Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-20
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smaller: Mrs. Hattie had been very exclusive
in her invitations this time. She had not
invited Everybody who ever went any
where" There were champagne, and ciga-
rettes for the ladies, too.
As before, Mr.. Smith and Miss Maggie
went together. Miss Maggie, who had not
attended any social gathering since Father
Duff died, yielded to Mr.. Smiths urgings
and said that she would go to this But
Miss Maggie wished afterward that she had
not gone-there were so many, many features
about that party that Miss Maggie did not
like.
She did not like the champagne nor the
cigarettes She did not like Bessies snowy
low-cut dress nor her supercilious airs. She
did not like the look In Fred's eyes nor the
way he drank the champagne. She did not
like James maneuvers to bring Mellicent
and Hibbard Gaylord into each others COM
pany--nor the way Mr.. Smith maneuvered
to get MeIlicent for himself
OF all these. except the very last Miss
Maggie talked with Mr.. Smith on the way
home-yet it was the very last that was
uppermost in her mind. except. perhaps.
Fred She did not speak of Fred, but be-
cause that. too, was SO much to her. she
waited until the last before she spoke of 1t.
"You saw Fred, of course" she began then.
"Yes" Short as the word was. 1t carried
a volume of meaning to Miss Maggie's fear
full ears. She turned to him quickly.
"Mr Smith, tit isn't true, Is it?'
I'm afraid 1t is"
you saw him-drinking them"
"Yes, l saw some, and l heard-more. It's
lust as l feared. He's got In with Gay
lord and the rest Of his set at college, and
they're a bad lot-drnking. gambling. no
good"
"But Fred wouldn't-gamble, Mr.. Smith
oh Fred wouldn't do that. And he's
ambitious to get ahead! Surely he'd know
he couldn't get anywhere In his studies if
IL he drank and Gambled
1T would seem So.
Did you see his father7 I saw him
only a minute at the first, and he didn't
look we'll q bit to me-
Yes, saw him. l found him in his don
Just as I did last year. He didn't look
we'll to me- either"
Did he say anything about-Fred?
mot a word-and that's what worries
me the more. Last year he talked lot
about him and was SO proud and happy
In his coming success. This time he never
mentioned him but he looked-bad."
What did he talk about?"
"Oh, books. business-nothng in par
ticular! And he wasn't interested In what
he did say. He was very different from
last year"
'Yes, I know He is different" sighed
Maggie. Hes talked with me quite a
lot about-about the way they're living He
doesn't like-so much fuss and show and
society"
Mr. Smith frowned
over all that by this time, after the newness
of the money was worn off"
Il hoped she would. But--she doesn't It's
worse. If anything" sighed Miss Maggie
as they ascended the steps at her own door.
Mr.. Smith frowned again.
And Miss Bessie" he began disap-
provingly. then stopped. Now, Miss MellI-
cent" he resumed. in very different
voice.
But Miss Maggie was not apparently
listening n raf fhar land linz nf tha
doorknob she was pushing open the door.
why. how hot it is Did l leave that
damper open?" she cried, hurrying into
the living room.
And Mr.. Smith, hurrying after evidently
forgot to finish his sentence.
MISS Maggie did not attend any more
OF the merrymakings of that holiday week
But Mr. Smith did. 1t seemed to Miss
Maggie. indeed, that Mr.. Smith was away
nearly every minute Of that long week.
and 1t was long week to Miss Maggie
Even the Martin girls were away many
OF the evenings. Miss Maggie told herself
that that was why the house seemed SO
lonesome.
But though Miss Maggie did not partici.
pate In the gay doings. she heard of them.
She heard OF Them on all sides, except from
Mr.. Smith-and on all sides she heard of
the devotion of Mr.. Smith to Miss Mellicent.
she concluded that this was the reason why
Mr.. Smith himself was so silent
MISS Maggie was shocked and distressed.
she was also very much puzzled. She had
| supposed that Mr.. Smith undertood that Mel
iceat and young Gray cared for each other,
and she had thought that Mr.. Smith even
| approved OF the affair between them. Now,
| TO push himself on the scene in this absurd
fashion, and try ito cut everybody out" as
| 1t was vulgarly termed-she never would
have believed 1t of Mr.. Smith in the world.
And she was disappointed, too She liked
Mr.. smith very much. She had considered
him to be man of good sense and good
| judgment. And had he not himself said not
| so long ago. that he believed lovers should
be Of the same age. tastes and habits? And
| yet here now he was-- at
| And there could be no mistake about II