Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-15
HIS SECOND WIFE
BY ERNEST POOLE
Author OF "The Hmbor," "His Family"
Copyright, 1850, bp Public Ledger Co.


gradually. when she comes i've got
to make her like n,e--yery nnueh--so
iooEs--for looks ala count Tis,t Thsat rmueS m&,
Of what Amy had said was true. "But
what ] must do IL not 10 look like her.
sally Crothsrs detested her, and I've got
e ovsrSos as s ,het dr 'nust a shGS nsr
mind dwelt On, details. II must all be 50
simple, yet not too severe. For sally
Is gay, ] understand What ! want IL
TO look halfway between Mrs. drswe
blue wi!b that old rhinestone pin. wave
my hair2 NO, that's Amy again |"
But from such thoughts about her
dress, or her tea table, flowers. the
lishte N the room her mind kept dart-
vi wbs should sSs Ss saS ri; me- was wcsn TSss9s q
brains who Ia coming to call Think OF
all she knows--and she earns her lv.
ing--she has a profession Of her own
Eow n the world shall talk to her
again oh, Amy, Amy, I don't want to
hate YOU. You helped me once, you
were dear to me, and you had heaps
and heaps OF good points But please,
please stop coming up in nv life
dear When she comes you must be
natural. Your natural self--thnt always
counts. Don't try TO show off what you
haven't got SHOW her only what you
have Make her feel you're young and
that won't do-not mad. but keen for
rything-interested In her life---in all
she does and thinks and feels" She
frowned No. that's too personal And
you cant be personal In New York--not
ones TOO busy. You must be interested
in things-the town In general-music-
Dooks-people In a general way
Here's the kind of n girl who will
y sV" TAKING shs must nn say ana @ wMe se = w9rth
see, you little goose. this is !ust what
may spoil everything? n you're scared,
you'll lose You've got to keep cool
Sally anyhow what has she done that
you won't 10 when you're as old as she
that note No woman likes 10 be re-
| minded that she Ia ten years older than
any other woman on earth. She'll put
a dangerous way with men. Dwight has
| praised me to her. OF course-but she II
put his liking down to that--the---the-
the sex side must show her II isn't
but women now But not too hard or
eager, you know.
"Oh. must watch her all the time,
to see II I'm getting any hold And
then, the minute see my chance, must
tcll her my trouble-no. my big chance
with Joe. and could do now--if only |
had her for a friend I"
such thinking was spasmodic and
often ,,f,t, - disconnected. Thoughts 81 Joe
kept breaking IN. and Of what she should
do u she failed with him. And again,
putting down with an effort all such
thoughts and fancies. abe took Susette
ana the baby and went out for a walk In
me PARK. II was one of those balmy
Gays that come IN winter now and then,
while.
But then she looked around with a
start. Who was that on bench nearby
a TAT man with n black mustache, hi,
DERBY hat tipped over hs forehead, and
his TWO small piggish eyes morosely and
narrowly watching her. a detective
working for Fanny Carr Ethel angrily
| rose and called to Susette and wheeled
the baby carriage away. But just az
Ehe passed the fat man, small ia
Say, pa" whlned the urchin. "Bu.
me bag of peanuts
Like thunder | will" the fat mar
And Ethel blushed, How absurd she
had been
In reply 10 her note, Dwight had tels.
phoned that Sally would be there at s
Mrs. Crothers arrived at a quarter past
She was small alert locking woman oi
| thirty-fre, slender, almost wiry, dark
with black hair worn over her temples
Her small mouth. was strong and vii.
ful but abe had nice pleasant eyes. She
! was wearing a pretty tan hat and gray
| furs that she put back on her shoulder
az she smiled and held out her hand
| I'm so glad to meet you at last, m.
dear"
oh, thank YOU" said Ethel quickly
And then, because that sounded toe
grateful. she added. Wont you sit
down." In rather stilted little voice
This woman made her feel &C young
| with an appearance OF lazy ease she
turned and poked the small logs in the
fire. Il do so love wood fires. Don't
you?' she said, In carefully easy tones
but she did not hear the answer.
Mrs. Crothers was wearing a trim
street suit of brown and dark green
| She dresses as ! do so that's all right
thought Ethel. She's taking me in
SO much the better. I'll do the same
And as they. talked she kept throwing
row, the small and rather mlschievous
mouth, and the gray eyes which looked
as though they could be so very good.
humored and friendly, But with a little
pans of dismay Ethel saw that these eyes
were preoccupied and only half attend
ing SHE has hundred things or
her mind, and she's asking. Now let's
try to see II there's really anything
here worth while The preliminarles
were already over That part at leaa
had gone smoothly enough. We're of .
| the ught Ethel eXcitedly.
How will you have your tea" she
asked.
Clear with lemon"
| "One lump or two?"
| Three or four"
"Oh, how funny" Ethel laughed And
then she redeemed. YOU little goose,
she exclaimed TO herself "why did yol
say. How funny'?" She poured tn,
tea with a trembling hand and proffered
II with plate OF cakes and small toastet
crumpets, dainties she had purchased
with care at a smart little shop in the
neighbcrhood. And meanwhile she wat
answering tho questions, pleasant bu'
searching, though thrown out in a casua
voice.
! CONTINUED TOMORROW