Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-24
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE MAN WHO STAYED
BY Emma p. Williams
TIME massive touring car shot through

TNHE massive touring car shot through
the village and was lost in the cloud
Of dust that rose In its wake. Nir-
ginia's eyes filled with longing as they
followed the car, then dropped wistfully
to the letter In her hand.
''If only / could follow the trail Of
the automobile" she murmured long
ingly, as she lifted the letter and re-
read the offer which opened to her the
chance she sought SO eagerly, the op-
portunity to return cityward, to teach,
to be one of the million active human
beings instead of existing in a halt
dead village, stagnant, disinterested!
She groaned aloud. IOf what use
were her years at college, her struggle
to graduate at the head of her class, il
all must end this way?
A slight sound aroused her attention
"a book falling from the Imply closed
fingers of her mother, who had fallen
asleep in the rocking chair. A large
tear straycd slowly down her check.
"What was she dreaming Of, to cause
the tcar?" Virginia wondered, and
instantly surmised the answer. In a
twinkling, the tempting letter was torn
into fragments and tossed into the fire
place. Virginia's decision was made.
Mrs. Marsh was delighted when she
learned of Virginias decision. Her
merry brown eyes cleaned mischiev-
ously, and when, on later day, she
told her daughter of the expected ar
rival of DR.. Ernest Harlow, a family
friend, her eyes twinkled again.
Virginia was making flaky biscuits
when the guest arrived. He sat on the
cool porch with mother, and under the
spell of her broad sympathy. he told
of his experiences. ''Three years OF
service in the hospitals abroad. Hard
nerve racking work Don't want to
see the street cars, the theatres, any
thing belonging to civilization. Don't
even want to see a girl again J"
Virginia pricked up her ears, and lis
tened more lntently.
Girls are kilingly silly about uni
form. OF course they mean well, but
when a man is worn to frazzlc, he
can't be bothered with a giddy, sim .
pcring flirt."
Virginia rang the bell for dinner.
When Mrs. Marsh led the doctor to
the attractive dining room no Virginia
was in sight. A telephone call apprised
Mrs. Marsh of the fact that her daugh
ter was lunching with n neighbor. Mrs.
Marsh smiled knowingly, urging her
guest to eat. lie started in nonchal-
antly. but the luscious vegetable salad,
the hot biscuits and tender sliced
chicken tasted as no nectar ever tasted
to the gods. A foaming glass of ice
cold milk was soon emptied. Then the
raspberry short cake, and the goose =
berry jam.
"Iou are a wonderful cook" declared
the tired doctor.
"Give all praise to Virginia." Mrs.
Marsh returned.
II haven't met your daughter yet.
Where is she?" DIR. Harlow looked
around eagerly.
"She doesn't care for men," smiled
Mrs. Marsh, They are such silly fir E
tatiOus creaturcs-as a rule. But you
will meet her some time. l suppose"
Life from that day became very in
teresting to Virginia Marsh. Commu-
nifty work and city environment were
forgotten in the new game of lodging
the attractive young man who couldn' I
be bothered with girls, but who very
plainly showed his desire to become bet
ter acquainted with the clever house
| keeper whose picture found its way tc
his bureau. He met her, of course, and
tried to interest her in his European
adventures, but there was an offshncss
in her manner which irritated and stunl
him into determination to win her at
tentiOn.
One evening he induced her to paddle
across the lake with him. Far out from
the shore he trailed his paddle care
lessly behind him and leaned towart
the girl, grimly determined to have hi!
say uninterrupted. Virginia, I cam
get you off my mind at all. Pm mao
about you, so wildly in love that you've
got to give me one word of encourage
ment or I'll-I'll-well, I don't wan
to think what I might do. Couldn'
you care enough for me to be m!
kwifeT'
Virginia's eyes dropped, to hide from
him the light of love that rose tri
umphantly thrilling. II gave up
career to stay with my mother. Fo
the same reason 1 must renounce al
thought of marrying. I cannot leay
her."
Couldn't we take the little mothe
with us, Virginia?" ...
!, "She would die of homesickness, TO
she has lived here all her life. No, sh
} would refuse to go, am sure"
, The Doctors brow grew wrinkled. Fl
gritted his teeth and looked more de
termined than ever, more ready for tn
battle.
Virginia spoke, so softly that Docto
Harlow had to shift out of his seat i
the stern to kneel beside the reclinin
girl. Say it again, Virginia." b
ordered.
There isn't dentist in town." r
peated Virginia, smiling into his eyes.
The next complete novelette--Make
Believe,