Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-06

He's been half starved" she. said.
you'd be thin IL you hadn't had any
more to eat than he's had.
I'm sure / should" said Micky hum
bly,. He thought gulltily of the waste
which he knew went on In his own os-
tablishment II was odd that 1t had never
struck him before that there must be
many people In the world. not to men-
tion cats who would be glad enough OF
the waste from his table. .
He picked up the menu to hide his
discomfort When the waiter came he
ordered the best dinner the restaurant
was watching him anxiously. When the
waiter had gone, she said, II can't af-
ford TO have a dinner like that"
Micky flushed crimson.
Il thought you were dining with me-"
he stammered. II hope YOU WILL
shall be only too honored. - '' Her
gray eyes met his anxiously.
i've never done thing like this be-
fore" she said. in distress. . II don't
know what you are thinking of me D.
desperate. :.." SR' She broke OF" on BIT. Bit
ing her lip, then she rushed on again,
II don't suppose you'll ever see mo any
more, so il doesn't really matter much,
81 hope to see you again. many
times" said Micky, with an earnestncss
that surprised himself.
She looked away and her face hard
ened.
II suppose men are all the same"
she said. after moment. "However
w she shrugged her shoulders with
= sort of recklessness that made Miclty
frown. She leaned back in her chair
with sudden weariness. ITS very kind
of you" she said dsnterestedly.
ITS not kind at ALL" he hastened TO
assure her. I'm much more pleased TO
be with you than you are to be with me.
If II hadn't Deen for you should have
spent this evening alone-New Years
rive, too, he added, with sort of cha
peland
He would like to have given her
rnemnagne. but dared not suggest Il.
iic was quite sure that IL she knew he
was n rich man she would fly off at
tangent. He ordered an Inexpensive
bottle OF red wine and filed her g'ass
wei, here's luck to the New Year"
ne SAID sententiously. And to our de-
Iightfully unexpected meeting" he
She flushed up to her eyes.
Are you always as kind to people
as you, have been to me?" she asked
= MiCky blushed.
"oh. ! say. he protested you
don't call this being kind, do you?
assure you it's just pure selfshness
! should have spent my evening alone
Il we hadn't met-and hate being alone :;
Just. .honored that you should have al
lowed me to eat my supper with you II
you knew how beastly fed up was
feeling the world seemed 4
positively loathsome place"
She laughed she leaned her elbows
on the table and her chin in her hands.
looking at him with thoughtful eyes.
Are YOU .poor?" she asked with dis
arming frankness.
Poor as q church mouse" said
Micky promptly. AT lpast"-he hast
ened to amend his words-"I'n one OF
those unfortunate beggars who spend
money as fast as they get 1t. I've never
saved a halfpenny In my life"
This at least was the truth.
| She nodded
Neither have 1--we never had one
| to save. y"
The dependency was back again in
her voice; MiClSy broke in hastily
Before we 20 any further I think. we
| ought to know one another's Names" He
| fumbled in n pocket for a card. but
changed his mind quickly. remembering
expensive fiat which he honored with his
presence. my name is Mellowes," he
said. I've got several Christian names
as well. but people call me Micky
." He waited, looking at hel
cxpectantly. Wont you tell me
| yours?" he asked.
She was staring down at her plate
lie could see the dark fringe of lashes
against her cheeks. Suddenly she
| looked up.
why do you want to know my
name? We shall never meet again
Mickey leaned little forward.
"If we don't" he said quietly, ut will
be tho greatest disappointment 1 have
She looked at him with a sort OF
YOU don't mean that" she said
with catch in her voice; You don,
one Of those men who say things like
that to every woman you--" She
broke Off. struck by the ohagrin in
MiCky's face. mol oughtnt to have
said that" she went on hurriedly. II
to have said 1t, and l will tell you
my name IL Vou really want to know.
NV name is Esther-Esther Shepstone, ;"
THANK YOU" said Mlcky., Ana
row we're going to drink to good reSolu-
tions for the new year have
you made one yet?'
She shook her head.
whats the use? Besides |
don't want TO make any an, r,o,o ono for
YOU" lie rcHllcd her glass and handed
il TO her "Now say after me: ! re,
solve that during the coming year l
viii be good friends with Micky Mel
loves Oh, l say dont-pleaSe
She had drorued her face in her
hands again, and Micky mad miser-
nbIn conviction that she was crying
But he WAS wrong for presently she she
looked up again, and her eyes were
tIry though a little hard and bright.
III don't believe in a mans friendship
roraa woman" she said But I'll say
IL If YOU like" and she took the glass
from hts hand.
"I'n going to- take you out to tea or
son ,thnG-if may, lie auueu
~ Iir Waited. but she did not speak,
MAY ." he asked.
She was twisting the stem Of her
wincglass uervouslv: after n moment she
began TO speak jcrktlN. ,,,..
when l came out tonight ] didn't
mean to go back any more" she said
Her voice was low and full OF a weary
bitterness Il was so unhappy ] didn't
want to live" She caught her breath
"If II hadn't been for yOu----" she was
looking AT him now with shame in her
shouldn't have gone back-seyer---"
she added. but now ."
"But now" said MICkv as she paused
"Yourr going back, and we're going to
start the new ycar--friends, you and |
Is that Ihorga'n?' he asked
Outside Mlcky hailed taxicab
"Yourc much too tired to walk" r.
said when she protested, And II VIII he
n new experience for Charlie" he added
with twinkle.
He put her into the cab, and stood
for moment at the door
And the address," he asked.
She hcsitated, looking ava" from him
hen suddenly she told him.
ITS, BriXton rOad-it's-it's verJ
hOrrId boarding house" she added Will!
half sigh.
Boarding houses are all horrid." said
MlCky ChcCrily. But I'll come down
nysclf tomorrow and see how bad II
really is,"
lie tried to sec her face