Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-03
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
AN ANIATOR'S ROMANCE
By Carol Gay
By Carol Gay

YT1HB little brown cottage had four oc-
i cupants-a stout and ccmely matron
whom the neighbors called Mother
/ NJ and her three daughters, Esther,
Elspeth and Jean. They were one ana
all tall and most divinely fair Theirs
was the straight, virile beauty OF the
wilds clear-eyed and goddess-like. ANA
they were one and all deliciously YOUTH
full. In fact Esther was 81, Elspeth 20
and Jean Il, thick braids still down her
back.
Esther was the talest and the most
beautiful Her clear-cut features seemed
chiseled from the choicest marble
White, all white. was Esther, unlike
Jean of the tanned arms and shy,
brown face, with a quiver of pale color
in her lips and serious sky-blue eyes;
Her hair? Oh. yes it was wavy and
crnkly and golden as the heart of a
rose, very thick and soft. piled on her
classic head in shimmering pools.
But Esther taught in young ladies'
school and was hopelessy welded TO
her profession.
Elspeth was slim and always clad
in blacS. in memory of lover. war
killed, with tender gray ewes, over
flowing always with love and kindli-
she had taught those lips to smile
again, with steady, patient resolution.
and a coronet of glossy chestnut braids
And Jean! Jean her starry eyes for
ever dsloW, WdS tllt DIlBuleSI ray ol
Mother Ms halo. No one could
resist the sweet magnetism of her hazel
eyes or the pcrfumed witcnecy of those
girlish brown braids that caressed her
young shoulders, nor the EubbinE mirth
in her friendly voice
Each Sunday eve as Esther departed
after. her weekend visit, stiff and
starched, with a full valise, Jean would
gaze at her with wistfulnesS and whis-
per. oh. you are so fortunate, Essie"
a NJ 1ctl h.. 1t,,sr
are but a child. sister. What can the
city hold for you?'
"Just wait and some day Won will
know Soon. very soon. Love and Ad-
venture will swoop down upon me
Esther. still smiling, would proceed
on her journey.
1t was on Monday. Jean would
never forget that epoch-making date
old Widow W was iii of lumbago.
with not a soul to care for her.
Prepare basket. and we. will go
To- her at once. No help. indeed Twas
Widow W made my wedding gown.
I'll pay her in full for all her kind
nesses." declared the kindly Mother
Nj, as she tied on her bonnet
Not hundred feet from the widows
cottage Jean. .peering through the thick
fog discerned an unfamiliar object on
the ground. She drew nearer. An
tnOTlnOuS eagle NO, an alrDlanp :.
Jean observed it fascinatedly. 1t was
poised on one wing. The rest was
shattered. Then Jean stepped back in
wide-eyed horror. A still, straight form
beneath
THE man was not dead. no But he
was badly injured" said Doctor b
as he bent over the boyish white face
on the pillow. Lucky that the girl
happened along and called YOU, mother,
else the lad might have died"
lean. pDpOlra gpd bN- his manner eli Sed
in a small, frightened voice. If the pa
tient could be moved to her own home ;
explaining that there was scarcely room
for the widow and her attendant, much
less for the aviator and Jean, in the
small cottage.
I'VE will see we will see. Perhaps
when he is better" smiled the doctor,
and that ended IL.
Jean ran home to tell her sisters the
news, while Mother M lowered Capa-
bly, between the two patients,
Saturday. The aviator had been i'll
for nearly a month. Esther arrived to-
day for heg weekly visit and John RI,
for that was the young mans name
was to he moved to the Nj dwelling
there to Convalesce. Jean was athrill
! with excitement. Elspeth had nevel
talked with the boy and had seen him
but once. She wanted Elspeth to chat
with him. Esther had visited him once
or twice and liked him, Jean thought
making it as bright as possible for its
new occupant.
"A penny for your thoughts, little
maid" he said at last. Jean laughed
suddenly and patted his hand.
They were of YOU and Esther dear
earleman." But his mind was far away
as he gazed out the little window.
Esther came and with her a strange
spirit of shattered peace that puzzled
and disturbed her youngest sister. Foor
Cd tbnra i'm bn chin ,
corner, read shyly new love In the move
ment of Esther's hands as they hovered
about their guest or in the shifting OF
the blue eyes as they met his.
That day and the day after Esther
was constantly at his side, smiling, talk
ing attending him, her blue eyes kin
died at last
And Jean, miserable little Jean, lay
sobbing in the cherries loft. Put it is
, given to him who hath. SO it was re-
stored to her who had found and cher
shed. Jean. bidding farewell to hel
sister Monday morning at the turn o
the stone -bordered path. said listlessly
Sister. how soon will you and the eagle
man be married." Esther stared anC
laughed. You mean John? Why, tn,
boy is only twenty-one. You silly little
sister. Why do YOU flush and start so
jean
Jean paused solcmnly. Because low
and adventure have Swooped upon nj,
from the west. iood-by, Essie."
Then she ran into the house,
John was sitting disConsolately by the
! window. lie frightened as he heard hel
soft footstep, and, turning, saw her eager
face.
Jean, darling :" How naturally /
came from his lips. But she looked sur
prised. lie laughed. boyishly, happily.
Didn't YOU know" 7 think the eagl
has found his mate. What does she say
Jeannie?"
Jean buried her head in his blankets
His mate says-ycs she whis
pered,
Tomorrow complete noveIette-"Eiiza
beth's Tangled Web"