Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-24
CHAPTER v
Tho LoYe Of Polly Le Rrnn

That Robert Ashe didn't have his
rooms at the Palace, st. Francis 0.
| Paramount was due, not TO the fact
that he was without appreciation OF the
| better hotels. but that they lacked ap-
probation OF him. That he roomcd in q
second class hostelry, where no ques
tions were asked. was the outcome OF
Lieutenant Ambrose's dislike, Jealousy
aad some six months of methodical
bounding.
But even in the faded gaudincss OF
Apartments he was unstintedly gay this
bright, crisp March morning. The
downpour Of night before last, the
drizsle Of last night, were forgotten in
the glad sunshine of today. There was
no fog, the rains had washed the dirt
from the city air. San Francisco 8
springtine had burst forth beautifully
like q flower from the dreb stalk of
winter. From his window the golden
sunlight upon the green of the Berkeley
hills was q thing OF sheer wonder. Upon
the green glass Of the bays surface .
little, white sailed fishing boat was
highly worth the watching with q
speculative smile upon ones lips.
Had the springtime been delayed a
short twenty four hours God alone
knows into what miserable thing the
life Of Robert Ashe might have been
twisted.
But the spring came swiftly, delicate
like flower, gay rs bright maiden
singing, and Ashe breathed Of it, bark =
ened TO it. was touched by II. Being
natural in other things he was natural
Ia this, that he responded to nature.
|. When q light knock came at his door
he was sitting before his table, q pad Of
paper in front Of him. q pencil In his
fingers, his hair rumpled, his eyes on
Ere. Though he was q man all Of whose
senses were as keen as knife blades, be
did not hear the knocking. II was not
that he was thinking Of safe safely
robbed not that he remembered bit OF
sharp business with Hamilton not that
he was occupied with considerations of
what might be the next move Of Lieu
tenant Ambrose. 1t was merely that
out OF the springtime a vision had
sprung and that 1t had gripped young
dreamer.
Polly lie Brun, with little regard for
the conventions, had raped the once
largely through force Of habit. Now she
| tried the door, found IL unlocked, and
came in. From the threshold she looked
| toward him eagerly, her eyes scarcely
| less bright than his, warm touch OF
! pink in her dark cheeks.
Ashe threw down his pencii and came
| forward, his hands held out TO her.
"Did YOU dance down to earth on q
sunbeam" he laughed to her, the ex'
travagance which had sought expression
through media Of pencil and pad rising
spontaneously to his lips, "Or did you
come into being from blue air and a
larks song? You are seventeen times
as pretty as picture this morning,
Miss Polly. And the springtime has
piayed havoc with you. too, hasn't i'll
Pink flowers In your hat. pink flowers
in vOur waist, pink roses In, your
cheeks! Do you feel like singing
Polly?"
Polly. Saying things Ike tina"
"And dancing, PollyH. DO you feel
like that, too? And chasing fool ish
butterflies and diving In a swimming
hole and running race with your
shadow. and lying on your back In the
grass building palaces out OF the white
clouds in the blue skyf"
Turning. he swept up o little, worn
volume from the litter on his table.
"IIey, there !" cried Polly. coming In
and closing the door. II didn't come, to
have you read Mother Goose to me.
CONTINUED TOMORROW