Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-07
THE DAILY STORY
That Darned Stocking

Dill and her lips met in a firm, determined
line. For 10 years now, she had been
wrestling alone with-bills.
The girls father had been a painter.
Always the income had been uncertain,
inadequate. The day he died Il ceased
entirely. Mrs. Garrity was one Of those
helpless women. There we're two girls
younger than Sue. who knew not how to
help out in a CRISIS.
Sue became a stenographer. For 10
years she had piloted the little family
through life's undercurrents. For 10
years she had known nothing but work
and scheme and work TO keep the ever
increasing bills paid There had been
time when the outgo was squared by her
income. but for two years now she had
been steadily going behind. The unpaid
bills, however, we're not OF her making.
Almost nothing did she spend on herself
She made her own simple shirtwaists and
skirts. She fashioned her own hats. She
kept her clothes in repair She darned
and redarned her stockings. Every little
pleasure dear girls heart she had
foregone. Her sisters knew no such
deprivation, however, nor did the mother.
And Sue was tired, deadly tired. The
accumulation OF unpaid bills had made
the girl almost desperate.
I'm going TO take a vacation" the
long-starved nature OF Sue Garrity de-
clared. Pm going TO forget all these
bills. Tn going to forget others and
think of-myself. I'm going TO have a
two weeks holiday"
''I don't care" shot back frivolity-bent
Sue. I'm going away somewhere for
two weeks where 1 can be like other
girls"
There was CONSERVATION in the little
family when Sue declared her intention.
II had not occurred TO them that their
little bread-winning machine could have
any feelings or desires. They remon-
strated, of course. Then they stormed.
Then they pleaded. But for once the girl
held out against her parasitical family.
With a popular magazine in hand and
an Indian blanket thrown over one arm.
Sue Garrity followed the lovers path that
wound through the fragrant wood back
OF the hotel. She selected a tree not far
from purling brook as a prop for her
afternoons diversion.
With a ripping laugh, such as she had
not indulged I'm for years, she removed
the very good-looking but well-worn
shoes. Then again she looked up and
about for signs OF stray invaders. Again
the look was reassuring. on came one
cotton stocking with many darns therein.
and then the other. Carefully she placed
them on top of the shoes. Up went her
skirt, and gingerly she stepped of to
enjoy that acme of sport in the child's
| calendar-wadine.
II was while the girl was exploring up
stream that Tyrell Kemp, of New York,
| stumbled through the underbrush and
came out by the tree where Sue Gar
rity's shoes and stockings lay unabsshed
| Sues belongings would never have been
| molested had one stocking foot been per
fectly in place. Ut was that foot that held
| tho mans eyes. 1t held them because II
was so full of darns as to seem to have
nothing left. He couldn't refrain. He
must examine closer into this unsual
| and unique exhibition.
For Tyrell Kemp was a very blase and
| sophisticated person. His opinion OF
womankind was not quite normal. Per
| haps il was because he was something OF
snob, and was particular not to notice
women not n his class" A girl who
would wear a darned stocking, even one
| so thoroughly and artistically done as
| was this one. was beyond his comprehen-
| sion.
The owner of these affairs must be
somewhere near. The man looked about
but no person was visible. He listened
There was no sound that could be con
strued as human. He acted quickly. One
stocking was separated from its matt
and carefully concealed in one OF hi
| many pockets. Chuckling, the man mad
| his way to the path beyond and to tn
| hotel.
| She put on one stocking. and ther
thought better of 1t. Better two bare
| spots showing than one. That way, ma
tures own might be mistaken for flesh
colored hose now so popular
1t had not occurred to Sue to ponder
| over the destination OF the missing stock
| ing. She merely accepted the fact thai
| 1t was gone. and planned from that point
| Therefore, as she mounted the verands
| steps, she was not at all concerned by
the keen scrutiny OF that glimpse Of flesh
| color between hem OF skirt and top oi
| shoe.
When he saw Sue Garrity-a Sue Gar
| rity in soft shirt rolling away from 9
perfect neck and with beautifully nodded
arms barred to the elbow and a weeks
mountain air and peaceful atmosphere
painted into her cheeks and eyes he saw
| a girl who interested him tremendously
Leaving the dining room that evening
Sue buried herself in a big chair on the
veranda overlooking the placid waters Of
| the lake Tyrell Kemp, sitting by her side
| offered her the evening papers from New
| York She looked at him for the first
time. A little startled smile escaped her
and a stammered Thank you. Mr.
Kemp"
by name He knew this wonderful girl.
For a few minutes they conversed on
conventional topics. the girl edging away
from personalities Finally he said
'T'm sorry, Miss Garrity. your face is per-
| fectly familiar to me, but can't place
you-quite. Won't you help me?" he
| added earnestly.
Sues warm smile reached over and
laid hold of tho mans heart I've been
sitting at your elbow for seven years, y
she answered simply I'm your stenog-
rapher."
A couple OF days later. with his arm
about his stenographer and his lips very
close TO hers, a New York business man
on vacation bent whispered softly: "And
10 think. dearest girl. II II hadn't beer
| for that little darned stocking / might
| never have-seen you"
Since then Sue Garrity has never taken
dictation nor worried about unpaid bills
Though II Is said that she does. some
times, darn her husbands socks-Just az
| a matter of sentiment