Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18

Something of the sort" she replied.
II am to be at the Whitehall Rooms at
10 o'clock. If you are tired Leonard
please let me go alone. 1 really do not
| mind. can get a bus to the door, there
| and back again"
II am not tired" he declared. ITO tell
YOU the truth l scarcely know what 1t
is to be tired. 1 shall go with you, Of
course"
She looked at him with a momentary
| admiration of his powerful frame, his
strong, forceful face.
TT seems too bad" sne remarked.
after a long days work to drag you
out again"
He smiled.
81 really like to come" he assured her.
Besides" he added. after n moments
pause. II like to hear you sing"
"I wonder IL you mean that?" she
asked, looking at him curiously. IT have
watched you once or twice when l have
been singing to you, DO you really care
for it7'
Certainly I do. How can you doubt
1t? l do not" he continued slowly.
understand music. or anything of that
sort. of course any more than I do the
pictures you take me TO see, and some
of the books you talk about, There are
lots of things I can't get the hang of
entirely, but they all leave a sort of
pleasure behind. One feels 1t even IL one
only half appreciates"
She came over to his chair.
II am glad" she said. little wIstfully
that there Is one thing 1 do which you
like"
He looked at her reprovingly.
MY dear Beatrice" he said II often
wish l could make you understand how
extraordinarily helpful and useful TO me
you have been"
"Tel me in what way?" she begged.
''You have given me-" he assured her.
IAN insight into many things In life which
had found most perplexing. You see,
you have Travelled and I haven't. You
have mixed with all classes of people.
and have gone steadily on in one
groove. You have told me many things
which shall find very useful indeed later
on"
Dear me-" she laughed you are maxi
ing me quite conceitedl"
Anyhow" he replied, 1T don't want you
TO look upon me. Beatrice. In any way as
a benefactor. I am much more comfort
able here than at the boarding-house and
Il is costing no more money especially
since you began TO get those singing en-
gagements. BY the way, hadn't you bet
ter 90 and get ready9'
She smothered n sigh as shs turned
away and went slowly upstairs To all
appearance, no person who ever breathed
was more ordinary than tn, strong
featured. self-centered young man who
had put out his arm and snatched her
from the maelstrom. Yet II seemed to
her that there was something almost un-
natural about his unapproaohability She
was convinced that he was entiraly hon
est, not only with regard to his actual
relations toward her. but with regard TO
all HIS purposes Her sex did not even
10, Fak 10 "a hot -.
was Bood-looking. and with her renewed
health daily becoming more 80, seemed 10
beAof no account 20 him whatever. He
showed interest In her appearance some-
times. but II was interest Of an entirely
tmpersonal sort. He simply expressed
himself as satisfied or dissatisfied, as a
matter OF taste. II eamA to her at that
moment that she had never seen him
really relax Only when he sat opposite 20
that great map which hung now IN the
further room, and wandered about from
section 20 section with a pencil In one
hand and piece OF rubber IN another,
did he show anything which IN any way
approached enthusiasm, and even then IL
was always the unmistakabls enthusiasm
born OF dead things. Suddenly she
laughed at herself in the little mirror
laughed softly but heartily This was
the guardian whom fate had sent FOR hsri
II Elizabeth had only understood
CHAPTER VII.
MIR. PRITCHARD, OF NEW YORK
Later IN the evening Beatrice ana
Tavernake Travelled together IN a motor
omnibus from their rooms at Chelsea 10
Northumberland avenue. Tavernake was
setting quite used 10 the program BY
now. They sat In a dimly lit waiting
room until the time came for Beatrice TO |
sing Every now ana then an exeitable |
little person who was the secretary 20 |
some institution or other would run IN |
and ofrer them refreshments. ana tell
them IN what order they were 10 appear.
Tonight there was no departure from the |
ordinary course OF things. except that
there Was slightly more stir The din- /
ner was Q larser one than usual II
came 10 heatrice'a turn very soon after /
their arrival and rayernake. saueezlne /
hF way e fen steps fnto The alnins-roa