Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-04

Then the next time We met she did not
even speak"
Are you sure she received it,"
Yes l sent it by your brother, and he
put 1t into her own hand. He did not
wait for an answer-she could have sent
that any way. Well, then / went away
a few weeks-I could not stand 1t here,
and now that / am back 1t is worse than
ever l despise myself for caring. but l
hate Norman Cady for being near her.
1 thought II 1 told you perhaps Just put
ting 1t into words would wear off some of
my anger and help me forget her. Elsie,
be good to me, and help me forget her
VIII you?"
you should go to her and have it out
In words. There may be some mistake"
There is no mistake. She was simply
playing with mo. Elsie, you were always
my Comrade-be so now in time of need"
Elsie laughed, but it hurt her little.
Very well, John; come to me whenever
you want to; we will talk and walk and
you shall try to forget. will not fail
you"
March was gone and April had had he=
last day of grace. 1t was the evening
was waiting on the porch In the twI-
light. John was to come. Now he nearly
always came. They were going for an
other walk In the spring twilight to wan
der across the green hills and back along
the roadways in the white moonlight.
Elsie thought only of the moment but
she could not help little throb of glad
ness that he so seldom spoke of Rose.
She did not as at first, regret the cool
ness that had sprung up between her and
Rose. Nothing seemed to matter but be-
Ing happy without thinking why John
called her sister half jokingly, but with
entire affection, and while he sometimes
wandered off inconsolately by himself he
seemed content to be with her. And so
she waited. AS she waited her 15-year-
old brother called distressedly from his
room,
sis! For goodness sake get my good
coat from the closet In the hall! I'm
goin' to be late to that party" Elsie
went to the dark closet and emerged
with a coat She knocked at his door.
"Oh, come on in and help me with this
fool tie! Great snakes! II you haven't
got the wrong coat! Just like a girl!
Haven't worn that old thing since win
teri He snatched It from her impa-
tiently, upside down. A letter fell from
the pocket.
Elsie picked II up and as she glanced
at the address her face went white.
Terry! what is this?"
At the sound OF her voice he turned to
look, and then stood stricken with tardy
penitence. It was addressed to John
Copeland, and in the lower left corner
was inscribed in Roses hand, Kindness
OF Terry" Terry stared and struggled
with the refractory tie.
"A pretty mess Rose gave me that
months ago, and / promised to take II
straight to John. And like a fool for
got!" Then he cheered up. We'll they're
on anyway now. Probably she'll be glad
he never saw IT, / will take 1t back to
her tomorrow" He wondered at the
strange brightness OF his sisters eyes.
at the extreme whiteness Of her face.
Gee! Not even Rose can touch you
for looks. sisl don't wonder that
John" She turned from him as Johns
whistle sounded below. She stin held
the letter.
II shall give it to John. It is his. I
shall tell him you forgot, T."
Then she went down to John.
He sat eontentedly on the porch with
his hat pushed back on his fair head.
He looked careless and happy enough.
At her approach he rose
Ready. sister?" Her smile was odd
and she held the letter out 10 him. She
spoke as IL she had been running:
3 John. take this into the paror and
read il, No one Is there. ! told you there
was a mistake II Is TO you from Rose.
She gave Il TO Terry and he forgot Il. /
just found Il In the pocket of his winter
coat" John did not know he almost
snatched It from her hand When he
came back from the parloF his face was
shining.
"Elsic-you are an angel You have
the heart of a sister, You have given
her back 10 mel She did-love me-she
doesl H.
Elsie smiled and gave him a brave
little push
eWell you silly boy. 90 to her this
minuter
He snatched her hand and pressed il
hard. Then he went from her with an
eager awiftness that he had never shown
in coming 10 her. She knew it-she had
always known u. but nevertheless L was
nor easy % see. and under her breath
she whispered hraVelg.
'afhe heart of q sister,
lCopyFi9hL l9la)