Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-28
THE STREETS OFLFE
Il Tempting Proposition
BY HAZEL DEyO BATCHEEOR
Copyright, 1920, Jv the r ssHo Ledger co.

mn, Carter has never had any
,,,;,o briohf IN her life. When she
-u ."a' ,eyen her mother Jumped into the
;rsr because she could not stand TO
Anne tchipped bp her father for
s.b;rdish p,isdcmeqnor, Jim Garter
.,os deitrntipcd that Anne should be
htov6bt IN subject 10 his Will.
Inynss mother he had hated because
bs Iod fet thot she ,ods too good
ior him. When Anne is eighteen
hsr Yather Introduces her TO q man
! ,sSom thc has selected for her TO
,rar,t. and Arac taxes a. oiolenf dis
|, iiEe 10 Blu Snpder. ,sEqgsif%H ,
NNE looked at Mrs. Carpenter with
~ wide startled eyes. but the older
woman snied disarmingly" You look
ss if YOU knew, about books she said;
i'Oh, but / don't I'm hopelessly
ignorant y Anne protested.
.on ~ Mrs. Carpenter asked laugh
inglyD; po Mnupassont. Flaubert,
rostrv OF all kinds" fluttered Miss Ste
rsnson, thrilled at this unexpected de-
yclopment.
l.rly looking at Anne with kindly,
oriizzical eyes. She was genuinely inter-
.s,ed in this girl; she wondered who
she was. She glanced At Anne's clothes
without appearing to do so. and saw
that they were hopeless. not only poor,
Init calculatedly unbecoming.
> 'I'd like to talk to you, sne SAID IN
5 thst autocratic way Of hers. Suppose
,o% IN for a little drive with me- She
: ,vrnsd 70 Miss Stevenson before Anne
eouId say anything. 'I'll take. these
{ y t%n hooks" She said quickly. and then.
q ,nddinc gayly at Miss Stevenson. she
! carried the bewildered Anne or with
s neI. Anne found herself a moment later
4 hoing tucked into tho luxurious Car.
I, n.nter car. A wonderful rug covered
e Ssr shabby skirt. and the tang OF the
4 late fall air tinged the girls pale cheeks
d With vivid color. When the car drew
. no before the Carpenter house anc
= Anne saw that Mrs. Carpenter expected
\, "I really must go home,' she said.
q Come in for just moment. l wan
N show you my library Mrs: Car.
= : nenter insisted. and Anne found herself
z followiur the older woman up the steps
. Of the porch. -, ,. , -,
! hook that she had read. Such beauty
: A. color. such harmony. of outline
< soft rugs over the polished floors.
g issping open fire. huge diyans, maga
= zines flung invitingly on tables. huge
= fnr rug before the hearth. the Fragrance
1 Of flowers in bowls everywhere. .IhI
y riff stood transfxcd. IT wos her mrs
- rlimpse Of beauty. She had never beer
In anv ones home in Greenville but
Cherry's. and Cherry's home. although
4 was bright and cheerful, was nothing
Ike this.
Mrs. Carpenter was woman use'
"a having her own way. She took vio
lent fnncies. and she loved doing thing
Tor peorle, but she expected no protest
and A great deal Of appreciation. Sh
liked experimenting. and she was sPlt'sl
- because she had always been spoiled
(: Geraldine Carpenter was thirty-six an
Anne thought her the most bcautifu
woman she had ever seen. AS a matte
of fact. she was not beautiful. Sh
had iron gray hair which she mad IN
" sense to leave untouched. and her eye
= were black and snappy, like n bird :
She had q charming smile and she wa
always e1ouisitcly dressed.
: ~ think I'll keep you for lunch. sh
said, studying Anne out of her brgh
dark eyes" -,
"Oh. thank you. but I couldn't stay,
= Anne protested. . -,'.. :,
. "You could telephone your family.
: suggested Mrs. Carpenter.
eve haven't telephone, and beside
{ ] couldn't do it." Anne flushed.
was so hard to explain. She knew tina
Mrs. Carpenter was wondering abou
her, and her half starved little hear
was responding TO this warmth an
Z brightness and offer of friendship wit
= passionate intensity. Yet she knC,
that her father would never allow il
che fclt instinctiyely that he would dis
: approve Of Mrs. Carpenter because sh
surrounded herself with beautiful
things.
Annc's half revelations, however
only made Geraldine tho more eager t
have her own way, the more determine
. TO know this girl better. She wa
e searching about in her mind for way
= and she suddenly stumbled on it.
: In the library she had overhear
Anne's remark to Miss Stevenson abou
money. No doubt the girl was treate
terribly at home, her clothes would sho1
/. that, and yet there was charm an
grace about her that was very appeal
ing =
= II have a plan.r Geraldine said sud
: denly. She had sat down on the wild