Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-02

Some auaIIs. / think quails and some
Clicouot for YOU. my dear. You need IT,
All. this la a happiness indeed
You know Mr.. Tavernake. father she
remarked, after he had given a some~
what lengthy order to the waiter
"G met and talked with Mr.. Tavernake
hero the other night" the professor ad-
mltted, with condescension
mir. Tavernake was very good to me
at a time when 1 needed help Beatrice
told him.
The professor srasped Tavernake's
hands.
You were good to my child" he said,
you were good to me. Walter, three
cocktails Immediately" he ordered. turn
ing round. 81 must drink your health.
MIR. Tavernake-t must drink your health
at once"
Tavernake leaned forward oward
Beatrice.
81 wonder" he suggested. whether you
would not rather be alone with your
father"
She shook her head.
You know so much" she replied, and
II really doesn't seem to matter. Toll me,
father, how do you spend your tineF
~ must confess. dear the professor
said, that 7 have little to do. Your
sister Elizabeth is quite generous
Beatrice sat pack IN neT Clall "H
though she had been struck.
Father" she exclaimed, "%listenl You
are living on that money! Doesn't 1t
seem terrible to you? oh, how can you
do it!'
The professor looked at his daughter
with an expression Of panied surprise
my dear" he explained, your sister
Elizabeth has always been the moneNed
one Of the family. She has brains and
| trust her. II Is not for me to inquire
as to the source of the comforts she pro-
vldes for me. | feel myself entitled to
receive them. and so I accept"
But, father" she went on, cant you
see-don't you know that it it's his
money-Wennam's?"
at is not a matter, this. my child" the
professor observed. sharply, (Which We
can discuss before strangers. Some day
we will speak of it, you and H.
HAS he-been heard Off" she asked,
in a whisper.
TIL professor fTowncd.
"A hot-tempered young man, my dear
he declared uneasily, "a h"ot-tempered
young man. indeed. Elizabeth gives mo
to understand that it was just an ordF
nary quarrel and away he went.
Beatrice was white TO the lips.
IAN ordinary QUARREL she muttered.
She sat quite still. Tavernake uncon-
s~ciously found himself watching her.
There were things in her eyes which
frightened him. 1t seemed as though she
were looking out of the gay little restau-
rant, with its lights and music and air
of comfort. out into some distant quarter
of the world, some other and very differ
ent place. She was living through some
thing which chilled her heart. something
terrifying. Tavernalte saw those things
in her face and his eyes spelt them out
mercilessly.
Father" she whispered. leaning to-
ward him, "do you believe what you have
just been saying to me?'
1t was the professors turn to be dis
turbed. He concealed his discontinue,
however, with a gesture of annoyance,
THAT is scarcely a prope' question,
Beatrice" he answered sharply. "Ah," he
added, with more genlality, "the cock
tails! My young friend Tavernake, I
drink to our better acquaintance! You
are English. as | can see, a real Britisher.
Some day you must come out to our own
great country-my daughter, of course,
has told YOU that we are Americans,
A great country. sir-the greatest | have
ever lived in-room to breathe, room to
grow, room for n young man like you to
plant his ambitions and watch them
blossom, To our better acquaintance,
Mr.. Tavernake, and may we meet some
day in the United States!'
Tavernake drank the first cocktail in
his life and wiped the tears from his
The professor found safety in con-
versation.
Tavernake was embarrassed. He saw
Beatrice was anxious to talk to her
father: he saw. also, that her father was
determined not 10 talk to her. With Il
little sigh. however, she resigned herself
to the inevitable.
'You are doing no work over here,
are you?" she asked.
''Nonc, my dear" he answered. with a
note of regret In his tone. your
sister Elizabeth seemed scarcely to de-
sire 1t. Her movements are very unceT-
ain and she likes to nave me constantly
at hand. My daughter Elizabeth" he con-
tinued, turning to TavernalSe, lis a very
young woman, left in my charge
under peculiar circumstances. | feel 1t
my duty. therefore, to be constantly at
Again there was a fash of that strange ,
look in The girls face. She leaned for
but her father declined to meet
her gaze.
MAY I ask one or two personal ques-
tions?" she faltered. "Remember. I nave
not seen or heard anything from either
of you for seven months"
by all means. my dear the professor
declared "Your sister, | am glad TO say,
Is we'll. I myself am as you see me, We
have had "A pleasant time and we have
met some dear old friends from the other
side, Our greatest trouble Is that you
are temporarily lost to us"
elizabeth doesn't guess"
My child" the professor interrupted, !
n have been loyal to you. Still. my
the professor continued, dis
posing of his second cocktail, II see
no reason why your very laudable de-
sire TO remain Independent should be
Incompatible with a life under your sis
ter's roof and my protection. Mr.. Taver-
make here with his British instincts, |
will, 1 am sure agree with me that it is
not well for a young lady-my own
daughter, sir, but 1 may say it-of con-
siderable personal attraction, to live
alone or under the ch"aperonage merely
N these other young ladies Of the
''To go hack to what YOU were saying
now" Tavernake remarked, ~ quite
agree with you about Beatrice's living
I am very anxious for her 10
marry me"
The professor set down his knife and
fork. His appearance was one of ponder
nus theatrieality.
sir" he declared, this is indeed a
most momentous statement. Am | TO
lake 1t as a serious offer for my
daughters hand?'
Beatrice leaned over and laid her fingers
upon his.
Father" she said, 1T doesn't matter,
,Iaasa am not willing IN marry NJ. |