Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-29
THE DAILY SHORT STORY
A DELAYED Engagement

FREDERICK ADAlR rolled over in bed
L and squinted through the open door of
the chiffrobe. He smiled contentedly when
he caught a gleam of pale gray. lie
knew that were he a little nearer he
would get the faint stripe of tango color
than ran through the perfectly tailored
suit. And his eyes wandered lovingly
toward the drawer beside it which held
the new tango hose, cravat and bor-
dered handkerchief. In the hatbox was
a new pearl-gray hat, and in the cup
board brand-new walking stick. A shirt,
carefully selected from new half dozen.
lay over a chair, and new gloves and
shoes were in their proper places
This beautiful spring Sunday was to
be a day of days. At 2 o'clock he was
to dine at the Emersons' to meet Miss
Wilda Winters. And Frederick knew as
well as all the rest OF GTeendale that old
Henry Winters had coined money almost
as fast as the mint, after he had moved
to New York.
Frederick rolled out OF bed, bathed and
mado a painfully careful toilet, albeit his
brain was buster planning things to say
to the prospective heiress than with shoe
strings and collar buttons.
1t was am opportunity not to be
neglected. Time and again he had put
the little god of love behind him. I'm
never marry until l can find some one
with-well, with enough money to keep
her comfortably If anything should hap
pen to me-" He had always put 1t that
way, even unto himself, arguing that it
was all a matter of not being able to
afford a heavy insurance. But in his
heart he knew that he wanted few sub
stantial things on his own account, an
automobile. a man 10 say, THANK you,
sir" and Every good, sir" If he chose
to kick him down stairs and time TO
enjoy himself. To tell the truth, he want
ed about everything that money can buy
and i'm exchange he was quite willing to
give his carefully tailored self.
The latter was more of a sacrifice than
II would appear 1t was common talk
in Greendale that Frederick Adair would
never marry. Bachelorhood ran In the
Adair family, his father being the only
one of seven brothers who had married
The Adairs loved their freedom!
ITS a shame for him 10 waste Mar
| garet Cartwrights tlme." was the COM
mon cry. Hell never marry her In the
world"
she knows the family falling" pro-
tested others. "Why doesn't she throw
him over7 She can pick any one of a
dozen better than him."
Frederick finished dressing. He had
| tried to conjure up a mental photograph
| Of Vida Winters, but invariably her hair
was soft and Of shining chestnut brown
| like Margarets, and Margaret's violet
| eyes smiled at him.
When Beau Brummel sailed forth.
after a critical inspection In his mir
ror, the annoying mental vision had van
ished. Instead. on the retina of his
mental eye. was an impression OF Mr..
Frederick Adair, correctly and ex-
pensively caparisoned In the newest style.
/ ready 70 lay siege TO the heart, hand
and fortune Of Miss Winters.
II was too early to present himself at
the Emersons'. The spring morning be-
/ ing exceptionally fine, with grass, trees,
/ sky and flowers more yividly colored
/ than ne ever remembered having seen
them before, he wandered into the park.
| Besides, by 50 doing he need not pass
| MarRaret's house. some way he wished
I to avoid her today. But as luck would