Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-09

The Daily Story
CUPID IN TOWN


parched pavements Fifth avenue seemed
| as arid as desert Houses were closed,
their blinds drawn. Maids gossipped in
areaways. Instead of the pageantry OF
carriages which graced the street on win
| ter afternoon there were occasional cabs,
numbering automobiles and buses filled
! with tourists.
I was strolllng along toward the club.
| and devoutly wishing was any place but
In town, when suddenly I espied Honorla
Bangham. She had come in from house
| party on Long Island. and our meeting
was the mcrest accident 1 at once sug-
| gested tho little Casino in Central Park
as cool and inviting place for luncheon.
| Honoria agreed. Aunt Myra considers
| you such a safe companion" she said
| demurely.
IT'S one OF the compensations OF be-
| ing Ineligible" said I. For was in
| eligible, there was no doubt about that.
| My income of a few paltry thousands
| barely sufficed to Keep me on the So
cial merry-go-round, And I had added
indiscretion to poverty by falling in love
with Honoria. OF course, no one could
nave guessed 1t. Even Honoria's aunt
would have scoffed the idea of my be-
ing probable suitor In fact, the very
dlmness of my prospects enabled me to
see more OF Honorla than I otherwise
could have done. I was considered per-
fectly safe. for Honoria's circumstances
match, and I was the least brilliant
man OF her acquaintance 1t was the old
Old story OF the moth and the star. If
the moth was foolish, so much the worse
FOR the moth! And as for the star--Hon-
ora and l had long since decided that
loNe was out of the question. So on the
way to tho Casino our conversation was
strictly confined to platonic platitudes.
we had luncheon at one of the little
tables close by an open window, through
which the green reaches of the park
were enticinE to the eye. Sunshine
dappled the leaves with the light and
shadow. SQUIRRELS frlsked across the
grass. The hum of the city sounded
far away and indistinot. Now and then
breeze stole in, carrying with Il a
faint, half-woodsy perfume. The mir
ror across from US reflected Honorias
frills and furbelows, her clear, delicate
profile and every turn of her graceful
head. There was the clink of the ice in
tall, thin glasses, and a gay bubble OF
festivty and laughter from some of
the other tables. Honorias eyes met
mine.
There are worse places than New
York" l observed.
"Oh, what IS so rare as day IN |
town." murmured Honoria
I bless the fate which prompted you |
to leave the seashore and let mo have |
glimpse of you," said I.
TT wasn't fate, It was dressmakers."
said Honoria. She put back her veil |
with an adorable gesture. "Am 1 very
much burned?" she demanded.
only enough to be becoming" said I.
You're a bit brown yourself, Dick,''
she observed
People who make hay while the sun
shines" I began.
"Ah," said HonoriR, that's just what
I was going to ask! Are you progressing
well with the heiress?'
"Modesty forbids me to say" I an
swered. "How's old Croesus2"
Doing nicely, thanks" laughed Hon
oria Then her face grew grave. Dick"
she said, do you realize that this is the
last luncheon We'll have together tete-a-
tete?"
II know" sald I, that our year of
camaraderie is over. And 1t was fun
while 1t lasted, wasn't It. Honoria? All
our little walks and talks and drives
And it's got to end because were afraid
of poverty"
I'VE do love luxury" sighed Hon
oria.
WED be miserable without it," I
agreed.
you" went on Honora. 'must marry
tho heiress in order to obtain a yacht,
and all the other things you can't pos
sibly get along without"
"Whlle old Croesus can give you
house In town, and several in the coun-
try. not to mention box at the opera
and gowns of Paris creation. Yet when
I'm steaming around Gibraltar and
you're giving splendid entertainments in
your brownstone front. I dare say We'll
look back on these times we've spent
together with good deal of amusement
and some regret. Don't you think so.
But HonorIa was engaged In spearing
an olive, and apparently did not hear me.
1--WE often wondered" she said muslng-
ly. "how it would seem to be poor. I
suppose I'd make my own hats, and
wear ready-made tailor suits, and live
in little box of an apartment"
But even a box of an apartment can
be made attractive" said I. 1T know
OF some dingy shops on the East Side
where one can pick UP fascinating old
prints and brasses for almost nothing,
and furniture that is a joy to discover.
There's a Tuscany lamp that's waiting
to send cheerful glow over polished
wood and tho backs OF ones favorite
books, and there are curious andirons
made solely TO reflect the gleam of a
small hearthstone-such a hearthstone as
have imagined you sitting by, Honoria,
while the snow falls without, and"
"Some of our friends would give us up" I
said Honoria hastily.
"We'd find better ones to take their
places"
"our greatest diversion" said Honoria,
WOulu ne the theatre, ana We could go
so seldom that It would take us long
time TO decide which play We really
wanted most to see"
WED enjoy 1t all the more" I de-
clared. "And after 1t was over we'd go
off together TO some quaint cafe-oh, I
know of places that you've never even
dreamed of, Honoria-places where strug-
Cling poets and artists have carved their
names on the tables, and where a Hun
sarian vlolinlst plays not the catchymusIc
Of the concert halls, but things that ara
heartbreak and rapture and longing all
IN one And the people we know will he
suppng at Sherry's or Delmonlco's-all
the wealthy, foolish people who haven't
found out that life is ashes and faces but
picture gallery and talk a tlnkling
,ymbal, where no love Is. Are you listen
ng to me, Honortar
Yes" answered Honoria, very low.
81 know it's sheer folly" said I. this
iream OF mine We've talked OF II so
often, and decided that It was impossi-
ole. But now that we've come to the
parting OF the ways, do you think that
the other things of life really matter, so
ong as we miss the exquisite Joy of be-
ng together? All, Honoria, know it's
than madness to ask it
nut could you care enough TO give up
luxury for poor duffer OF a fellow who
sn't worthy OF you, and loves you with
mia xyhnla heart soul9ii