Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-23
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
"Journeys End"
By JESSIE DOUGLAS

"T KNOW you'll like Harry" Mrs.
L Craig said, leaning back on the
chaise Tongue and passing her hand
wearily across her forehead. Hes
thirty y-fve. has enough money, good
habits and n really remarkable taste in
old china"
Lila Gilbert answered, eyes" doubt
fully.
She had heard nothing except Harry
and Harry's eligibility during her week
end at Mrs Craig's. She had come to
hate his very name.
II suppose he doesn't even smoker
she asked bit scornfully.
"Look here, my dear!" Mrs. Craig
sat up straight for moment and spoke
forcefully and to the point, "I like you
and l want you to be happy! I know
what kind Of life you lead in that one
wretched room, going out for your meals
every day of your life. ! know you
launder your own waists and paste your
handkcrchiefs to the mirror and color
your last years straw instead Of buying
a new one.
"I know because did it once myself.
You've never said anything, but / can
imagine just what kind Of man old
Mr.. Hemingway Is to work for-and
here you have a perfectly good chance
to say good-by to all that, and you're
going to let 1t slip.'
Lila reddened perceptibly and opened
her mouth to speak, but Mrs. Craig
went on quickly.
''You may be younger, but you look
twenty seven, and yet you have all the
illusions of youth !"
A faint smile curved Lila's lips.
I'm twenty nine and not an illusion
left-''
"There-I've been beast and I'm
sorry" Mrs. Craig went on, sitting up
and patting Lila's arm. That's the
danger Of red ha!r-you will say things
you think In spite of years Of social
training. ] want to tell you some
thing else. too. ! think you're sweet.
You are too sweet to go on working
your life out and pretending that you're
happy" ,
She stopped, for Liia's eyes looked
perilously bright and her lower lip was
caught between her teeth.
"The very first time I came into
Hemingway's office and saw you,
you were so dear to me | thought you
were rare. I'm going to tell you lit
tie secret. When l married Robert !
promised myself the satisfaction of
doing eccentric things II l chose, and
one Of those was to make friends where
and how l wished
She leaned her head back against
her cushions and lifted ringed white
hand to her temple. And now, as 1
told you, I'm going to ask to be ex-
cused. Lost sleep must be made up,
and I've had two late nights
Lila went across to her own charm
ing room that overlooked the gardens.
NJ
was as though she had unexpectedly
stepped on to the stage and this was
one of those luxurious scenes in the
first act.
She leaned her hot checks against
| the window pane and looked down
across the sweep of lawns to the Italian
pergola and the terraced garden be-
yond.
She ought to begin to dress now for
dinner.
Il know he'll hate me-" Lila thought,
looking pensively N the mirror at her,
self. I'm not prctty--only y at times; -
She studied her face with the dark
sweet eyes and level line of brow, the
white forehead, the dusky hair. She
could see nothing to allure in it. for she
saw it in repose. without the sparkle of
animation, the sweetness of the smile.
nor did she hear the sweet, deep tones
of her own voice as others heard them.
Excuse me, madcmoiscllc, laven-
der clad maid said, 'but madame has
retired and asks that you will take her
| place at dinner
Lila, alone, felt a moment Of panic.
To be responsible for Harry's enter-
tanment She shivered at the thought.
She was shy anyway, and the idea of
sitting with him at that round table,
while the butler moved noiselcssly be-
bind them, was terribly painful.
Aud l know Mrs. Craig has talked
to him rs much about me as she has
talked to me about him. she groaned,
"Ah. Miss Gilbert. Anne told me l
was to have this pleasure"
Lila bowed, seeing In one glance
that Harry" was fat dumping of
man with n shining bald bead and
small blue eyes behind thick glasses.
He spoke in hurried tone and
chuckled occasionally at remarks that
meant nothing to Lila. But she found
herself seated opposite him under the
light of shaded candles with great ycl
low roses separating them, while q
silent stepping butler served them per