Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-02
LY FEC1TON-SMART SUIT-A PEEK IN
WOMEN'S INTERESTS CENTER-FANlILY DLSAE
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
RAYS FRIEND
BY Elsie Eaton

ONE. two. three. chimed the clock on
" the mantel.
You'd better hustle along there. Lou"
called her mother, "or you'll miss that
swell movie you've been talking about
Yes, mother, I'm most ready"
answered Lou. putting the last pin in
her hair.
Now see that you come home right
after the show. / don't want to have
to entertain that friend brother Ray Is
bringing home for the weekend to-
your company best. Young folks gen.
orally like young folks" as Lou was
leaving
Movies aren't as interesting as they
might be-, thought Lou, as she walked
leisurely down the street. For the last
siN months not much of anything had
really been interesting to her. She
found more pleasure in knitting socks
Tor soldiers than she did in doing any
thlng else. But today she thought she
would venture out to the pictures.
She met several boys and girls as
she walked along. all radiant and happy.
She finally reached the theatre. An
observer might have thought her eager
70 see the play. for there was a long
ing look in her eyes. but Louis longing
look was not for the play that was sup
posed to be so interesting. Her thoughts
were far away She was thinking Of her
sister Macs honey cottage where she
mad spent the spring and summer days
dolng the work for Mae until she got
better. How pleasant It had all been.
But how lonely she was now
h, 1%ct0r ND tor, b , III, pill" as Macs hus:
time she met him. lie certainly had
made her stay at Macs a pleasant one.
How kind and gentle he had been to
her sister, she thought. Try as hard as
the play, Her thoughts would always
drift back to bygOne days. The pleas
ant rides she had had with Doctor b,
the scenery and the lunches they would
take How he had seemed to enjoy the
dainttes she woud prepare and give her
more than due praise, she thought. Lou
would think Of. all those things with
sense of happiness. But how sad it
seemed to make her when she would re-
call the day when he had called at
Macs and told them he was leaving for
camp In the morning. He, too. seemed
sad as he told them of his departure.
But he had just bid her good-by in a
friendly way. just as he had bid the
others good-by.
WY have been so lonesome since
my return home?" Lou would ask her
self Was her lonesomeness due to him?
At first she would think it was due to
at home now, and it wasn't as though
things were lively, she thought; but as
she walked home this day she finally
came to the conclusion that there was
just one answer to her question. She
had fallen in love with Doctor B.
It's all right to feel lonesome when
I'm at home and everything Is dull But
when 1t comes to this" (and she thought
Of how she had spent the afternoon
thinking of him instead of enjoying the
picturesD there is only one reason for It,
and there's no use avoiding it. But 1t
makes me feel blue. It's just to be my
secret, not his and mine. as l wish 1t
could be-"
She suddenly thought of her mothers
warning to come right home. She looked
at her watch. 1t was past their regular
dining hour Goodness !" she eXclaim-
ed. II must be walking terribly slow.
+ Guess I'd better move along. I've got
to change my dress. | suppose. Rays
friend might be a bore for all | know.
! oh. ] do wish he wasn't bringing him
home this time, but I must be there and
! help make things pleasant or he would
never forgive me.
she finally reached home. Her mother
met her at the door. Now be quick
and change your dress, dearle;, Ray
! has Eome and supper is waiting.
| What a familiar voice" thought
| Lou as she changed her dress and listen
| ed to the boys talking and laughing.
| She looked thoughtfully for, second
/ Dut, no, IL COulul Dc-tIle iiuSHtei
| again reached her ears. She hurried
downstairs. determined to be in doubt
! no longer.
why, Ray she. exclaimed, going
| into the parlor. This is Doctor b.
! | met him at Macs, and"
'"I know, Sis interrupted Ray. 1--WE
thought we'd plan little surprise fol-
you"
This certainly is a pleasant sur
prise" said Lou with joy as she shook
! hands with Doctor B.
During the meal they talked of ole
times and of what had happened since
they had last seen each other.
Now" said LOUIS mother. I'm go
ing to do the work, and. Lou, you car
entertain Doctor B while Ray goes
calling on Anne"
why didn't you let me know yol
were coming, Doctor b." asked Lot
when they were alone.
Bill to you, Lou" said Doctor B
avoiding her question.
"Yes, Bill to me always" said Lou
almost to herself, while that longing
look disappeared, and now she knew
her secret was also shared with Doctor
B..
Tomorrow's complete novelette--Tsc