Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-13
"CindereHd'S
Daughter"
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright, 1919, by Public Ledger Co.

SYNOPSIS
Virginia West enters boarding
school a shy child, but her experience
there and particularly the friendship
she forms with Kathleen Foster, one Of
the older girls, develops her amazing
ly in few months. At the Christ
mas holidays when she attempts to
tell her mother about a man she has
met, Mrs. West realizes that her
daughter has grown up and that it is
not entirely pleasant feeling to
have grown daughter where one
formerly had child.
AS THE two girls stood looking at
"A each other, bell rang suddenly in
the apartment. Hannah, the colored
maid, coming from the kitchen to an
eyes at the quiet figures. She loved
Virginia, and she had been with Mrs
West since Virginia had been a small
child
She opened the door to a tall, good
looking man who handed her his hat
and coat and strolled into the living
room.
II beg your pardon" he said, cour-
teously, his eyes fixed admiringly on
Kathleen. II didn't know that any one
was here"
Virginia came forward laughing.
"Why, Mr.. Allen, I don't believe you
know me-"
Virginia !"
She curtseyed.
self2'
eve been at school, you know"
Do they make over girls in few
weeks at boarding school?' he chaffed.
"Have l changed so much, then?'
aSr ha,, nj Nho,, Id
turned to Kathleen half inquiringly.
Virginia introduced them and they
were soon chatting merrily. Mr..
Allen had been a friend of the family
when Virginia's father was, alive. He
had plenty of money, but absolutely no
intention of marrying, much as Mrs.
West desired 1t. He was shrewd, proud
of his freedom, as most men of forty
three who have remained unmarried are,
and he understood Mrs. West perfectly.
They were very good friends, however,
and he admired her more than he did
any other woman. Secretly Mrs. West
felt that he might still be conquered.
She came into the room in few min
utes carrying q jade green velvet and
fur evening cloak which she trailed pic
turesquely on the floor. Her gown was
black velvet, cut very daringly, and she
looked her best. Even Kathleen gasped
out his hands for t-.e coat.
"What do you think of my big girl?"
Mrs. West asked laughingly.
3 Isn't she wonderful?' he responded.
IL hardly knew her."
And then his eyes wandered back to
Kathleen, who was apparently uncon-
scious that he admired her exceedingly.
But she knew every look he cast in her
direction and was perfectly aware of
the fact that Mrs. West knew it, too.
Mrs. West glanced at the clock.
"We'll be late. won't we, RiclMrd?"
she said little impatiently.
. He looked at his watch, as men al
ways do whether there is clock in
the room or not.
''Plenty of time" he remarked cas-
ually. And then with a few laughing
remarks to the girls they started. Mrs.
West was unusually silent as they went
down in the elevator and out to the car.
Inwardly she was furious, but she was
too clever to show it, even when he said
quite eagerly:
"Who was the beautiful girl with
yirginia?"
''Oh, one Of Virginia. s school friends !;
] never saw her before tonight" Mrs.
West tried to keep her tone careless
and disinterested.
Womanlike she longed to say, "Do
you really think she is so beautiful! L
don't" and she bit. her lips to keep
silent.
The cdr rolled along smoothly and
Richard Allen said, after a few mo
ments, ~ felt hundred years old when
/ saw Virginia. You and l are another
generation, Mary, l never realized 1t
so keenly before
~They're nothing but children, aping
grown up. manners" Mrs. West said
pettishly. There's nothing so silly as
girls that age"
Richard said nothing, which made his
companion more angry than ever
Back in the apartment, Kathleen was
all excitement
What an attractive man, Virginia,
who is he?"
''Mr. Allen; Oh, he's an old friend
of the family. Do you like him?
think he's too old"
"Old, why he's fascinatinfi( much
more interesting than college man who
cant talk about anything but himself" !"
MONDAY, Mrs. West decides to give
a dinner.)