Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-08
DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE RUNAWAY
BY Alice Freeman
DUzz. .z.z.z rang the telephone.

hands are all suds."
A group of FIVE girls were scattered
around the kitchen of the large country
house. A little over a week before they
had come to the country TO stay two
weeks under the chaperonage of Aunt
Evelyn" at her summer home. With
the exception of Louise Strand all the
girls had come out just to enjoy their
vacation. But with Louise it was diff
fercnt. She had come away from the
city to forget certain young man apd
the other girl who had taken him away
from her. II she could only forget
The girls were just trying to decide
how to spend the day when the tele-
phone buzzed.
Elsie dried her hands and went to
the telephone. The moment she said
good by" a chorus of voices cried out
for an explanation.
''One alta time, please" interrupted
Elsie with a mysterious laugh. ut was
Bob Tracy. He's been away at college,
and has just come home on a vacation
with some friends. He heard that there
were a few girls over here with me and
wanted us to go on a berry picking
party. so / suggested making a picnic
of it"
Just the thing enthusiastically
from all the girls except Louise, who
said nothing.
An hour later they were ready to
leave the house, each with a small pail.
A large basket containing a hastily
prepared lunch was on the top step.
who has the key?" asked Elsie of
the group on the steps.
why. I thought"
well, it won't do any good. We
cant lock the door with what any of
us thought. so Wen have to look for
it, They looked in vain and finally
gave up.
What shall we do?" asked some
one. .. aa -r
We'll. I don't really care much
about going" volunteered Louise, try
ing to hide the eagerness in her voice,
: and it's a shame to keep the boys
waiting, so could just as well stay
at home. I can find something to read
, and really | don't mind at ALL"
At first they wouldn't listen to her.
! but after being assured that she real =
ly didn't mind" they agreed to hci
plan. ..1.,f
A few minutes later. Louise sat
down by the window and her thoughts
drifted back to the city. No. she
) hadn't forgotten. She couldn't for
t get. Just then she noticed some one
coming up the path toward the house
, At the same time she noticed basket
on the top step.
She went to the door and opened it
As the man came nearer she thought
. she recognized familiar gait in his
walk. Suddenly she became very white,
2 Just then the young man reached The
| step and glanced up.
4 Louise - he cried, as he fairly few
{ up the steps.
Jack ~ was all she could say.
e After one happy moment in his arms
Y thoughts of the other girl flooded hel
3 mind. She tried to push him ava.
: from her. but he held her close.
n Louise. dearest" he said softly
f why did you run away from me ik,
d that?'
Then she told him about seeing hin
n out driving with another girl. How sh
= had at first felt angry, then disap
pointed How she had shed tears ant
. then gone away until he had gone t,
. college.
o II thought you would come to sa,
7 'Good-by before you went away
. she finished, "and ] didn't want yol
y to offer any excuses for another girl
But how did you get here?" sh
added.
Y II felt as though ! had nothing to g,
!. home for this time he told her, ''s
when Bob Tracy asked me to spend IN.
= vacation with him. | accepted the in
n vitation. Then he dragged me off t
that blueberry picnic today. When
?. saw my chance TO come back for tn
lunch basket, / quickly volunteered
That bunch of girls didn't appeal t
me. Louise. That girl I was drivin
y with" he continued. twas my youn
married sister. whom you have ofte
= heard me speak Of. She came dow
, from the country to visit us for a fe,
days. and being afraid of missing tn
last train back asked me to drive he
to the station. If had only known.
;. did call to say Good by and you
+ mother told me you had gone away an
y had left no message. Didn't you know
"A dear. that there was only one girl 70
n me?"
As they walked along arm in arr
Ia neither spoke. They were happy to b
,r together again. Suddenly Jack brok
10 the silence:
10 Just think, dear" he said, 'if tn
girls hadn't forgotten their lunch,
might never have found you
m As she looked up into his eyes, tea
e stole into her own. I'm never ru
!. away from you again." she sal
+" simply.
50 The next complete noveiette-Fair
Corners.
Still Under Debate