Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-22

I'm pretty old for that sort Of
thing" he murmurcd glumly.
"Old !" she scoffed. Hin. This is
one Of those mornings when every nun
in the world is just exactly rs old
as" she interrupted herself to
shout "coo-ee" at boy who was
running down the rond-.-"us that |!
Look at him! Isn't he beautiful
imp! In bet he looks very much as
you used to! As II he felt like n shiny,
shiny. bubble and couldn't wait to burst
for shaer joy"
lie was the same boy that Rerthn
had nagged out of her rose garden the
evening before. She had told him
severely that there weren't any worms
there, that she had paid the gardener
extra to spray things.
The boy came up to them painting
-! got a whole canful Are you
really going?'
" You bet" she enthused. "1've n
canfuI myself-1'll be there ahead OF
you."
He was off like flash, grimacing
wildly over his shoulder.
Might ] ask whereof Charles was
devoured with curiosity.
Hist Only four fellers know! We
meet one minute after school. It's n
quarter Of mile beyond the railroad
track and-er-oight thousand miles
| from the wholesale coffee district ="
, her chuckle slipped out. He had swift
desire to pinch her dimpled cheek.
There 8 slues Of mud suckers and
we're almost sure there's trout"
lie had to run for his train. IIe
was home again ut l o'clock, nte n
hearty lunch, claimed slight head
uche as an excuGe for having lunched
at home on workday for the first
tiine in seven years. tumbled into some
old clothes and told Bertha with metic-
uIous carcleSsness that he thought n
good long tramp would do him good.
Bertha was dressing for n bridge. She
had already told him plainly Tint his
home coming had much upset the do
IueStic arrangements. She was ad.
JIsting hair-n net. always a nerve
lacking process. She frowncd ms she
spoke.
| If you'd told me this morning that
| you were coming home I could have
Planned things. Harriet might have got
substitute. But, of course, at this
late hour l cant leave her with n
TIN ee- at. the-tabe I'm perfectly fu.
rious when anybody plays me that
shabby trick. But I must say I think
IL looks awfully funny for YOU to go
wandering around, making it look as
though | neglected YOU. when everybody
Knows that everything ] do Is planned
1or your comfort. Don't you think il
would do your head more good IL YOU
home?"
lie fled guiltily. He waited an hour
and half just below the schoolhouse
lie had to bribe the boy to make him
let him in. But they had heavenly
time, Charles aad that Anderson box
and the Dearborn visitor. The two of thu
them asked Charles thousand flatterina
questions about where he had fshet
when he was boy. They listened
6reathlesSly to tales of his prowess
Ihey leaped madly about the small
stream, lost their bait, decided to spear
frogs, neglected frogs for pollywogs-
the woods rang with their laughter. Ant
when the sun was beginning to cast lonp
shadows the Anderson lad shamelessls
deserted them for red headed pal who
appeared with an infant swapping tur-
tie. '''
n pensivc silence fell between the two
as the boyish voices recedcd. They
found an apple tree leaning over n rail
fence; they perchCd themselves pcrilous
i W on the fence. The little stream
SparkIed and sang. robin rcproached
Them. Charles whitfield at bit Of will
low while the lady watched him con
tentediy. a blissful, golden half hour
IN which neither of them spoke cemcnted
their friendship. Peace enwrappef
Charles fretted soul.
lie presented her with the whistle
and smile. She puckered her lipt
sweetly, but paused with the toy hall
| way to her mouth
m afraid - she whispered.
" 'Fraid of what?" he scoffed.
Fraid to blow il for fear every =
thing will vanish. Life is too good 70
he true just this minute" There we're
tears IN her eyes. and when she saw
that he saw them she sprang down SO
quickly tina! she stumbled. He held her
close for just the tiniest fraction of a
second. His lips touched her shining
hair; She pulled away from him
quickly.
What were you thinking about all
that tinic!' he asked abruptly.
"You!'
And what did you Think" He was
too eager.
THAT" a mocking twinkle shone
through her tear-wet lashes, "I'd bet
you couldn't run so fast as the Ander-
son kid-or me-"
She had good ten ward start. lie
couldn't for the life of him catch up
with her She lodged behind birch
trees, hid herself in clump Of alders,
and before he knew where she was hid
ing he found himself unexpectedly at
the bend of the rOad that was visible
from the station. The passengers from
the 5:1G were descending, two gay
motor loads Of guests from Harriet s
bridge whi2zcd past them.
Bertha was bitter and tactless at
dinner. She had much to say about
his having picked up that woman that
nobody knows anything about"
"In the circumstances, he re-
tOrted, II think you owe Mrs. Dear
born an apology. You're insinuating a
rather unknd thing. All the kiddics in
the neighborhood know her; she was
fishing with a couple of them and l
happened along-r--' he ended tamely.
She dresses like perfect hoyden,
Bertha snapped viciously.
! She recovered herself after dinner.
| "We four women will play bridge.
I've told Tina to have salad and sand
wiches and coffee at IL, so don't start
any new rounds just five minutes Of, y
Bertha was always at her best when
she huttered between the game tables,
passing cigarettes and candy. Her
pretty laughter seemed to float about
the room. She dearly loved to have a
"party." She poutcd over the Has
wells tardiness. They had to meet his
sister at n train. None of them liked
Miss Haswell, and Bertha had cause to
like her the least Of all because it
was of Bertha that Miss Haswell had
said:
"Yes, I'm willing to admit she's
| pretty, as young looking as a