Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-13

u lines without IN the least knowing what
they were and threw II down weariIy.
A book and magazine shared the same
fate. I had made Dicky angry by giving
up a delightful country trip with him for
tho sake OF keeping n business appointment
with Mrs. Helen Brainerd Smith, president
Of the Lotus study Club. After he had
left me. angrily for long walk. Mrs
Smith had called me up and alrlly asked 10
postpone the appointment because tho day
set was the one for the coming OF her
masseuse.
No wonder I could not settle myself TO
read Hot angry tears came 10 my eyes
as remembered my day, such an annoying
one The woman In the apartment opposite
had angercd me by her lnsolence and In
gratitude In the morning. Harry Under
wood had annoyed mo by forcing his
prosencs upon me while was riding on the
stage. and now this unpleasant experience
had come
How longed for the country outing
which Dicky had proposed' II / only knew
whore Dcky was ! told myself would eat
any amount ~ humble pie IN the hope that
we might go after all But he had said he
would be late, and u knew that " he ala not
20 to bed before midnight there would he
no use planning any outing Dicky. like
most men. liz cross II he IN sleepy. and TO go
on the proposed trip would mean arinlng
early tho next morning.
So there was no use wasting regrets. The
outing was gone ! sdtled myself again IN
my chair and picking up n book, deter
mined 10 read and forget my troubles Ihc
doorbcll rang before had finished the first
| page
knew Katie was busy In the kitchen, 80
/ opened II myself Tho man and the wom-
| nm from the apartment opposite stood IN the
| hall, both in evening attire.
| The woufans face flushed ns she met my
| aHlonIHhed gaze / was glad she had the
| N ha uu al of hpTpglf She Knew
| that must have overheard her drawlns
| comment TO her maid In the morning. when
| / had called at the door to inquire about
| her baby.
THEIR BELATED THANKS
we want to thank you for all you did
| for the baby last night" the man said In
| rapid embarrassed fashion. Believe me,
| wo nre deeply grateful"
NO thanks are necessary" I returned
ailfily, for the memory OF his wife's atti-
tudo OF the morning ranked "rhe baby
| was brought to US In convulson Wa
| simply did the hest we could for II. as we
| would have dono for any child In similar
emergency. | am glad TO see that II must
bo fully recovered or you would not be lcav-
ing IT,"
could not resist that malicious little
| Ming. | owed them something for the
| wfc's dscOurtesy Besides I was ropeled
by tho callousncss Of these parents In leav-
ing for nn evenings pleasure a baby who
had been so near death the night before
"Oh. tho baby In much better, the ply
| siclan snys," The man wiped his forehead
nervously M he spoke THE trained nurse
is still there, and she has our telephone
number"
our engagement liz one we could hardly
break" drawlcd his wife, speaking for the
nrst time. III am sure the baby will be
all right am sorry | did not see you
this morning"
There was no possible reason for your
doing 80" I returned. with my voice as
fTigld AZ I could make II. ~ had no inten-
tlon OF disturbing you. | simply wished To
inquire after the baby, The maid could
have told mo, and when she left the door |
went away. for was In hurry"
| Not for worlds would / have aclSnowl-
edged to this woman that I had heard her
bored words to the maId--"Oh, the woman
| from across the hail. | suppose / shall
| have to see her" and had rushed away on
that account.
II think the machine is here" The
woman turned to her husband | knew she
was not anxious to prolong the interview.
Yea, we must CO." the man said. You
will understand that we are very grateful
for all your kindness" He lifted his hat
and bowed tremendously
THANK you" | said. perfunctorlly.
Good night" and closed the door upon
them.
Thank goodness, that Incident was closed
! felt that l never wished TO see either OF
| them again To my personal grievance
| against the womnn's discourtesy was added
| the repugnance I felt to father and
mother who could 20 to any social AFFAIR
while their baby in such danger.
| sat down ngain to my book, but tho
| picture OF the sick baby with no mother
| near II stayed before my eyes. II ever
| baby came to me, told myself nercely,
| | would not leave 1t i'll. no matter how
| pressing the engagement was,
/ resolved to wait for DiCky, even IL he
| were very late. felt that | owed him an
| apology But how / dreaded telling him
| that Mrs Smith had broken the engage
| ment. remembered his second words when
| had told him that could not change my
| business appointment with her except for
| the gravest reasons,
"Fiddlesticksl' e. he had said. I'm bet
| she'll change II fast enough IL she happens
| 10 think of any little thing like getting her
| hair dressed or her nails manlcured that
| she wants to do"
My cheeks flushed as | remembered how
| | had defended Mrs. Smith from Dlcky's
words And she had proved the truth OF
| his assertions She had broken the engage
ment for an appointment with a masseuse
HEAR NINE FIRST
A strong temptation came to me. Why
tell Dlcky the truth and bear the rdicule
/ knew he would heap upon my head2 Why
not let him think had reconsidered my de-
cisIon and broken the, engagement myself
10 please him2
had quite a battle with myself But
finally / conquered the temptation. / had
tried to play fair with Dlclly ever since |
married him. 1 would not deceive him In
this thing
My decision once made, every minute OF
Dicky's absence seemed an hour to me.
was anxious TO get the dlsagreeable task
of telling Dlcky the truth over with.