Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-25
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
The Wise Virgin
Nv MARY q. CONNELLy

Aren't you burning 1t, Peggy? That
pokers pretty hot"
Peggy unwound long strand OF hair
dexteriousy from about the blaCkened
poker and shifted gingerly
"Fhew III say an" she eI.
her thin shoulders, she began 10 rewind
the strand about her instrument of tor
ture. miracuously avoiding burned
forehead as she did 80.
Don't tell me you're going to stay In
this lovely night?" she questioned a
little patronlzingly.
Margaret nodded. with just a little
smile, I'm tired tonight and | think
I'll stay at home and read she ex-
planned
Peggy turned again to her mirror
with an air Of pity
Amusement and pleasure were as tho
breath of life to Peggy, and while she
loved Margaret she despised her just 4
little for her quiet reserve, which TO
discerning people spelled refn ement, but
which to Peggy meant simply the be-
ginning OF "A long existence OF single
blessedness." for how could any girl
get husband unless she sought him
diligently and with purpose? Such was
Peggys reasoning, and many people
wondered how two persons so unlike
could have roomed together for four
years and never have had a quarrel.
Peggy's toilette completed. she re-
VOWED slowly III 'front.' OF tne mirror.
What you need, Margaret" she said,
viewing her thin silken-Clad ankles with
ComplaCcnCy is male Companionship. /
know lots of fellows VINO would he Just
crazy to meet you-aftsr you had q
little fixing up, you know" she added
somewhat hastily.
Leaning close to the mirror in an eff
fort to determine whether the deluge of
powder had covered all facial flaws, she
caught her friends reflection in the
glass and winked the one eye visible
under the little velvet turban. Come
along she said persuasively. Don {
sit in here all night--that's no way to
have a good time.
Margaret smiled very much amused,
then shook her head deCisively Peggy
took Margarets refusal as a matter OF
course, having met with 1t on many pre-
NIouS occasions
Just what do you intend to do, any
way?" asked Peggy. polishing the toes
Of her htGh-heeled pumps very carefully
upon the backs of her thin stockings and
examining these last very critically for
any resulting damage. You're not go.
ing to end your days here. are you?" she
questioned. indicating the disordered
rooms in which they lived, NO old
maid existence for me. Margaret.
The doorbell pealed jarringly. and she
hurried from the room. A mans voice
greeted her in the hall, then the from
door slammed and Margaret was left
alone. slowly Sne neBan 10 SET tne ulS'
ordered room into tid.ness again, paus'
ing now and then to reflect on Peggy
words She wasn't so very anxious &c
have Mrs" on her tombstone. as
Peggy expressed II, but she certainly
didn't want TO end her days in the stuffy
little apartments the girls called home
The lamp which Peggy had used in curl.
ing her locks was burning out. and
Margaret laughed as she puffed at tke
tiny flame TO eXtinguish IL.
In the sitting room she took up her
sewing ard as she rocked and sewed
now and than pausing little TO muse
and sigh. she discovered that Peggy
words had made more of an impression
on her than she cared to admit. Il
wonder" she said ~ ! became a fool
ish virgin like Peggy. would | be hap
py?" But the mere thought of Peggy s
friends. especially the male element
made her shudder
\ rap at the door interrupted her