Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-17
SYNOPSIS

NlfRlpld west, WDen Sne enters
boarding school, is immensely at
Of the older girls. When she takes
p Kathleen home with her at the
Christmas holidays Kathleen is en-
gaged to Bill Lyons, one of the Grant
College men, and Virginia is inter-
ested in another man, Jimmy Ander
SON Mrs. West, Virginia's mother,
gives q dinner for the girls and in
vites both men, but Kathleen, instead
!, Of paying attention to her fance,
iirts with Richard Allen, friend
Of Mrs. Vests.
DILL looked down at Kathleen out Of
- hot, angry eyes, but she was as cool
and unruf1ed as she always was. She
even managed smile, a pout, and a
shrug Of her shoulders.
= "Well?" she queried.
Kathleen, you haven't even looked
at me all evening. Don't you know
that you are engaged to me, don't you?"
"Whew !" and she shivered prettily.
II suppose you want to keep me under
lock and key so that 1 can't look at
another mann
Her reference to his right to do so
caImed Bill and the tenseness Of his
face relaxed. He drew her over to a
corner of tho room, and she followed,
but she kept wary eye on the door
through which Mr.. Allen had disap-
peared. Bill meant nothing to Kath-
leen IL she felt that she could attract
an older man. She had been brought
up with the idea that all women must
get what. they can out Of men, and that
no man is to be trusted, anyway. Her
creed of life was entirely selfish and
quite amazing for SO young n girl,
In the next room Mrs. West was tell
ing Richard Allen some plain truths.
HShe's only child, and she thinks
you're infatuated with her."
Nonsense, he returned, hattered,
nevertheless, at the implication. For
the rest of the evening he. contenteed
himself with an occasional sally IN
Kathleen's direction, and it was, Vlr-
peared into the library and once there
stood silent in the center of the room.
virginia's heart was beating up in her
throat and the boy was quite obviously
i'll at ease. 1t had been easy enough to
firt with girls, to 'jolly them along.
as he put it, but Virginia was so diff
ferent. She was so utterly sweet and
innocent that, boy fashion, he wondered
IL he were worthy.
He took her hands in his quite gently.
They were small and soft and brown
and they fIuttered little in his clasp.
When she finally lifted her passionate
dark eyes they were full Of tears, and
the boys throat was dry as he drew
her close to him. -,
.'Virginia, you do care for neF' he
whispered huskily.
She nodded.
Enough to marry me|
She hung her head, adorably shy, but
he put his hand under her chin and
forced her eyes to meet his. Then he
kissed her very gently, and when Mrs
west came into the room few minutes
later she found them ensconced on tht
big leather couch in earnest converse
tion. Under the laces of Virginia's
corn -colored frock, Jimmy's fraternity
min reposed. She had promised tc
marry him in the fall, but they wer'
TO keep il secret for the present. They
were making excited plans, and Ht'
: looked very wonderful.
Tt was strange that even in this mo
ment Of happiness when supposedlJ
life. Virginia thought of Kathleen. Hel
mind kept running ahead to what Kath
leen would say. Now they would b'
engaged together, and they would have
SO much more in common. Was there
ever any one so fortunate as she, Vir.
ginia West, to have such friend ant
such a lover, and she stole an eager
glance at Jimmy with his clean cut fea
lures and his honest brown eyes.
when at last the girls were in Vir-
ginia's blue room, Virginia turned tc
kathleen eagerly, and lifted the lace Of
her dress.
Kathleen stared. Virginia, moi
really! To Jimmy Anderson"
Something in Virginia's eyes as shC
raised them to Kathleen's, a certain
glory, stopped the words on Kathleen
tongue before they were spoken.
She had been about to say something
ruthless; it was not Kathleen's way tt
he considerate of any ones feelings, ant
Jimmy Anderson had been the wors
trifer at Grant when he had been al
nnderclassman. 1t wasn't Kathleen