Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-20
CHAPTER XVI (Continued)

ssVLTHERES Mr.. SMITH" demanded Jane.
w without preamble glancing at the
vacant chair by the table in the corner.
Miss Maggie. to her disgust. could feel the
color burning in her cheeks. but she managed
to smile as If amused
II don't know, I'm sure. I'm not Mr..
Smiths keeper, Jane"
well. II you were. should ask you to
keep him away from Mellcent." returned
Mrs. Jane tartly.
what do you mean?"
II mean he's been hanging around Mellicent
almost every day for week."
Miss Maggie blushed painfully.
Nonsense. Jane! He's more than twice
her age Mr. Smith Is fifty If he's day"
I'm not saying he isn't" shifted Jane,
her pose uptilted But L do say, NO loo'
like an old fool"
Nonsense !" scorned Miss Maggie again.
"Mr. Smith has always been fond OF Melii-
cent, and--and interested in her. But
don't believe he cares for her--that way.
Then why does he come to see her ana
take her auto riding and hang around her
every minute he gets Il chance" snapped
Jane. "I know how he acts at the mousse
and hear he scarcely left her side at the
tennis match the other day."
"Yes, IL Miss Maggie did not finish
her sentence. A slow change came to her
countenance, The flush receded. leaving her
face a bit white
II wonder II the man really thinks he
stands any chance" spluttered Jane. ignor-
ing Miss Maggie's unfinished sentence
.yVhy. he's worse than that Donald Gray
He not only hasn't got the money. but mes
old, as we'll"
Eyes. we're all-gettlng old Jane" Miss
Maggie tossed the words Off Lightly ana
smiled as she uttered them. But after Mrs
Jane had gone she went to the little mirror
above the mantel and gazed at herself long
and fxedly.
well, what If he does? It's nothing to
you Maggie Dun !" she muttered under her
breath. Then resolutely she turned away
picked up her work, and fell to sewing very
fast.
Two days later Mellicent went back to
school, Bessie went, too. Fred and Benny
had already gone. To Miss Maggie things
seemed to settle back into their old ways
again then with Mr Smith she took drives
and motor rides enjoying the crisp October
air and the dancing sunlight on the reds and
browns and yellows of the autumnal foliage
True she used to wonder sometimes II the
end always justified the means-it seemed
an extensive business to hire an automobile
to take them fifty miles and back, and all
to verify a single date.
And she could not help noticing that Mr..
Smith appeared to have many dates that
needed verifying-dates that were located IN
very diverse parts of the surrounding country
Miss Maggie also could not help noticing that
Mr. Smith was getting very little new ma
terial for his Blaisdel book these days
though he still worked lndustriousiy over 'he
old. retabulating and recopying. She knew
this. because she helped him do tt-though
she was careful never to let him know that
she recognized the names and dates as OLD
acquaintances a., ,u,o
To tell the truth, Miss Maggie did not IKE
To admit even to herself, that Mr Smitn
must be nearing the end OF his TASK Sne
| did not like to think of the house-after MI
Smith should have gone She told hersell
| that he was Just the sort of honey boardei
that she liked, and she wished she m'gh'
keep him Indefinitely. A.,
She thought 80 all the more when tne
| long evenings Of November brought ne"
pleasure: Mr. Smith fell into the way ol
| bringing home books to read aloud ana snt
| enioved that very much. They mad lone
| taiks too. over the books they read In one
| there was an old man who fell In love WIN
| voune girl and married her. MISS Mass,e
| aa certain parts of this story were reaa' he!e
| hsr breath. and stole furtive glances inte
| MT. Smiths face. When 1t was fnisheu sii'
| contriyed to question with carefui casuaihess
| as TO his opinion of such marriase -
| Mr. Smiths answer was prompt anu un
| eouiyocal He said he DID not peheNe Id a.
such a marriage shoufe take place nor a,e ,s
he believe that in real life. II wouio Iesut. - :,
| happiness Marriage should De p%e,We.h % pc,
sons of similar age. tastes ana hap.s n,',,,a t as
| said very decidedly. And MISS Massn ,,iaht
and said yes. yes. indeed Anu tlis' nieh. ~.
when Miss Maggie gazed at herseh III n ar'
glass. she looked 30 happy-tha' n, sue ap
naared TO be almost as young as Meiiceh
CHAPTER XVII