Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-22
DAILY N0TELETTE
----'
THE VICTORY GIRL
BY HORTENSE CALDWELL

I'D HOLBTRN rose from his chair
and stood looking out. Apparently
he was in deep thought, but he really
was beginning to become very angry.
With little start he turned to the girl
on the sofa calmly hummng n popular
air.
Peggy Starr. I wouldn't believe you
would be so unaccommodating without
saving word from the patriotic point
of view. 1t certainly wouldn't hurt you
TO help me out by just doing such a
little thing ms that
"Ivc told You | wouldn't be in that
parade and I mean it, Why. Ed. do
you think for minute would go riding
all about the streets of this city mount
cd on an old wagon, and having every
eye on the street corners looking me in
the face. We'll. I guess not she end
ed with fnaity.
"Wrll. there $ good many girls that
ar' going 10 Dr vi II mat are IN even
better society than You are. and they
ont soc anything the matter with it,
'lt docsn t make the slightest differ
nee TO mo what anybody else docs.
Ed. so please let tho matter drop. And
if You would go along now it would be
very nice Of Won. as have a good
many things to do this evening"
Ed noticed tho chill note in her voice
and took his hat without another word
The moment he had left the room.
Peggy jumped up to go after him. With
reat effort she held herself back. but
he still. continued to think of what
he had said. She knew she had hurt
eds feelings and il bothered her more
than he.carcd to admit. Still thinking
ow mean she had acted. she was in
corrupted by the ringing of the tclc =.
phone.
Hello. said the voice of hcr chum
lrlcn Whitman. Peggy, have you
Jccn asked to be in the parade next
,ionday:'
''Ycs, but I'm not going to do it, -
replied Peggy slowly.
"Iou're not? Why, Peg, thought,
of course, you were. Why, the idea
everybody is going to do something for
that"
"Wcll. |. for one. will be the laugh
ing stock for nobody. If you want to
be dressed up like a wax doll and sit
in a chariot for every one to gaze at
you can, but I'm not going to-"
''Somc people give the boys a hearty
welcome when they come home came
from Helen sarcastically as she re-
placed the receiver on the hook After
shutting off. Peggy got up with tears
in her eyes. She had been looking, at
the celebration from her own stand =
point. never giving a thought to whom
it was really for. Quickly she took
up the telephone and got the chairman
of the committee on the line. 'Mr.
Wood: Well. this is Margaret Starr
on Woodstcad street. understand
YOU need somebody for role in the
parade If it is convenient for you |
will stop at your Office on my way
down town
The next day Peggy Starr started on
n little visit to a ncighboring city and
when Ed called that evening he was
told Miss Starr would return Monday.
OF course, Ed firmly believed she had
gone away in order not to be asked
about the parade. With a little shrug
of the shoulders he turned and went to
his Office. Twice between Friday eve
ming and Monday morning he called her
up via telephone, only to hear she had
not returned and there was no message.
At last Monday came, the day of the
great parade. The sun rose over the
Now England hills in the distance with
alarming rapidity. and by 10 O'Clock
tho narade had formed in line. The
aoats were many and elaborate. but one
in narticular attracted much attention.
The automobile was made into il mod
crn chariot. with American flags cover
ing the whole outside. Inside the
chariot was pure white and on one end
a high platform. One figure stood on
this nlatform. :COlumbia,' by name
and at her feet sat two brave lads. one
in bluc and one in khaki. AS the float
moved slowly about the streets. and
..Columbia' stood holding her torch
ma aiestically above her head every one
was thrilled. At last the route was
covered and scores of people were
crowding about the beautiful float. go
lumbia" stepped from her platform
where the radiant Ed was awaiting
her.
Peggy. is it really you doing this:"
why, of course, it is /. Don't !
look natural:'
But where have you been these last
three days.
ED. you made me feel so ashamed
thc other day I had to go somewhere
81 I went down to Lancaster. ] thought
you'd he glad.
Glad. Why, I'm so glad | could
cry. Peggy. You certainly are one ot
| those Victory Girls
But. Ed, the greatest victory I've
had is the one over myself. | hayc
learned good lesson and my pride vii
be better for it, With happy siGl
she laid her hand in Eds.
The next complete novelette,, "Th'
Reunion