Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-19

vXyHEN I could no longer see the Sa'u', !,
| w as she churned her way out TO sea- /.
| turned around quickly with sense VI @ So
at having ignored my mother-h-'a" pN
| ence. ,
But she was nowhere to be seem
locked around wildly. There were rev
people walking along the sea wall anu
none Of them was the elder Mrs. Graham
My anxiety was good counter-irrltaht
TO, the misery of few moments betore'
| when I had watched the Saturn starting on
its way across the ocean to battle-swept
France. I knew the ship held my brother-
cousin Jack, and I had forgotten every
thing else.
Where had she gone? She did not know
the city. She would, therefore, hardly have
gone into the subway entrance, or climbed
the elevated stairs. My common sense be-
gan to assert itself. OF course, she must
have gone into the Aquarium. 1t was the
only logical solution of her absence.
L hurried on to the old Castle Garden,
ready to be quite abject I'm my apologies,
realized that it had been most un-
pardonable thing in me to keep my hus-
bands mother standing in the cold while
j gazed seward after a ship holding any
man, even one as near and dear as my
Cousin Jack had always been to me.
l do not know what I expected - re-
proaches, perhaps an angry demand to be
taken home at once. But the elder Mrs.
Graham is a past mistress in the art of
dominating situation.
She was standing near the door of the
Aquarium as ! entered, and really made n
striking figure of well-bred dignity. Utterly
oblivious of the curious glances of the other
visitors, she stood calmly looking through
her lorgnette at the walls of the Aquarium.
the cases that lined them and the people
that walked past her. bestowing the same
impersonal gaze upon all.
A COLD REPRoOE
hurried up to her, but she turned away
as l came, pretending not to have seen me.
/ smiled involuntarly as she did so recog-
nizlng the adroitness with which she COM
PEELED me to be the first to speak.
II am so sorry. Mrs. Graham" I said
hreathlesslv. II did not hear you go away
me?"
She turned slowly and surveyed me with
her lorgnette. 1t was not an angry look.
not even disappearing one. but there
was something in its cool disdain that made
me feel almost like an insect
II did speak to you twice" she said. .It
really did not seem worth while to try it
again"
''oh, Mrs. Graham" cried in shocked
protest.
1t really doesn't matter in the least"
one Sdlu lhullterently, and her tones dis
patched me to oblivion. I'VE shall walk on
now"
Her words and tone were exactly what
she would have used to servant
flushed resentfully, but realized that I de-
served some sort Of punishment so I sa lid
hothlng. but turned and walked by her
side.
ifer quickness of thought and her pride
compelled my admiration. She must have
known something of the events of the day
peiore, she must have realized that il was
the presence of Jack on board the Saturn
10 which my utter forgetfuness of her
presence was due. But she would not ac
knowledge by word or look the fact thar
mere had ever been any other man in nv
life but her SON
which would you like TO see fret >" I
asheu tiniuly after moment 'the wall
tanks with fresh and salt water fishes or tho
noor tanks with the seals and the sea
lons?" 0 sc"
SOME HAPPY MEMORIES
There is no hesitancy about Mrs. Graham
trait which | like immensely. She never
keepo you waiting but decides at once what
she wishes to do
me wall tanks first, by all means" she
SAID we viii circle this room and then
come pack to the seals"
Sne ala not lnger over the immense glass
cases which contained the leaning fish of
every country in the world but she stopped