Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-29

ONE of the things Mat Virginia West
~ remembered most clearly about her
girlhood was her meeting with Kathleen
Foster. She remembered it as some
thing vivid, something colorful, and her
heart was filed with an exhilaration
that was almost worship at the time.
Kathleen was a born leader. Her
right to rule others was shown in her
clear. grny blue eyes, the set of her
head on her shoulders, the long, beauti-
full lines of her body, and her laugh
which wns clear and light, but never
seemed to have much mirth in it, From
her childhood she had ruled her mother,
her two brothers worshippcd her, and
She generally did exactly what she
liked. To Virginia. who was shy ana
not assertive. Kathleen was nothing
short of marvellous. The ease with.
which she did things, her sparkling con-
versation. her gay, impudcnt remarks TO
the faculty. which were always received
smilingly. everything about her was a
revelation to Virginia.
Virginia was a new girl in the semi
fashionable school where Kathleen was
ness fou yht off the advances of the girls
who were ready to be friends. They
did not understand that Virginia was
homesick and miserably unhappy. that
she had not wanted to come to this
place, that she had been perfectly happy
at home. She had clung to her mother
at parting and had begged not to be
left
why?' she had repeated over and over
Darling, we feel that it will do you
Sfood that you need to get away from
us, that you need to deveop indcpend-
ence. Trust mother and see if you don't
like it. and at Christmas il YOU still
feel the same, you shall come home"
"You promiseT' asked Virginia.
feeling the justice of this. and raising
passionate dark eyes to her mother S
face.
II PROMISE" Mrs. West said seri-
ously.
At Christmas time nothing could
have persuaded Virginia to leave Pal
mertown. OF course. this was after she
had met Kathleen Foster.
That night after her mother had left
her. Virginia stood in the window of
the large reception room and watched
the automobile curve down the drive
and on TO the road and then out of
sight
Suddenly light famed up behind
her and she turned quickly. A rather
ugly woman. with gray hair strained
back from her face had turned on the
electric lights. and as Virginia turned
they looked ut each other. Virginia de-
family. the woman not unkindly.
"What are YOU doing here| she said
after moment.
"Nothing." Virginia returned. short
ly. ''My mother just left. ! was
watching the car go down the drive"
The woman's face lightened. why,
you're the new girl. I'm Miss Patten.
You'll probably be in my mathematics
class. Come and be introduced to some
of the girls. There's an extra place at
my table; you shall sit there"
There was the opening and shutting
of door somewhere near. and immedi-
ately a soft hum of voices could be
heard coming nearer and nearer. The
girls were coming down from their
rooms to the big hall where they al
ways congregated each evening. Miss
Pattcn, drawing Virginia along with
her. went forward to meet them.
There is nothing so cruel as the iudg
ment of young girl, because she has
not learned to judge by anything but
appearances These girls We're not
naturally cruel. but they gave a few
lightning glances in Virginia's S direction
and decided that she was the quiet kind,
all right, but just like lot of others,
not to be depended on for anything ex-
citing and new. Neither did they like
Miss Patten, and with few mumbled
words and a nod in Virginia's direc-
ton. they passed on.
Virginia was furious. She WASH t
used to being treated this way 1t was
In this frame of mind that she first
met Kathleen Foster.
Tomorrow Kathleen takes Virginia