Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-25

Colonel" ] said with some anxiety,
are all of your gems in that room ~
IAN that / actually own he re.
piled, with the emphasis on the last
two words.
But at the time l overlooked the tone
OF his voice in the satisfaction ] felt Ill
his reply.
The red diamond was not in the col
lection of gems in the museum.
That fact gave me indcscrlDable
pleasure because had been hoping
from the time first met Dora Wharton
that | would not find il In her uncle's
possession.
The Man Behind the Hedge
NTE ALL mot for the first time ut
w luncheon. It was then that ] had
my first glimpse of Victor Jayne. lie
was thin and languid with long hair
and a stringy mustachc and disposi'
tion to be very careful about his dress.
Colonel Wharton sat at the head of the
table and In the capacity of host en-
deavorcd to keep the conversational ball
rolling. lie succeeded, meaSurably.. and
in this he was ably seconded by Jules
Jacquette. The lattcr's viyacity was
amazing He talked almost constantly
and ] must admit that he talked well.
But it was not in the conversation
alone that he excelled. There was some
thing about his personality which made
it inevitable that he should take and
hold the center of the stage. lie was
persuasive. he was compelling, and he
was masterful. The moment he spoke
the others listened. They may or they
may not have been interested in his
conversation, but they paid him the
tribute OF perfect silence. Victor Jayne
had little to say and that little he
addressed to Dora Wharton, Indeed.
his eyes were upon her during the
greater part of the meal. How do l
know Because my eyes also were
upon her.
/ The fact that I was able to see and
talk to Dora Wharton kept the fires
OF my affection Mt the burning point.
1t is all very poetic to say that absence
makes the heart grow fonder, but it
il not to be compared with constant
intercourse with one for whom you have
a positive and unmistakable love. And
| had a positive and unmistakable love
for Dora. Any doubt on that point was
removed by the spnsm Of pain which
! felt when j detected Jayne smiling at
Dora, and smiling. too in familiar
and confidential manner,
l was not only in love. but | was
jealous in the bargain.
1t relieved me when the meal was
over. The sight of those two glancing
at each other i'll that provoking style
and indulging in sweet nothings was
too much. 1t never occurred to me
at the time that such Il thought on my
part WAS an impertinencc. Dora had
talked to me kindly; She had treated
me considerably, but she had not given
any sign which would Justify me in
; thinking that she cared for me in the
remoteSt degree.
Clearly I was unreasonable. but. after
: all, that was only another proof that
was really and truly in love, For love
. human love-as all lovers can testify.
: Is the most unreasonable thing on
earth.
As we left the dining room it was
my blissful pleasure to have few min e
. what ] thought OF the collection.
whether l was likely to be pleased with
the work and other queries along tho
. same line. ! was pleased at this cvi
= dent interest in my work; was fat
. tered at the attention to my humble
! self. But later Victor Jayne came
! along and on some pretext or other
i managed TO take her off to another
; part Of the garden. Before 7 had al
e opportunity of mentally berating hin
: for his impudcncc I was Joined by dea,
n were seated together in a rustic arbol
discussing the Hedsewater Park ant
= its inmates.
80 you think you will be please,
with your employment do you asket
the old lady.
Pleased would be putting it mildly
Mrs. Gritty I answered. II am posi-
lively enthusiastic about it, and M
surroundings, and the people wit
whom come in contact only add to th
= enjoyment.
Il smile came over that young old face.
Your enthusiasm is the enthusiast
e of youth. Every turn in the roa
: brings you something new. A smile
h IL handkerchief. rose, all may mca
Q the beginning of an adventure to youth
d Eut to old age it is different. We be
y come liberal. broad minded and philo
e Sophical. All Of these traits arc ad
Y mirable in themselves, but they are nc
Il the things that make the world :
e round. They are the virtues of oil
c detachment from the things Of thi
: lffe. You know she added, with
e rare smile, "at three score years an
r ten the world grows lonely. The friend
b. of our youth have died or dcps rted an
,e we no longer have the desire or the en-
" thusiasm to make new ones. 1t
= night; the fires Of our earthly life ar
re banked, and we are but waiting fo
e the morning, the morning of the da
In which knows no ending
IN Suddenly she broke off with smile
20 Am preaching-well, that's one
N the results Of advancing years. Br
in I'll promise not to do it again. l.
Ie try to talk Of the things which Infer
~ est you
y ! smiled in turn and said:
IN. II envy Colonel Wharton his mal
''' velous collection.
NJ She shook her head at thar.
NJ Il don't"
,;s Surely protested you can
' mean that"
~ ''I mean every word of it. she co,
~ ~ tinued, with unexpected bitterness
~ Colonel Wharton is one Of the fine
q . men that ever lived. There never "
81 more loving brother, but have
oh haunting fear that this miserable 90
%. lection may have the effect Of unde
- mining his character
IA was puzzled and must have look
it.
Don't smile at ne, the old la
% said, '.because what I say may sou
o fantastic and unreal but I think it
8 misfortune to become 30 passionate
80. .oba ad to inanimate thin1s -