Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-11

note. MY dear J. C. d." he read with
annoying impatlence you were very
much too good to send me those flowers
have left them in the room so that
we may both enjoy them-only l took
one to wear. I am beginning to feel
well acquainted with you. I do wish
knew what color eyes you have. Please
tell me- And your name-I think the j.
stands for Jane -" James stopped
with a sense of relief. $50 she isn't so
bold as l thought" he said to himself
She thinks I'm just some little old
maid of a school teacher like herself
and she's trying to get acquainted"
For week more James let the cor
respondence go on, signing himself with
the old u. G, d." but taking pains to
preserve thoroughly feminine tone to
his letters. And when, at the end Of the
week he received an especially friendly
letter he asked for Miss Whites photo
graph. Il can't let you have one OF
mine,' he wrote, anticipating a probable
request, but must have yours"
My dear Jane" she wrote one day,
I'm not at all lonely any more. | can't
tell you how hard II used to be before.
when / was alone In the city and there
was no one TO sympathize with me. /
do wish that you would let me come to
see you some time or that you would
come around to my boarding house. There
are 80 many things l want to talk about.
Cnn't you come next Sunday night?"
Temptation pulled heavily upon James
single-minded ambition Without in the
least knowing how he was going to ex-
plain himself he started out on the ap-
pointed Sunday evening to see Helen
White.
He had sent up his card, and as he sat
in the large, dimly-lighted. shabbily-fur-
nlshed reception room, he was half in
clined to make his escape before be had
got further into the entanglement.
Then Helen White-a look of disap-
polntment in the sympathetic eyes-had
appeared, coming toward him from the
hall, more lovely in reality than he had
ever vaguely dreamed. "Are you MISS
Daroy's brother7" she asked
Yes" he lie1. taking the only available
cut. she sent me to apologize. She's
rather tired" And then as they talked
about Jane, ana the books they liked. the
look OF disappointment fled from Helen-s
eyes, and when James left her an hour
later. she bads him a friendly farewei1.
II think you must be very much like
Jane" she said. please give her my
love"
That night Jane re-rsad all the letters
and many ami long they were too-and
went TO bed with the conviction that
Helen White was the one thing that he
craved even before his coveted degree
Of his method Of attack than he had had
the night before, and It was the distrac-
tion OF the uncertainty that had made
the undiseiplned boys seem somew hat
less disciplined than usual. AS he heard
the sound OF Ecuffling feet pass down the
hall, the DOOR gently opened and Helen
White-With little start OF surprise
stepped in.
II came to get my rollbook and to see
Miss Darcy" she explained. as James
closed the door and led her to the desk
chair Then standing over her he ex-
planned. fully and apologeucalIy, what
had happened and how he had been led
Into the deceit
I am so disappointed" she said with
tears starting In her eyes.
1T was rather rude OF me 10 let you 20 |
on with it," James began.
Oh II isn't that. It's just because I |
shall miss Jane so. She was the only |
friend i had" Helen White buried her /
head on the desk before her to hide her
tears. In a minute she had recovered /
her self-eontrol. You see It has been i
very aFd-sometimes," she said.
With what comfort he could suggest, /
James led the girl to the open air and, /
By way Of diBtracting her attention from /
her own loneliness, told her frankly ana /
fdily Of his own hopes ana ambitions, |
making no attempt 10 conceal his present /
limitations ana embarrassments.
And now, Helen" he said I'VE have /
found each other. ] am Jane or James. 4
o. anything else you want % call me / 4
love you and 4 want 70 MARI you-ana 1
you2' he paused, looking down into her /
face
Helen let her hand slip into James
Darey'4 es she hesitaied for a reply
ana I love Jane. sAs faltered. .and
yoara Jane ana sa
Hsien dian't aaish. bat james under
(copsrieht l)