Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-20
DAILY NOVELETTE,
A CAPITAL BLUNDER
BY Bernice Cone
MAZDA LANE, teacher at Primary
BY Bernice Cone

MAZDA LANE, teacher at Primary
A'A No. 5, shrugged into her yellow
sweater and went out, locking the door
of the empty schoolhousc after her, She
bad always loved yellow. 1t was, she
said, the color Of spring sunshine and
daffodils. Unfortunately it was also the
color of a slip of paper that rustled
hatefully in the sweater pocket as she
walked "A telegram from Phil Drew.
"Duc in New York Monday, 10 a. m.
Bride with me-" it announced cheer
fully.
Bride with me- had resolved itself
into maddcning refrain. Everything
that she did kept time to it.
The road from the schoolhouse to her
home was an unfrequcnted one. A
little way down it stood n great red
. oak tree. Bob was waiting there as
usual. Quite suddenly Mazda threw her
arms around his neck and surprised
herself by sobbing her heart out against
his tan coat. "Woof.". said the collie
huskily; "Woof.'
"rhe worst of it is. Bob said the
girl, sitting up at length, Il haven t
the right to feel this way even. Just
because you've gone with a fellow all
through high school doesn't make you
engaged to him. And if he cnlists and
goes across the water. and you knit
for him, aud pray for him, and write
to him. aud he writes to you, and you
send him candy and cigarettes and
things. and he sends YOU souvenirs,
and-aud why, YOU haven't any call to
resent it if he gets married. have you:
And there's no reason AT all why you
should get bitter over it,"
"And. Bob, :" continued the dogs mis-
trcss earnestly, "if you've 50 Ear for
gotten your human nature as to be too
frankly happy when the letters came,
and too openly puffcd up over the SOU
venirs, why, then, YOU must expect
Brookvillc to smile little, and pry a
little, aud pity you some when you
receive telegram like this.
$50 we'll be awfully nice to Mr.. and
Mrs. Philip Drew, but not too nice, or
Brookvllc will know how we fccl-and
that's one thing, Bob: Brookville may
| co. hlit
going to know absolutely certain, sure.
Come on, boy; let's be happy. Race
you.'
With a brave little attempt at laugh =
ter from Mazda and Il joyous bark
! from Bob they were off.
On Monday afternoon, US the teacher
Of No. again reached for her yellow
sweater. n shadow fell across the
schoolhouse floor. She looked up quick
". Phil Drcws six feet filled the door
frame. The sunlight back of him gave
to his figure the illusion of statue
done in bronze. Maida's heart began
to beat glad welcome that was as
quickly drowned in the refrain, Bride
with me-"
She held out her hand formally.
"Phil Drew" she exclaimed, with a
smile and what she considered the
proper amount of polite interest. IN
so glad to see you back again.
The bronze statue blinked in amazed
chagrin. Didn't you get my tcle-
gram" it demanded.
/ "Of course 1t was so thoughtful of
YOU to let me know just when YOU were
coming. l want to congratulate you,
she continued sweetly. 1T will give
me great deal of pleasure TO meet Mrs.
Drew.
"Huh?' inquired the bronze one, too
dazed for elegance of speech.
I'm looking forward to meeting Mrs.
/ Drew" MAZDA repeated, slightly puzzled
in her turn. "Iour-your telegram
said-'
! THAT we were due at TO- inter
ruptcd Phil. Il hoped you'd meet
me-"
! "Why--' she faltcred, II - |
didn' t think you would want me to-
Phil frowncd Look here, Mazda"
he protested, 81 don't know what
you're driving at. but you don't seem
/ OVcrJOycQ 10 sec me, tllal y sure. IL
there's some one else, why don't you
say so, and not
"No,' said Mazda with the tragic
/ tinality of eighteen, ''thcre will never
be any one else for me-
Lieutenant Philip Drew seized hun
grily upon this assurance, and would
have seized hungrily upon Mazda, but
that lady Indignantly pushed him away.
Her eyes blazed angriy, but there was
hint of tears in her voice. II think
you're the funny ONE she said,
thrusting the telegram into his hands,
''to send me this, and then come here
and pretend
! "Ha, ha.' vociferated Lieutenant
Phil, when he read the message. That's
rich Bride with Say, grille.
did you honestly think-why that's Tom
Pride-you know. ! wrote you about
him, my buddy-he's over at the house
now; came home with mc-bcst fellow
that ever lived. Just Il little mistake in
capital, that's all. Bride with
no, sweetheart, ] had to come home to
get one of those
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