Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-22

VIRGINIA's announcement that
afternoon at tea affected Kathleen
and Bill differently. Bill was amazed
and taken back, and he sat back and
viewed Virginia admiringly. She had
seemed so weak and fragile yesterday, so
incapable Of doing anything for herself,
and today she was vivid colorful. She
made Kathleen seem overblown, while
she herself was a small mysterious bud
Just unfolding. Kathleen was inwardly
furious. The thing that she had dreaded
had come to pass. The prince was be-
coming interested in Cinderella and
something must be done.
Kathleen had not been intimate with
Virginia for nothing and she formed
little plan that she was sure would
work. While they were having tea. Bill
left them for minute and went out to
telephone and the minute he was gone
Kathleen rested her elbows on the table
and leaned toward Virginia
"Swear that you won't tell soul if
| tell you something" she said mys-
teriously
"Of course. [ won t =" .... ...
Kathleen hesitated a . moment Il
think b and / will have something to
tell you before long
The remark was too full of meaning
to be misunderstood and Virginia was
conscious of one feeling uppermost in
her mind. She did not want Kathleen
to marry Bill. The very thought was
n In hnp ShA Il 4,
loved her dearly in spite of certain
things that she had done. but she did
not want Bill to marry her.
why. are you SO surprised?' Kath-
leen was saying.
Because, you told me you would
never marry him" .. -,
''Oh. yes, but things are all changed
now. Bill has money and a good bust
ness. and 1 always did care for him
And then Bill came back, threading
his way through the small tables and
the subject was dropped, but the radi-
ance that had shone about Virginia when
she had told them the news was gone
and she was very quiet the rest Of the
afternoon.
RehearsalS for the new play. The
Probet'' had been going on for three
weeks when Virginia was added to the
cast. Her part had been taken by an
ingen,fe. blonde and colorless. who had
failed to give the artistic touch that the
small part had demanded Virginia
slipped into the character like a wraithe
and the excitement of going to re-
hearsals. of meeting the cast, of the big
dark theatre with it's rows of empty
seats acted on her like tonic.
She had written to the Andersons de-
termined to tell the truth no matter
what happened, and Mrs. Anderson s
letter back had been full of righteous
denunciation. There had been much in it
about .Virginia's fitness to be Barbara s
mother. there had been subtle hints as
to what Jimmy would say if he could
know that his wife was using his name
lightly, and there were threats as to
what would happen if Virginia persisted
in this foolishness. subtle threats about
the custody of the child. All of this
worried Virginia, but she was so busy
at the theatre that she had no time to
sit down and think about her troubles,
which was blessing.
Virginia had changed subtly> in the
last few days. Independence had given
her a strange charm, and she had lost
her shrinking little- girl attitude, even
while she retained her naive innocence.
Another thought came to worry her
when she had time to give it place in her
mind and that was the thought of Kath II
leen and Bill. She wondered vaguely
how Bill could trust Kathleen a second
time with his love when he had been
hurt so terribly by her treatment of him
on that first occasion.