. standish. That
was a story manufactured out OF whole
cloth to account for me-get me this posi-
tion here"
"oh. yes,' Mrs. Gosnold assented cool
ly. II felt quite sure OF that in tho be-
ginning. You never could believe a word
Adele said from the time she was able to
talk. Even If the truth would have served
as well and with less trouble, she was
sure to disfgure 1t beyond Identification.
And Walters just as bad. But you, my