Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-08

I'm sorry. dear" he said ut length.
1T means that good many years of
hard work with you as the goal have
gone for nothing. Howsver-wen all
ways be friends, LucilleT'
And Lucille, smothering an unthrifty
impulse to rise into his arms. let 1t go
at that.
The following afternoon. az Jim drove
a rattling truck load of packing cases
up Main street. he received an unusually
cordial bow from Julia Harris, whom
he had grown UP with. but who, after a.
year or two at finishing school. had
somehow frequently failed to recognize
him when he passed. She was coming
was Mr.. Harris himself. who, catching
sight Of Jim. hailed him
jim drew up to the curb. descended.
and followed the banker into his private
office, wondering as he did so just what
Il was all about.
The older man opened up without pre-
amblc. Jim. I had surprise yester-
day. 4 man from the National City
Bank called here because you had gwen
me as n character reference and tneg neS
were considering making you $5o.09V
loan on a city real estate deal. SAID
they had done business with you before,
but in a smaller way. wanted 10 let
YOU know / gave you q bang-up SEND.
of. And, by the way, Jim, why not
take dinner with us some day? How
about tonight, for instance?"
When Jim left the bank he was COM
nitted to his first real social engage,
ment in years. But inwardly he smiled
TO himself. Even as he could read In
I.ucilles refusal the worldly wisdom of
her mother. in the bankers invitation
he could detect the parental interest IN
spired by the sudden discovery that Jim
Page had a financial future.
That night, in the more or less pre-
tentious Harris home, Jinfs suspicious
we're confirmed. So cordial were Julia's
parents and 80 patiently did Julia, exert
herself to be entertaining that when IT
came time to go, Jim left the house IN
daze. why should he, the same fellow
that he had been for the last ten years.
be treated so differently just because
an unsuspected bank roll had been un-
earthed?
As he passed the modest dwelling OF
the Palmers, he all but catapulted into
George Harris coming down the steps.
George had excused himself immediately
after dinner, and little ache in Jims
heart had limited that George was call
ing on Lucille.
Suddenly the door which had closed
on the retreating George opened and
slender figure stood stilhouetted in the
doorway.
Jim hesItated. Was she going to tell
him she had accepted his rival?
Don't make 1t hard for me-" she
begged. Wont you-oh, won't you
Please ask me all over again 10 marry
your
lucille :" Jim strode up the steps
and grasped her shoulders tightly. Then
his hold relaxed. Had she. too, become
suddenly aware Of his increased finan-
cial eligibility?
why have you changed, Lucille?"
he demanded sternly. What have you
heard?" ,...
why, nothing. jim" returned Lu-
cllle. except that-that George told me
You had had dinner with them-and I
was afraid-Julia---"
Glory be !" cried Jim. You're true
blue, after all What say to Honolulu
for honeymoon"
"But--but we'll be too poor for that,
Jim. Yet. just the same. I'm glad I
diGn't go where money was :"
Maybe you did. my dear" said Jim,
happily. Maybe you did, at that
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