Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-09
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Changing Suits

IL was a scorching hot day In July,
and the thought of a cool bath in the
ocean was the pleasantest thing in the
world TO Janet. She took the key of
the bathhouse from the man at the desk
and hurried to the stuffy little cubby-
hole to change her clothes. She took
down her hair and wound 1t into a tight
little knot and slipped on her smart
green cap. Then she opened her bundle
and took out her lovely new bathing
sult-or at least what she thought was
her suit.
oh! OH" exclaimed Janet, in utter
amaSement, as she gazed at the ugly
black garment in her hands. This is a
mans suit"
She was almost in tears, but her
natural good sense asserted itself and
she tried to think collectedly. She re-
membered In the car a man had slipped
his bundle under the seat next to hers
and In her haste to get out Of the car
she she must have picked up his instead Of
Janet fixed her hair again, and, gath
ering up the black suit, hurried out to
the pavilion to see IL she could discover
any one who looked as IL he had lost
something She almost smiled as she
thought OF what surprise her suit must
have given some unsuspecting man.
There was no one in sight who seemed
to be looking for anything, and after
wandering about aimlessly for a few
janet ueCllneQ 10 tOrEO her
bath and sat down on the sand to rest.
In few minutes she was sound asleep.
She must have slept for over an hour
for when she opened her eyes the sun
had sunk much lower in the sky and the
waves had crept a great deal farther up
the beach. She did not notice a young
man who was sitting little behind her
on the sand.
ITS all my fault" he began at once.
II was in such a hurry to get in the
I tnt
by mistake. I'm dreadfully sorry" He
handed her the missing suit.
1t wasn't your fault any more than
mine" returned Janet. promptly. And
and make 1t too late for you to go in.
You should have grabbed your suit away
from me and run
II Couldn't hadn't the courage"
Janet laughed.
you don't look so very timid." she
assured him.
We'll, 1 really am. Right now I'm
dying to ask you something, but I'm
simply trembling. with fear"
like a dragon?"
NO. but It's such nervy thing to
ask-without any guarantee of respecta-
bility or anything. Could you go to din
ner with me--on faith?'
''I'd like to. but I'm afraid shouldn't
My mother has always lectured mo
about speaking to strange young men.
from the cradle uD. You don't look like
a villain, though"
I'm not, really; and under the cir
cumstances ] think any mother would
trust her daughter to my tender care
Won't you take pity on me?"
All right, ! will" said Janet. decid-
And. of course. 1t really was all her fault
about the suit
This is a relief after the hot city"
she told him, when they were seated at
A.L III
few minutes later. Just see how tho
tide Is coming up now"
IT'S the full moon that does i'll
always like to watch an extreme tide
like this. I've lived near the water all
my. life. Whenever anything worries me
| always seem TO be able to think 1t out
better when I'm down by the sea"
Was that why you came tonight"
mo, was looking for inspiration
only. You are giving it to me-"
They We're really having a beautiful
time and Janet was thanking her lucky
stars that tomorrow was Sunday and
she wouldn't have to stifie In that hot
Office again. when her eye fell on a
toward them. 1t was her cousin. Anna
Forbush--and she had seen them Janet
did not even know the name of the man
with whom she was dining and she
full situation to be passed around to all
the aunts in the family by Annals loving
hand Janet wished that she had taken
her mothers early advice.
How delightful :" cried Mrs. Forbush.
How absolutely delightful to meet you
here. Ward Franklin And with Janet.
too. ! had no idea you two knew each
other"
why I've known Janet for ages"
fabricated Franklin, looking straight
into her eyes and praying that they
would be spared further questions.
Janet felt that she was sinking-never
in her life had she been in such a
position. It was dreadful
office where Janet works" put in the
silent Mr.. Forbush. Didn't they run
your last novel in a serial before 1t
came out in book form"
Yes. that was II exactly" put In
Janet. feeling that things were steadily
growing worse.
when is your new book coming out ?"
asked Mrs. Forbush.
I'm the fall, hope. It's 30 hot in
town. though, nr one can do much work.
Janet and Just came down for little
swim to see II We could get cool"
How was the water?"
Fine !" declared Franklin and Janet
well, we're awfully glad we ran into
you, Can't you both come down to din
ner some night next week? We'd love
to have you"
Janet blushed and mumbled some
thing, but Mrs. Forbush insisted; and
Franklin accented with pleasure so II
was easily settled. When they had gone,
Janet groaned.
"oh, it's dreadfuil-just see what I've
I'm glad" said Franklin. "Forbush
and are old friends--we went TO COL
lege together You mustn't worry about
it-they hadn't an idea that we had just
met"
Franklin. the author--or anything And
only think, you don't even know my
II don't care so very much-I like the
first one so well. Do I have to use the
rest OF it?"
"I think we'd better be going" began
Jane, nervously, picking up her purse
and gloves. TITS a long way to my
little fiat and don't want to get home
late"
Franklin took her home and when he
said good might at her door he thanked
her for the pleasantest evening he had
had In years.
morrow afternoon" he added, hopefully
IT'S too soon, isn't it?"
mot for me-is II for you?"
II don't know what time?"
About 5--we can have dinner some
where In the country. Would your
"oh, she'd love it-how sweet of you :"
Goodnight, Janet" He held her
hand so long that she withdrew 1t at
1--WE had the incest time I've had in
years, too" she told him before she
Then she went to her room and de-
cided TO hang UP her neglected bathing
suit before going to bod. And when she
opened the poor battered bundle she
took out, for the second time--Frank-
Inns suit: Then she sat down and burst