Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-15

|
June leaned back In a. corner ant
between her lips and puffed at II lastly
There was little silence; then Esthol
said suddenly
IL can't. It makes me reel too self.
conscious, But he Just says that HI
doesn't want me to go. into any berth
Just yet He says that hs may be hons
"ohr' said June, chagrined. "And
them. of course. you'll be married and
live happily ever after o"
YES" said Esther. II hope So"
June opened her eyes.
| Charlie, curled up on his cushion
started to purr lazily. Presently juno
| Topped down on her knees beside hin,
and began strokins his head.
you're married, won't your" she said
suddenly. 7 am sure the phantom lover
Esther did not answer she hated her
self for remembering that Raymond had
once said he loathed cats.
CHAPTER XII
Mickey had invited June and Esther to
the theatre, and Esther. after some
thought had agreed TO 80.
II don't suppose Raymond
so It's Raymond Ashton" cried June.
"And you let me run him down"
Esther hushed scarlet
And he's not a phantom lover; he's
June .patted her hand, but said moth
Ing. She was deep In thought.
They met Micky and dined. rhen
they went to the theatre.
When the light went down again Es-
the, leaned a little closer 70 him.
YES" Mioky bent his head toward
her eagerly. He could hear her agi-
tated breathing; hear, too, the little
auiyer In her voice when she spoke. :
the right7-the lower box I
thought It was Mrs. Ashton"
Micky answered casually that very
"odd, eh." he said. THAT We should
elne ON ,ss st the same place and have tickets
Esther said "Yes--yes" twice In nerv-
Gus hurry.
There was something strained and un-
natural about her and though Micky
that something had happened to dis
what is it7" he asked anxiously.
rs anything the .matterf"
sss sSo shoe. =! her sssa' Ss'a
She ga. very stiii IN, .hs curtain fall
again. but Micky had the feeling that
she was not paying the least attention
to what was going on on the stage, and
he knew that her eyes turned again and
aga'n . ga. = to {. the he stage box: What was she
even II Mrs, Ashton did sec her ami
recognize her. surely-then in q nash he
knew tho light had been
turned up suddenly, and In that moment
he had seen the isure Of a man move
screen Of the curtains.
Mickey sripped the arms Of his seat;
FOR the moment he could not move.
II was Raymond-he knew It a. GER
tainly as II he had been told.
No doubt he had seen Esther; whilst
He looked down at her; she was sI.-
ling up stifrly. her hands clasped in the |
ap of the new frock Of which she had |
been so innocenuy proud her face was
Is white as the soft tule Of her sleeves.
md her eyes were fixed on the box with
is velvet curtains where Mrs. Ashton
vat laughing and chatting with a girl |
n pink frock.
They both turned from time to time
he shadow; once the curtains moved
!. little and mans hand and arm
howed distinctly.
Micky could bear It no longer; lie
ouched Esther's clasped hands.
AXE kArs soy you oui ilI!-w0uld y you like mo to
But she shook her head.
lone"
June had discovered a friend In q ueat
row or two ahead with whoN she was
lad no eyes for Micky or Esther. MIcky
rave q sigh Of relief when the lights
we're lowered again; he could feel al
hat Esther was suffering. he could put
himself In her place so thoroughly.
urs ns Ient wspS spsnG S,an to the box and
you'd be the best way; he could manage
o give him the tip then to keep out II
he way; he half rose In his seat, but
Esther moved at once. laying her fingers
n his arm.
"oh, don't so-don't leave me here"
he said tremulously.
II was not the man himself she want
q, put his presence somehow gave her n |
ceiling Of confidence; II, indeed. II was
.aymond up there in the box. She tried
'ould have let her know II he had CONS
} London-surely she would have been =
10 first to whom he would have coma:
no was mad to ever think the man up
,ere In the background could be Ray
But the conviction was there In her
TT 4. he--I know It's hs." sorns,h,ns
her heart was saying over and over
BAln obstinately
The rest Of the play seemed endless
illness when II was over.
You are In hurry" June said.
you enjoyed it7"
!, Yes n,,; oh Oh yes but It's hot--I want to
Micky was deliberately bs,nr n, .,,v
, he could---he blocked the way out OBJ.
inately; the stalls were almost empty
hen at last they left them.
June touched his arm.
,"Micky-.is;-Esther MP Look how
Esther was some little way ahead of
eem. She seemed to be trying to get
y as quickly as possible.
ts 100 not FOR her, poor darling
aIt's M,eky ro, iaTshsd ,shsa savssely -
as up In that box with his mother. md
"Micky----" He silenced her with n
own He followed Esther as quickly
ne could. but she was outside in tho
,ere was crowd here, too--rows OF
RS and carriages outside and women
thin evening frocks and furs shivsr-
z In the cold wind.
Micky drew Esther's hand through
We shall find our cab this way
Ink" he said evenly.
He had seen Mrs, Ashton only n few
rds away. and he dreaded every mo-
INT that Esther would see her, and
3, too, who was with her.
a sudden block In the crowd momen-
rily hindered them, and In that second
mans light laugh rang out above the
ise and chatter of voices.
Micky felt the girl beside him give n
,vulsive start. She tried to drag her
gers from his. but he held them fast
The crowd was moving again now, a
'ond and Raymond and his mother
70 lost TO sight.
M'cky had slipped an arm around
ther; he was white to tho Inns. He
ew now how near no had been 10