Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-24
THE BITTERNESS OF SWEETS
BY RUPERT HUGHES

| audience that the swallow was all right
tomorrow and the leddies and iontlamen
need not be alarmed. He backed off into
the curtain wire and bowed himself
slowly through a narrow crevice. The
! curtain went up and the engagement ex-
traordinary went on
She woke to see Krus staring down st
her with more tenderness than she had
thought him capable Of She expected
no consideration at all from Mr.. Bruni
whose show she had spoiled. But he was
all a-iutter and proffered her a flask of
brandy.
Silver pushed It away. She was afraid
OF LIQUOR, and she dreaded the thought
of It's effect on her wits after her pro-
lonsed starvation Brunl did not urge
the point, but advised her to 20 home as
soon as she could change her clothes.
She made haste to get away from the
theatre before the other swallows came
on the stage to lombard her with ques-
tons. As she undressed and redressed
her hunger came back over her in gusts
OF emotional Intensity. She could have
gnawed the soap. The rabbits foot in
her makeup box tempted her.
she darted down the stairs and out OF
the stage door as the swallows hoped
from the stage. Krug caught up with
her and took her well-flled sleeve. He
suspected the cause OF her distress; his
first word was an irresistible plea:
Looky year, kiddo, what you need
amt no medicine or no booze. Plain food
and lots of 1t is what you want. Am 1
hep7'
Yep" she sighed. And he steered her
into restaurant over whose door hung
one electric word, a cleaning imperative
"E A T."
And she ate. Between the exorbitant
demands of her rate stomach and the
tactful insinuatons of her extravagant
suitor her wisdom had the minority vote.
Krug did not seek to lure Silver with
cocktails or liquors. He did not hint
at that ultimate East Side prodlgalty
known as Opening wine" He did not
offer Jewels or fine clothes or life OF
case.
He offered her life OF work and plenty
OF food. He piled her with subtle SOUP
with fat pork chops and fried potatoes,
with moro OF the Same, with glasses of
half and half thalf milk and half cream),
with jelles and with comhts, and finally
for climax he set before her that last
word in fatteners, apple pie with ice
cream on It.
to her gallantly that he didn't mind how
heavy she got. He'd put on double
wire. II necessary, and n block and tackle
big enough to hoist safe. II only she'd
treat him white, he'd go into de bakery
business.
But Silver wanted to be a swallow.
A little later she could cut down her
commissary, but food was as much OF
n heavenly novelty to her starved body
as the art life was to her starved soul
She promised to be good to Krug IL he
would be good to her.
There was moon leering down at
them as they left the restaurant; a we'll
fed moon, like great pie in the sky.
sense OF luxurious we'll being filled
Sliver's heart and she thought kindly
even OF Krug. Until they reached a
heavily tlmbered street. where the walk
led through n subway of gloom. And
there he took his bargain into his arms
and crushed her against him with gorilla
violence, ard pressed back her head and
took the kiss she Lad promised him. And
more than one, with increasing ferocity.
Until she smothered and fought him
and wrenched away, and took four strips