Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-09
The Phantom Lover
BY Ruby Ayres

just cleared Off and changed my sur
name and came here. I'm quito as
money as / had, i don't mind--f've got
thing"
y think you're Just wonderful"
Esther said. She picked UP O lid from
ono Of the little pots and looked at the
mauve and white label.
But you're not married?' asked June
"No"-Esther was looking away into
the fire NO. I'm not married. she
said In a stifed voice. "He-my flance
abrosd-and ! don't know when I shall
Her voice sounded sad and dispirited.
You poor little thing" said June
hand on Esthers. Never mind The
time will soon pass, and then he'll come
back and you'll live happily ever
after--'
Esther smiled.
II know. keep telling myself It's
foolish to worry ] felt quite happy
this morning. hnd letter from him,
and somehow when read II things
didtt seem half so bad but"
And you'll have another tomorrow.
another the, next day. and one every
day while he's away There! That's
better, she added cheerily as Esther
Il don't like to see you look so sad.
I'm going to cheer you up. I shan't
allow, you to be miserable. And, any
way" she added, with n sudden soft
ening, you've got some one who loves
you, and that's worth everything else
in the world
Yes" said Esther. Her eyes shone
and she thought of the letter. which
was even then lying against her heart
somehow sha had never realized Row
much he really cared for her till today.
h. and comss what hot,as are & you going to do IN
terestedly' IL you had something to
more quicltly."
ITS a question Of having to do some-
thing thing, rather sstsrr than han how to pass the
money except what can make. My
aunt left me little when sho died, hut
II was only very little, and l spent
most Of 1t at first while was looking
Tor work, So I'm going back to Eldred's
will"
Miss Mason said "Humph!"
There are heaps of other berths go
Ing besides Eldred's, you know" she
s ss'S So eaTnesty Sa ~ you must do
another unfinished cigarette. do sou
think we are going to be friends7' she
! asked.
I am sure we are" Esther said. She
really did think so; she had never met
any one In the least like June Mason
before. She began TO feel glad she had
| como to this house.
ut must be wonderful to be rich,'
Esther said. There was a little flush in
her cheeks; she was really entoyins
have, enough money to be able to dc
anything I like" she added earnestly
| Just for a month. If could be really
rich Just for one month I wouldn't mind
going back to being poor again."
Miss Mason said Rubbish! !" briskly
Money can't buy happiness, my dear
and don't you forget II. My people think
L can, and lots of other people think
ths same. II only shows what fools
they are. 1t was the money my people
marry Micky Mellowes ." She made
little wry face. II remember my
mother coming into my room one night
| In her dressing gown-poor soul when
nothing doing. and saying tragically
| June, you must be mad--stark, staring
mad Why, the mans as rich as Croe'
aus!"
"Rich!" Esther was conscious Of an
odd little sinking at her heart. rs Mr.
Rich? should think he isl He's
one of the richest men in London"
| One OF the richest men In London
but he" Esther had been going TO
add. But he told me that he was poor.
she only checked tho words In time.
June nodded
Hes the despair Of all the match,
making ma,nmaa" she said lightly
lor I'm not sure II he Isn't on the
verge Of being caught now. but you never
can tell With little luck he may
esoape-she isn't good enough for him
Esther thought Of Micky Mellowes
and wondering IL he ever came to the
boarding house, and II SO. why he had
not told her that he knew somebody
living here After al, II he had deceived
many others--she felt a curious sense
Of hurt pride; why had he gone out OF
his way to tell her he was q poor man,
| when all the time?
ITO tell you the truth. June said
am living. Call It false pride II you
| like; but there you are. I have all my
| letters, except business ones, sent 70
my club--I belong to an unpretentious
club--I'll take you there como day--and
| You GEO. when I fiew In the face Of provi-
dence, otherwise my noble family, they
stopped my allowance, go, as I'm en-
tirely self supporting, had 10 be care
ttt oho AlNo ihoNpohbiNSiy. i CdIIlo
And I'm very comfortable II want
TO meet any Of my friends We meet out
somewhere I think it's better: It leaves
me quite free
| and found herself looking at Mlckys
photograph.
After ali, he was just like all the
other men she had ever known appar-
entity none of them could be simple and
sincere; she supposed It had been his
way Of oondescending to her. to pre-
| tend that he was poor and in similar
| circumstances to herself; perhaps he
had guessed that she would never have
allowed him to pay for her supper or
done. II she had known him to be a rich
man.
She need never sec him again that
was one thing; her heart hardened ae
she met the frankness OF his pictured
eyes he was not so honest as he looked
She had mistaken oondescension for
kindness She bit her lip with mortih-
alton as she recalled the confidence she
had made to him only that afternoon.
He was probably laughing at 1t now,
and no doubt would repeat all she had
said to his friends as q good joke
She went to her own room shortly.
She made the excuse that she was tired.
but when she went downstairs she SAT
down on the side OF the bed and made
no effort to undress. A sort OF shadow
seemed to have fallen on her spirits She
| felt mortified that Micky should so de-
iiberately have lied to her; her cheeks
had been In last night when she mot
him. She hoped she would never sec
him again.
CHAPTER v
Mcky passed three days before he
made any attempt to see Esther Shop
stone again; days that seemed like a
month at least, and during which he
| lost his appetite and forgot TO smoke
| That she did not particularly care II
| abe saW him again or not he Wna mia-