Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-30
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE FIBBER
TT REALLY wasn't altogether his ow
by Margaret Perley

= fault. II had begun when as little
chap he had developed the habit Of
stretching the truth, and his fond
mother, instead Of teaching him the evils
of STORY telling" had enthused over
Phil's vivid Imagination. As a result,
the fbbing habit had grown upon Phil,
until, at twenty four, he had earned for
himself the nicknahe of "Fibber."
Philip and his friends were seated
about on the Country Club veranda. AS
rule, Phil was as full Of life and wit
as any one, but this afternoon he had
hardly spoken a word.
What's eating you, Phil?" said
Jack. ''Cat got your tongue? Speak
up!"
"well, fellows" said Phil, IT was
just thinking I'm engaged"
What" exclaimed every one, and
Immediately Phil wondered why on earth
he had said such a thing.
who's the lucky LADY," queried jim.
Didn't even know you were in love
with any one in particular.
"Tt's--it's Connie Lee" decided Phil
/ What :" Chorused every one, and
again Phil wondered what he had said
her for. Probably because his eyes at
that moment had Chanced to fall on
the lucky lady" coming up from the
-, J,E ,F
Of admirers, for Connie was the pret-
tiest and mosts popular tennis player
of the club Well. he might as well
choose good one as long as he was
in for it, thought Phil. He hadn't much
preference as to whom he should en-
gage himself Then with discontinue
he realized that Connie had reached the
veranda and the fellows were wishing
her happiness.
Thanks" said Connie, "but what
for?"
why, for the engagement, of
course" said jim.
my engagement" said Connie In
surprise.
Il thought so, said Jim aside. "an-
other of Heath's lies. How will he get
out of this one? He's in deeper than
usual"
Now Connie was a quick -witted girl.
and seeing Phil in the midst of the
group Immediately knew what had hap
pened.
oh" she said with a pretty little
blush. did Phil let it out? We didn't
intend to announce it for few weeks.
but as long as he has told-I'lT accept
your good wishes"
What" :" said every one for the third
time.
He told the truth - exclaimed Jim.
Jim would have liked Connie himself,
and so would five or six others of this
little group. Comics acceptance of
Phil was as much a surprise to them
as It was to Phil himself.
That young man was leaning against
a pillar for support, too dumfounded
for words. A tib come true. What was
the matter with him today. anyway
Here he was engaged to a girl he WASH t
even in love with. Not that he was in
love with any one, but-well. he must
tell them here and now that he WASH t
sure of his own sanity, and it was all u
mistake.
Honest, fellows" he started, that
was
But Connie. seeing what was coming,
interrupted him. Come on, Phil,
here's my roadster, Well drive home
and tell dad. He can order the an
nouncements engraved" And linking
her arm through that of the stupetied
Phil. she literally dragged him TO the
car.
well, what do You know about
that%' said every one.
September found Philip Heath help
lessly looking forward TO his wedding
day, the first of October. | say help
lessly, because he had been thorouglAy
caught in his "fib." The dazed state
of mind which had come over him that
day at the country club had continued
throughout the summer; he had not mac
the moral courage to protest the prep
; arations for an early wedding. He went
: about like sleepwalker. A iiancee
like Connie was something to be PROUD
of. but he didn't want her. He had got
himself into this mixup but couldn'i
get OUT With the first Of October q
week away he suddenly awoke to the
fact that he didn't want to get out. DE
was in love with Connie!
But Connie had seen the symptomt
before he had. The moment she hac
waited for had come. "Phil,' she an
nounced, "I'm going to throw you over
I'm going to tell every one how our en-
gsgement was a lie, and make you the
laughing stock of the place. l think Il
may cure you of lying-hbbing is no
the word for it,"
You see, Connie had been the 'som'
one" who was troubled over that faui
of Pills. Connie had been in love VIII
Phil for some time.
, Comics words brought Phil out o
that dazed condition he had been in al
summer. Throw me over" he ex'
, claimed, seizing her by the shoulder
; "Why, Connie, love you"
; The wedding took place, and III ven
ture to say that Phil lost the name o
"Fibber," for Connie generally sus
ceeded in what she set out to do.