Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-13
The Phantom Lover
THIS STARTS THE STORY
BY Ruby Ayres

ne mas his friend, Ashton, tGho says
X he 70 leaving tom and his soeetheort
AT his mothers request aud asks Mel
loDes TO dcliUer q letter TO the girl
Nichp discovers the girl, Esther Shep-
stone, to be the one he had met crying
on the street. Instead Of delivering
the letter Ashton guue him nc toritcs
another. n kindiicr ore. aud signs
z Ashton's name TO II. The letter COM
n forts Esther. one ddp phen she re-
fttrns 10 her room she finds June
+ Mason, another bodrder " the house,
there. juno expresses the totsh that
fhey should be friends. She learns
4 thot juno and Micky are old friends
aud that Micky Is ,cedlthy. Mcky
name TO Esther. promising her c.
week. she seeks employment
THROUGH an agency and Is Introduced
TO a lady ,oho Is looking lor a COM
punion or 1mdnue'Sis what have
pou done up tiil no,D," she asks Btsher.
az ,pus IN inc porkroom at Eldrod's,"
she replied.
AND HERE IT CONTINUES
NL,LDRED'S :" the sharp gaze way
- cred n little. And why did YOU
leave there may l ask
"r left to get married, but"
"Rut YOU are not married. Of course.
mo"
Nor going to be-"
"Not for the present. but
She was cut short again.
"I don't want to get used to you and
to get you used to my ways and tlien
for you to leave me-" she was told
"And don't want young man CON
stantly dangling round the house" Her
! voice was sharp. but not unkind. and
there was a smile in her keen eyes.
mo" said Esther. II quite under.
stand"
There was little silence.
well" said the owner OF the lor-
,,gnette then. what do you think abou,
IL? Do you think you would like me;
Esther smiled. there was ss something ssn,,ns W y.
YES" she said, "I think should
SI hate that word" she was told
any butts in the question. You either
wish to come or you do not. / VIII give
4 YOU ESQ year. and your keep, Oh
I course. It's too much for an inexperi
rather like you. Well. what do you
y Esther did not know what TO say. The
offer was tempting enough, but snt
thought of June Mason and the room
with the mauye cushions where she was
settling down 80 happily. and her hear'
!. 81 should like to think it over" she
said. stammerlng.. II have triena
should like to talk 1t over with u you
:Take a week by all means. l am
going away myself for few days; ano
shan't want you TN i come docid, ocGH
to do Here is my card - >" She TOOK
ene from a heavy silver case and iato
II on the table She looked at Esther
auizzicaiiy. then suddenly she held ou'
"Good-by Miss Shepstone. I hope
shall see you again" and the next mo
ment she had gone. =, A.,
The stiff and stately owner Oh 'h'
agency was smiling, wei p'eaMs,su' No. s,s,.
stone" she said. You have secure.
one of the best posts have on m
hooks II you take my advice you WI,
not not hesitate. Mako up your "'"a "'
Esther did not answer. She took w
the card from the table. then she are"
in her breath with hard SOUND toI
the name printed there was Mrs hay'
Esther never knew how she got into
the street She walked along like some
one in a dream; her cheeks were ourh'
ing hot. ,a,.
mother! The woman of whom he hac
spoken SO often and so bitterly. The
woman who had raised such herce oo'
lection to her marriage with Eaytnond
4 There was not much resemblance De
tween mother and son they were ootr
handsome, but there was sort or hun1of
in Mrs. Ashton's face which Raymond
lacked. Esther tried vainly to find some
likeness between them.
Good afternoon :" said a voice. and
, turning hurrledly, Esther found Micky
Mellowes beside her
He looked as II he were not quite sure
Of his reception but today Estnsr ,ns mac n&o
more interesting than he was-and tne
smile she gave him was almost friendly
Z Good afternoon Isn't II cold? u
,SrylnNse NeeSii Cii to7" ""''' a'' ''' NV
lie tried to speak casually but his
"Im Just going me-" Esther
said. i've been to eacS looking
"a berth - 4 trown came , between en-
asked quickly.
Esther laughed.
advice--and going as companion to an
old lady--not that she's very Old she
added doubtfully, with sudden memory
of Raymond's mother
'T wonder IL 1t Is likely TO be any one
know. have quite an extensive ac-
~ iintance in London"
Yes" said Esther But ! don't sup
e you will know these people any
80 she added with an unconscious
ot loftiness In her voice. The
~ As Ashton-Mrs. Raymond Ash
w pn?" he said "oh, YES, ! know
% Ashton very we'll" He was
w her with jealous eyes and she
" head sharply and looked up
Jus, moment traitorous eager
ness ci> her face he could almost
see the qu. : question on her lips. then
TReaIiy How funny! But, Of course
.as you say, you must know great
many people"
II have known the Ashtons for years.
You Will like Mrs. Ashton"
There was IA sort of quiet insinuation
in the words. and Esther bit her lip,
"And-the SOM" she asked Il think
you said you knew the son"
| Yes know hIm--he is In Paris, /
believe"
Micky was conscious OF a queer tight
ening about his throat; 1t was trc-
mendous effort to forcc himself to speak
"And shall like him as we'll, do you
3 think?" Esther asked deliberately.
Micky did not answer.
DO you like him?" she persisted.
Micky's restraint broke its bonds
II he had died for 1t he could not have
& checked tho words that rushed to his
lips,
II dctest the fellow" he said, Hes
a beastly outsider
He dared not look at her lie held his
breath, waiting for the storm to break,
but ie he had lost his self-control she
kept hers admirably.
Really" she said. Her voice was a
little breathless, but quite calm. What
does q man mean when he calls an
other nzap such name?"
4 He'd fe was quite colorless, even to
the " < Ind her hands were clenched In
tho shabbiness of the cheap little mum
}. she carried,