Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-18

chair, Aunt Marcia. Vera can TAX
.uHt one" lie stopped short Owe
the back OF the chair was the little tell
,s ,aie gown, and their eyes met Yer,
hlted Il deftly while her mother scanned
soine sketches and dropped Il back on
In New York;"
Only until tomorrow. dear. We sail
! at 10 VIII YOU give me a glass OF water
n,! please! IT'S very stuny down here
lsn tg Is there any nice place where
you could lunch with us, Gerald7"
| Gerald hestated. Vera thought he
threw a look OF appeal at her.
| Why. ! guess So" he said "we-that
Isl get my own meals usually right
mere, but there's the Gonfarone and the
Judson. guess you'd like the Bre-
Voort, though. surely, wen all 60 over
10 the Brevoort and have n regular old
fashioned reunion. l think we'd better
start over now"
He stopped. Outside on the stairs
there came call. Then the door swung
open and on the threshold stood a girl
her arms full of parcels. Vera's heart
warmed TO her Instantly. She was slim
and sweet. with dark, appealing eyes.
anu Tumpled chestnut hair and n few
frcckles, and she stared from one 20 an.
other with mlrth in her gaze. and pure
oanclns iun curving her lips But Aunt
emergencies -
antly '''u p'e'S-
Gerald crossed the room and slpped
ms arm around the girl. MY wife, Aunt
Marcia he said. very gently. "Syblt
this Is my Aunt Marcia and cousin Vera
from California "
Vera was the first to awaken from tho
sIupor or ama1ement She went to Svbl
WIN outstretchcd hands and kissed her
r., m so glad for YOU both, and / think
GeTald's awfullv lucky"
My dear, does your father know -,
asked Aunt Marcia
NO he doesn't" Gerald answered. feet
Wide apart, hands deep in his pockets.
We've only been married about y,
month, and | knew dad would clip on
my allowance, and maybe YOU wouId
Too, hut I've studied hundred tip,cs nc
hard since it happened. You don't Know
What 1t means when YOU work for twn.
ana love is your steady model Sybils
ul hrtlst, too, and we're mighty happv
didn't mean to tell you all for a while.
wanted to make success you Soc"
thihk you have" said Vera, posi-
lively ~ think Sybils your success, and
uhcle John Will simply adore her. I'd
wire him to come at once and see your
masterpiece. Gerry"
By George" I believe will" Gerald
exclaimed. Come and eat. now. Sybil.
YOU haven't said one word?"
Sybil blushed and laughed as she laid
her parcels on the table. ~ want Aunt
MARCIA to like me-"
Marcia Faradny looked at the lovely.
hhppy thcc of the little studio bride and
something stirred to life within her. some
,hlnE That very nearly approached human
kindness
Dear child; I'm very. very glad for
Gerald that hc has some ono 10 look ont
for him like you. I'm sure living in those
strange places does make man ccCen-
tric and unsettled. II would even make
me so. And | don't care one bit what
both" '0u
You're grand old champion" Gerald
said, lovingly
NO, I'm not. I'm a foolish. sentimental
old woman, completely taken i'm bv this
absurd dove nest and this child's bin
eyes. Go ahead, Vera, the stairs are mar
row."
They lead to the stars" Vera smiled
back over one shoulder. and she added
siezing the propItious moment: Mamma.
I'm engaged to Jack"
DO Eo on" answered her mother ham
PLY. Il wouldn't be surprised now II
your Uncle John said he was engaged
It's the proper state. Sybil child, give
mo your arm"
And Sybil smiled as she piloted Ger
nld's aunt, the only one i'm the family that
she had really been afraid OF, out into
the sunshine of Macdougall alley, the lit
tie old alley where Love dwelt.
Copyright 1914, by the Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate