Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-31
THE STREETS or LIFE
The Truth about Bill Snyder
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
COPYRIGHT. 1890. bv the Public LEDGER Co.

Anne Carter has from childhood
been beset By heredtty. She has IN
horited her mothers s,oeet ytelding
disposition bst her father, ,, ,9hG .,d,nn' was
fion of vanity IN the 0irPs nature, has
forgotten that Anne might hdve tn-
herited his oton strong totH When tt
,nrsy csv,e e fhe man ma' she aetestedP ard de-
priuin1 her of the one toomdn friend
,oho had brought any beauty into the
girt's Hfe, Anne defed her father. the
hos ieU as mark, and she has decided
that huppiness toith the man she toucs
is not for her.
UT UCY PRATT" Anne repeated the
- name after the girl. It had
familiar sound, as though she had heard
II before, and yet she could not remem-
her. Then suddenly 1t came to her Lucy
Pratt was the girl whose name had
been whispered in the village as having
been connected with scandal OF some
kind, Anne remembered her father talk
ing with Aunt Martha about It. and her
own interest and curiosity. hush
crept over the girls face.
'I see you remember my name" the
other girl said, a hard !!..ls note creep
ing into her voice.
Anne put out quick hand. please
don't understand" she said gently.
Come In and tell me what you came
for"
Lucy Pratt, pulled away quickly from
Anne's touch and defiance hardened her
small features. II can say what ! have
IT'S about Bill Snyder. You're going
to marry him, aren't your"
Anne shook her head. mo, I'm not
going to marry him."
He told me you we're"
Anne smiled. And I tell you I'm
The girl hesitated a moment, stand-
ing first on one foot and then on an
other as though uncertain as to whether
burst out: II told him last night that
] was coming to see you, that was
going to tell you the truth. and he
laughed at me, he thought I wouldn't
just what he told me to. but that's over
now forever" The girls thin shoulders
began to, shake and she began to sob
wildly.
Anne put an arm about her.
Don't cry. tell me about 1t IL 1t will
make you feel better. ~
You know when II happened" the
girl said, after a moment trying to con-
quer her sobs. Nearly three years ago.
lie told me he loved me and We were
going to be married. believed him
would have believed anything he told
me then. And then he went away. and
and told me not to be a little fool. Even
then I loved him." she said fiercely
Because there Wasn't any one else. and
then he told me about you. He said
that you weren't easy like was. that a
man had to work to make an impression
on you and that he was going to marry
you"
There was a sound of steps on the
porch outside. and a moment later the
door opened and Jim Carter appeared.
Lucy Pratt had fallen back against the
wall. Anne stood calmly facing her
well, what's all this?" he said
gruffiy.
Lucy. who was slightly behind Jim
Carter. signed frantically for Ammo to
keep silent, and Anne nodded compre-
hensively.
Just some one who brought a mes
sage to me. father" she said, stepping
forward and opening, the door for Lucy.
Jim Carter grunted and went on Into
the dining room where he always sat
n,Snn mSment the two girls stood facing each
And you're not going to marry him."
Lucy said, softly. Don't you care for
A feeling OF utter loathing swept over
Anne Care for him." she said and
sluddered. How can you ask IRE
that?"
There was a softness on Lucy Pratt's
face. 1t rounded out the thin outline of
her cheeks. and made her almost
pretty. Anne looked at her in amaze
nlent. This girl still cared for Bill
Snyder In spite of all that he had
done in spite of his tauntnE. his de-
ccptior. and his cruelty, she still loved
him. II was incredible.
Lucy lifted her head high and smiled
wistfully. "I don't mind II you tell hin,
! was here" she said. He knew / was
coming, and it's just as we'll to have him
know I kept my word"
Anne could have cried, there was so