The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-04-28

ward Clark, more often than the rest.
| But Tor the first three weeks after
returning to New York, Margaret
was very much aione and did nothing
! definite. She had taken up her resi-
| dence in one of the better class down
| town hotels temporarily, until she
could get her bearings and decide
| Where do we go from here?" Her
! bank account was rather low, for
who could be "over there see the
suffering and keep available cash
! lying idle? Even buying Liberty
| Bonds would not have eased her con-
science. mot for a big husky like
me-" she told herself
There had never been any question
in her mind but that she would be
able to get employment whenever she
! wished {. She was n vastly differ
! ent, more practical, more experienced
! Margaret than had left her aunts
house less than three years before,
! more resourCetul and accustomed to
hard work. Her appearance had not
| suffered because of hardships. She
was in perfect physical trim and
certain softness and sweetness had
been added TO her face.
She had gone to the office of the
| automobile company soon after ar
irving in New York, but although
Mr. Ramsey was extremely gracious
and all the employees showered her
with attention, it was impossible for
| her TO fall into her old place, as they
had nothing to sell and had been lay
ing off men. Raw materials for
! pleasure cars were simply not to be
had. But this had not discouraged
her. Hep was scarce in many other
lines. Without a doubt she would
have secured some kind OF desirable
position II fate had not stepped IN
and taken a hand.
one day while doing some shop
| ping she literally bumped into a girl
she had known in her home town IN
Iowa. After the two had backed
away and apolog.zed. then recognized
each other Margaret invited the
other woman to lunch.
| IT'S mighty good TO see a friend
from home" said Margaret to her
companion, smiling across the lunch
con table.
The woman was fattered and
pleased. In Vinton, Ia, she had
never laid much claim to Margaret's
friendship, As a matter OF fact. her
mother had done the washing for
Margarets family and she, Laura, hao
called for and delivered II. Yet here
was Margaret, looking more prosper
Gus than ever, lunching at the Plaza
|
plainly accustomed to it and treating
her as an equal.
Tell me about yourself. Laura
Do you live in New York? Are you
married, or still Laura Felton,"
! My name is now Laura GerSon. |
guess you didn't know Sam Gerson
He came to Ninton after your time
and read law in Judge. Wilkins's Of
fice. He has an uncle in New York
who got him a job here with a whole
sale dry goods company to handle
! their accounts. 1t took a while to get
started so he could afford a wife. but
I came on about five years ago and
W" were married"
I'm glad you are doing so well,
Laura. Do you know, 1t has been
years since I've seen any ono / know
in Vinton." Margaret smiled amiably
at her guest. Surely time had i'm
proved Laura. Though about thirty
she gave the impression of being still
n girl, not just a girl. but a woman
in whom the girl still survived. Her
figure was young and she was not
yet concerned about her waist line
She had frank gray eyes, set wide
apart, an honest, everyday mouth
rather than the meaningless softness
peculiar to the strictly ornamental
woman, as II she would not smile to
please but only in case something oc-
CURED really worth a smile. AS to
her clothes, they were very plain, the
kind usually worn by a thrifty wife
Of moderately successful business
man. But they were in good taste
How gratified her hard working
mother must be-" thought Margaret,
who even as a young girl knew some
thing of the sacrifices that woman
was making to educate her girls.
Il suppose you keep house." she
wanted to know
Yes, we have a little apartment
in Harlem. We could live in n better
neighborhood now, but I'd rather wait
until We get a little more ahead be-
fore We begin to splash. We have a
son two and a half years old, and he
will be requiring more money all the
time. But here I've talked and talked
about myself and haven't given YOU
a chance TO say a thing about what
you've been doing. We heard in Vim
ton that you had married and that
your husband had died. I'm sorry,
margaret but you're surely looking
we'll"
During the meal which followed
Laura was completely fascinated BY
the brief account Margaret gave OF
her life since leaving Vinton.
IT'S maTvellously thrilling" she
breathed. Yet its exactly what
would be expected from you. II
, sounds like a novel. But then YOU
always were different from other
Girls-so much moro pep and daring
, ] wish Sam could meet you. Would
r you-would you care TO come and
! have dinner with us some timer"
2 would l! My dear, lead me 10
that little apartment OF yours as soon
/ as you wish. I'm hungry for some
real food, and l shrewdly surmise
you're a famous cook"
! why not come tonight? Would
r you like to go home with me? I'm
ready to go now-was Just going
home to get lunch when | met YOU,
a don't eat downtown often unless
really have to-
( Margaret was delighted with
- Lauras simplicity. She didn't pre-
- tend to be anything she was not, vet
appeared wonderfully at ease, partic-
. ularly in view OF all the clncum-
S stances.
I "I'd love 10 go with you, Laura,
e and l marvel at such confidence in
r your housekeeping. 1 know plenty OF
,..nvnan W Ike moro TINA IN