Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-03
LII

HAvE you ever been turned loose on
IL swell eating joint and told TO go
the limit? That's what happened to me
today don't think I'll want anything
more to eat for week
This morning l had letter from
mother. This is what she said:
MY dear boy--Your father has 70
visit one Of his jobbers in Boston today
or tomorrow and I'm going with him be-
cause I want a little change and want
to see how my dear boy is getting along.
Your last letter saying how well you
are doing in that publishing house has
pleased your father very much.
You know. my dear Peter. your
father and ! both love our boy very
dearly and We want him to be a real big
American. We are both proud of you
ana you can imagine how much pleasure
it was TO us to hear Of your success
Your dad has forgiven you for your
failure 10 satisfy Mr.. Benton at Marsh
Felton's, for, as he said, perhaps they
didn't give YOU real opportunity.
II NOul tlllpONeTS Will give you a
half holiday meet us at the Hotel Tom
tine for lunch at II. After lunch we will
go to place Of amusement of some kind
and then have dinner together Then
you can see US off on the S:12 train for
home"
II was a black half hour for me after
! had read mothers letter. Here she and
dad We're feeling proud of me because I
was making good. How ! wish | had
the courage to tell them the truth. for
while dad is pretty hard on me, I think
! he would straighten me out Some day
/ ! hope to be able to live up to their
opinion of mo, At present | feel I'm a
i2pocrite.
All the time I was talking to them
/ had to be so careful whatever | said
/ fitted in with what lies ! had told them
in my previous letters. What a wonder.
( tul memory a successful liar must have
/ Already Rogers has got on to me and
guess the others will before long
/ It certainly was good to see dad and
mother. ! was a little bit afraid Of dad
at first, but he was brick. During
dinner he asked. Are you really con.
I tinuing to make as much money as YOU
said, Peter or did you let your en-,
thusiasm run away with your discre
! tiOn?"
What a chance had then to 'fess up
| instead of which I replied. Pretty
nearly as well as that, dad Then
asked after my sisters
When dad paid the bill he remarked
There's nothing wrong with your ap
petite. You need to make lot o.
Iacney il you eat like this every day"
| saw them off at the station and be
gan to walk back to my rooms, deter
mining to pull myself together. WheI
you have a mother and father believing
in you like mine do in me, you feel lilS,
yellow cur when you realize you ar,
putting it over on them.
While walking leisurely down Trcmou
street engrossed in my own thoughts
was suddenly brought to earth by feelinI
little arm slip through mine and
CHEEKY voice say. well. glumpy, what
the matter with you?" II was Rosie.
why. Rosie was just thinking abou
ycu" Then to myself I said, Liar :"
"Yes-but you didn't think about m
yesterday when you promised to TAX
mr out. IL you weren't such a nice boy
Peter. ] wouldn't speak to you again
You can take me out for supper now
you want"
could almost hear my vest button
threatening to burst off If ! attempte
to eat anything else. Anyhow what els
could do, SO | said Come along. Rosie
but | can't eat anything. for 7 only jus
finished eating at the Tontine."
Her eyes opened and she said, "My
aren't you the swell guy How lon
have you been feeding up there"
Had my folks down" said noncha
laLtly. I have always given Rosie quit
a strong line of hot air about my folk
and she thinks they are the big Chees
down at home.
Meeting Rosie cost me over dollar
and I regret very much having met hel
What an expense it is-carrying off
bluff