Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-07
CHAPTER XIV
For SyIpy Aurenfsky!
! Copyright. 1918. bv Public LEDGER Co.

= been the slogan which Ruth had
( 1sopcsed and Jerry had accepted back
= n those callow days of six months ago.
bhen each was SO blissfully ignorant Of
What II meant. Jerry was past slogans
now. He was working on a big idea.
The turn of events had swept him away
from Sylvy, except as one face in a
z city Of 2 100000. He was fighting now
for thousands of Sylvy Aurentskys and
< Nary Moores and Jane Does and every
ether sort of girl. while old Victor -
But between Victor. and ssylvy was the
nsurnlountable barrier which the at
forney. suddenly humbled and cautious
Before this great passion of his, had
&ound no way to break past, even suf1-
ciently to begin his wooing, fearing in
part to frighten the girl and in part
10 have his motives totally misunder-
9tDod. In the meantime he contented
himself with watching over every step
~ the girls life: his concern for her
welfare never relaxing for a moment
while his heart waited and hungered.
But in the midst of this waiting some
thing happened that upset the lawyer
hover terribly.
sylvy. oppressed by the hopeless grind
~ poverty, thrown into despair by the
eonsciousness that her father had totally
lost his grip and was drifting nearer and
nearer to the point when he would be a
mere human firebrand in the hands of
slkilled agitator like Levene: began. to
take on an attitude of moody indlfer,
thought she was doing it we'll enough.
but one night found herself discharged.
Walking disspiritedly home from the
street car. wondering how W, she e., should ,5rin1
cipa1 breadwinner of the family mad
lost her position, she espied ahead of
her three girls whose acquaintance be-
1onged to more prosperous days They
were Aline Sax. jeanette Weller and
Bertha Kopel Sylvy hesitated. ana
would have avoided them but that
Bertha Kopel had seen her first.
Hello. kid 80 was Bertha's greeting
what you mopin' past like that for
Come in and get a soda
Sylvy was too spiritless even to de-
cline the invitation. so sat down IN
The drug store with the girls.
During the consumption of the soda
she had time to look her eompanions
over in detail They were dressed far
better than she and besides being awful
" nice to her they were IN exceedmsly
laughing and talking about the pictures
and the last vaudeville bill. Sylvy was
! almost awed by the spectacle of so
much carefree happiness in the world.
"Gawd sake, but you're the cute kind,
-Sylvy," observed Aline, appearing to
pause and study her face. Put the
right kind of hat on YOU and you d
Sylvy did not know that this remark
WAS by way of calling her attention to
the fact that Aline herself wore most
thing of beads, velvet and ribbon, that
must have cost all of s14 and was as
Far above Sylvy's reach as diamond
kiara sylvy, however, secretly admired
the hat and marveled. Also she envied
"Why wasn't her father able to
Gfve her hat like that?" she reflected
Sloomily He could If he wasn't all the
fime hanging round at meetings, instead
.sweli figure, too" declared Bertha,
pretending to eye Sylvy critically. Put
and you'd go by us like a hundred miles
tan hour"
3; Sylvy was embarrassed by the compli-
sment. She knew her & dress was, was aa rag
And as for shoes and stockings
fIhey sure do make a woman look we'll
Idressed when she's, got, 'em. and they'll
mske a queens robe. shabby when she
lain't got en- contributed jeanette, 70
lthe further distress of Sylvy. Sylyy
icould not see Jeanette's feet, but she
Ederfuily shod. As for her. she remem-
jbered the time she paid 81 for pair
TOT shoes--s4 out of the eight of Ter
weekly wage-and the look her mother
2sther spoke, asking if she woald take
tRhe milk out of the children's glasses to
lput it on her shoes in pride, made her
Tears filled sylvy's eyes. The ice
lcream stuck in her throat and she
ipushed the glass away from her.
why. IL the child amt cryin', de-
!eIared Aline What do you make of
'No, I'm not" said sylvy, stoutly.
k.Just thinking that's all, You girls
don't mean II. but you hurt me by your
I THE way things are with us, now, !
!; don't think about it much only when
Il somebody talks about them.
meant TO hurt your feelin's." insisted
E6erfha, while ali three faces expressed
These girls had been 2laymates of
E0ylvys. They affected to be much older,
&and they looked and acted much older.
= yet she knew as matter of fact that
Ek was only in the possession of better
8 clothes and the leisure to enjoy them
&fhat they were older.
at was kind Of you to speak to me
to have me !, n E1,,, here, il ont 1.ir,
FL. at makes me disconteented
& 'piscontented? Say girl With that
X1gure of yours, you don't ever need
Is work at all and that face. You
&eculd outdress any of US 1t was
oh. I could dress if my father gave
'sayr' the girls interrupted her by by
8bent low over the table and, with
Srblushes, giggles and insinusting glances.
S3they Impaired to her that their fathers
E6id not give them the clothes they wore.
Sylyy was dull of comprehension at
X0f9f. but suddenly drew back with her
lace burning, her eyes on the table
Xunable to look at the girls again.
The girls, too, became subdued, as II
Ethe manner in which Sylvy had re-
XGaived their condolences had somehow
&hlsshed their overstrident spirits. After
IA little bit Aline paid the check from
what Sylvy noticed was well-flled
Daarse, and all four went out, Sylvy max
HI Ing the first corner an excuse to escape
from them.
B tGood-by. Sylvy," they chirruped
.Ee1S0ok US up some time when you're
&blue r.
* Syivy, as If she had done shame
F<fUl thing, hurried homeward. TO fino