Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-10
CHAPTER LIV
AZ SunnyyiIIe

At Sunnyville
II was perhaps n mere coincidence, or
possibly Mr.. johnson knew something
about II, but Il chanCcd to he on Sunny's
seventeenth birthday that the fires were
lighted for the first time, and the IA
millar smell of heating vinegar and boil
ing jam became noticeable In the new
John Grow Works.
II was on this day, too, that a pro.
cession of furniture vans camo down
the street through IIavers, and dumped
beds and bedding, furniture, cooking
pots, baths, canary birds, and other ar.
ticles of household furniture in the little
new red-and-whlto cottages.
Smnyville had awakened, It had come
to life; the new inhabitants OF Sunny
Vile, who had lived their lives among
bricks and mortar, and had seen a green
field on rare occasions In their lives,
had come out here into the country.
And It was her doing. through her I!
Sunny knew It: they knew Il. Mr. john
son and all the rest OF them knew It.
And the best of II all was that all this
happened on her seventeenth birthday.
She was seventeen today, seventeen
At this age most girls are just waking
up to life. Just beginning TO realize that
there is something else in life besides
school and play. sunny, on her seven
teenth birthday. could look on a little
village and a thriving industry that was
she had other successes, too; sho was
having n great success at this moment in
Bert's new piaylet, which was partly
play and partly revue, watch the
Clock"
Bert, in n new suit. with n green felt
hat on his head, and n large cigar. with
the band still on It, put his hands in his
pockets and watched the arrival of the
furniture vans.
wonderful" he said, wonderful It is
Sunny" He shifted. Law, don't that
smell OF vinegar take you back" His
eyes glistened. reminds you Of when
we was earning eight bob week, don't
Il, In Cutway street. and me getting
leathered most nights Of my life by
father. oh, those days."
"rhey had their uses, like most days
have" Sunny said. Looking back. Bert.
don't regret nothing"
Nor 1 70 he said, There's nothing 10
regret We didn't seem to start life
with much OF a chance, Sunny, yet here
We are lat least, hero you are! Boss
here, pretty WE'LL"
"1'm not" Sunny said. "only a share
holder!"
well, its something to go on with %
And you, Bert, you've not done so
dusty" Sunny said You're making
money. you are now!'
"A bit :" he said. ''But I'm goinf
to make more. I'm going TO write a
play with Wexford. I'm full of ideas
and he can do tho writing. Between
us were going to do the biggest play
Bert talked enthusiastically. for some
time OF the future. Then he suddenly
became quiet. Evelyn had Joined them
and in Miss Clifforde's presence Bcrt
Jackson had nothing to say for himself
IT suppose the next thing" Sunny
married. Bert7'
Bert grunted.
do you remember me and you, oul
idea of getting married once?" sunny
said. She laughed gayly. When Tn
forty, Bert and you're forty-thrco! -
"I remember something about II.
Bert said. He looked at Evelyn out o
the corner OF his eyes and, seeing tina
she was looking at him. his eyes dropped
so did his cigar. He stopped and picked
1t up and wandered away.
IT'S no good :" Sunny said. "It!
scared out Of his life every time he see!
you coming :"
II begin to think he doesn't care
for mo nt an Evelyn said.
Rot" Sunny said.
"If hc did" tho other girl hesitatcd
az he did. he would understand that
Il want him toto say something; bu
he never speaks. he never suggests ever
that he cares anything at all for me "
Nervous, that's what II Isl" Sunny
said, You'll have to ask him yourself :
II never shall" Evelyn said. 81
would sooner die and live an old maid =
You can't do both !" Sunny said.
IT don't believe he cares" Evelyr
said. 1--WE got to think that he doesn
care for me at all If he did" She
paused ; tho tears came into her eyes and
she turned away. Mr. Johnson had come
out and was going to show her over the
new works and explain how 1t was al
done.
Sunny had put her little nose into
every cottage. had passed the tlme o'
day with all the women there, had huns
up three or four pairs of curtains. anC
had helped to put up some pictures
She had done n dozen and one difreren
things and now she was tired.
Where was Bert? Sho found hin
presently. incoming about by himself, hi.
banded cigar still unlighted between hi.
teeth.
"I'vo been leaving Bert alone for tor
long" Sunny thought. lie wants mC
to wake him mp again
"Hello" she said
"ITello!" :" Rert said. "Woudcrful Isu'
| II, that smell Of vinegar" lie shifted
You can get 1t here; smell it,
"Ycs," Sunny said
you've said that before" Sunny said
"Vell. I'll say 1t again; takes yo,
back to the old days, don't it?"
Sunny looked Mt him. Bert eXasper
ated her she was fond OF him and loya
TO him 1t was she who had lifted hin
out Of the ruclS and put him on his fee
and started him In life 1t was sh
who had made him. But for her Ber
would still b" earning perhaps fifteel
shillIngs a weeii In the boiling room
"And TIN be like that always" sh
| thought "Rert wants stirring up al
the time. he's got to he shook up /
he isn't, all that's good and worth any
thing In him settles to the bottom ant
stops there"
what arc you thinking about
| Sunny" he asked.
"A friend OF NINE" Sunny said,
| CONTINUED TOMORROW
Copyright. 1874 bv George p. Putnam'S Sons