Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-10
CHAPTER VIII

n1HEl urONe puch w wv wy III WV
j twilight, Laurel sitting very still
with Duce cuddled up against her arm.
purton himself was very quiet Hc
vas thinking seriously of what would
bonnen If he asked this girl to marry
him He was weighing matters care
t,,,v and because there was no senti-
mont on his side, he could look at
overythiug calmly and reasonably. That
laurel would refuse to marry aim did
,ot nrcsent itself as a serious problem
N him at all. She was sensible girl
.,d would look at matters sensibly.
uoro was no fluffy haired ingenue. no
,;oclinc dcbutantc, but an intelligent
woman of good family. She would see
At, r;sdom of such Il step just as he
himself saw it.
~ course Harriet and his mother
IN law would make fuss. Things
m;0bt be unpleasant for time, put
I1o,r;ct was sensible. too; she would
,oo things in the right light AS soon ns
hor initial disappointment was over ana
mhot splendid thing it would be ior
,ho children to have some one IKE MISS
stono to look after them. Already theN
ndorcd her. , . o,,
uO cast sidcong glance at Du'-
80 bead dropped against Laurel $
,horldcr, and Grace sitting up very
,troisht. but with ono hand sIipped ,n'o
1ourpl's gloved one and then he looked
ot Iaurcl. her clear cut nronle S''uu
l., out cameo like against the nam
irg sky that trimmed the palisades on
tho other side of the river with hrc'
She wond be splendid as the head OF
bis house. lie could put his CONT
doncc in her quite safely. llc mar
rowcd his eyes and pictured her in eve
ming clothes moving among his guests
with that easy dignity that was hers.
He smiled TO himself as he pictured
Harrict's discontinue. Yes. this girl
would be an easy match for Harriet.
She would have them all with her in Il
very short time aud as far as the money
was conccrncd he would supply all that
/ was necessary.
The ear swcrvcd in the road and
threw Laurel suddenly against him. y
strand Of hair blew against his face.
II held subtle perfume that was fcmi
nine and ilusivc. Above Dulcic's head
her blue. frightened eyes met his and
he held them. Laurcl's heart seemed
to stand still aud then suddenly with
q rush TO 90 on beating. There was
left unconsidcred and that was the emo
tional nature of this woman beside him
II he had known Laurel at all he would
have known that there was just one
reason why she would marry any one
anl that reason was love Granville
Burton with his power and his money
might plead with her forever and not
move her an inch The fact that tn"
children needed n mother might touch
her. but would never sway her. But
II Burton III some way could make her
love him, the touch of his fingers on
hers would have the power TO draw
her wherever he would. Burton was
not planning on making an appeal of
this kind, but what If unwittingly he
did this very thing? He was young, hex
was viriIo and he was attractive. Al
ready and although he had made no at
tempt to do so he had touched depths
! IN the girls nature chat had never been
reached before. Laurel as girl, dream
\ Inc of life. was one thing: as a woman.
| pasSlonatCly in love. would be quite an
I other
! They reached the outskirts Of the
i city and Dulcie stirred sleepily. then
at up aud opened her eyes. Grace
looked at her sister disapprovingy.
'l Inn n hnnY e.,
said grayely.
Dulce surgled and began an ami
mated chattcriug. And then all too soon
'neg were turning into East Eleventh
street and the car had stopped before
ihe rcd brick house. Pierre, the chauf-
ieur, was out and had opened the door
lot Laurel. but it was Burton who held
our nus hand TO help her down.
lou re coming to have tea with lis
sGSu, SG bulcic claimed vchcmcntly.
Father promised
Burton laughed. You sec it's all
settled"
.n, n see it is" Laurel laughed back.
well, good bye, chickens" to the chill
urcn' And then Granville Burton was
walking up the short flight Of stone
NppS with her. Sometime | bopcN
sou re gong to invite me to tea with
you, he said. as they faced each other
on the top step.
Some time ! will" she returned 1t
Ns quick change TO her old indie
pe9dencc of manner. All day Laurel
"a aau been quietly thoughtful charming
feminine, now at the threshold of
uet own little place she was the ag-
sreSSlyc Young business woman thinking
aMau M deciding for herself. Burton liked
H. L., u was the thing that, had interested
%.n IN her first but he had been think
uS thoughts all afternoon that were to
result IN what he wanted. His idea