Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-11

MRS. WEST was a pretty, frivolous
Atl woman who had been left widow
when Virginia was fourteen, three years
before. She had enough money to live
very comfortably if she had been. more
practical, but she had absolutely no
business sense and money seemed to slip
through her hands like water. After
the death of Virginia's father, she had
been lonely She had fashion Of hold
Ing her slim white hands clasped loose
ly in her lap and allowing her lips to
droop slightly at the corners. 1t gave
her a wistful, childish expression that
was very charming. Gradually she be-
gan TO 20 about with a rather gay set,
and inasmuch as Virginia was at home
going to school Mrs. West felt that she
would have more freedom it the child
were sent away. Not that her mother
did not love her, but Virginia had a
way of looking at her mother out OF big
serious black eyes. and It made MIS-
West uncomfortable. After partic-
ularly gay card party in the west
. apartment which had lasted till wee
small hours in the morning and during
which Virginia had lain awake most OF
the night. Mrs. West felt that she
would be much more comfortable with
the child at school. She salved her con
science by saying that it would do Nlr-
vinia good, broaden her out, make her
self reliant, and that she herself was
too young and too attractive TO denE
herself all pleasure and devote hersen
to her daughter.
So it happened that when virginia
wrote that she was bringing IRENE
home for til g holidays. Mrs. West
heaved q sigh of relief, IT Woulo De 30
much more comfortable to have some
one with Virginia. another little girl;
They would entertain each other ana
share yirginia's blue bedroom, and as
FAR ms Mrs. West was concerned there
was nothing more to it. So that when
Virginia and Kathleen appeared in the
somewhat ornate, but very luxurlouS
small apartment late one afternoon, ana
Mrs. West rose languidly from long
chaise Tongue piled with pllio"s W
greet them, she was somewhat taken
aback.
She realized instantly that Virginia
had changed She had gained poise and
she looked very smart in the tlgnt
citing blue suit aud feathered hat when
she wore. She looked older too (Mrs.
West noted this with slight pang)'
and although she was not exactly beau
tif,I she had an air of birth and breed
ing. When she talked her lace was
passionately responsive. But II was
Kathleen who brought the tact OIL lnis
change in Virginia home to Mrs: west
Kathleen looked at least twenty LAVA .mu,
She was in black with very severe
Mack hat over which waved gorgeous
oiyrette, Mrs. West felt little heipI,
Iass before this beautiful, self assured
yirI who acknowledged Virginia lntro
Z auction 30 charmingly and who thanked
Mrs. West so prettily for allowing ner
to come. , .,,,s+
off to the blue bedroom Mrs. WeSt haa
n chance to think She wlsnea nov tnaS
she had looked into the matter peiore
she had told Virginia that it would be
all right to bring a guest home for the
HOLIDAYS. She might have driven up to.
the school that time Virginia had begged
her to come for the play. vi course,
she had thought it would be a bore
listening TO what she thought We're chill
dren perform in an amateur fashion on
n rudely constructed stage, but If she
had gone she would have been prepared
for the advent of two very smart, very
up to date young women. Was this
what the modern boarding school did to
young girls? She had sent Virginia TO
school to keep her young, and she. came
home after only four months looking at
least two years older.
Mrs. West had several parties
planned tor tne nolluaSs' Cne WON
dered how she was going to dispose of
Kathleen and Virginia.
Just then Virginia came into the room
and sat down on the end of the chaise
Tongue. Her mother looked at her crit
ically.
"You have your hair fixed a new
way" she said abruptly.
eyes," Virginia said, touching the
shining black mass with slim fingers.
"Kathleea taught me to fix it this way.
Do you like it?"
''1t's too old for you, it makes you
look twenty"
"Well, all the girls look older than
they are" Virginia observed sagely. |
"Oh. mother, ] have something to tell
you,''
The warm tone, the sudden shyness in
Virginia ; voice made Mrs. West quick
" suspicious.
omorrow-Virginia and her mother.