Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-26
c o m ing
Another fascinating love story
BY Ruby NJ. Ayres
ON THIS PAGE-SOON

work with except your looks, and he is
So used TO the ones you've got that he
probably doesn't notice them any
more"
You're perfectly insulting!" Bertha
was at the door, her blue eyes blazing
with anger.
Perfectly practical" Margery was
as smiling as a June morning. "And
iarned good natured I'll say"
TO stand there in cold blood and
tell me how old | look and that you re
going to try deliberately to get my hus-
band away"
"You took him away from me once.
He was the first man | ever loved"
You were nothing but child.'
Il know. An inexperienced child
=! ran away. If I'd only stayed and
fought it out, I'll bet you'd never
have had him. Candidly, think he's
lots stunnnger looking than he was
then. He's going to be awfully dis
tinguished- looking as he gets older
And once he gets settled down to being
elderly, why, he's going to be as i'm
posing as--'
She was talking to no one. Bertha
hadn't even bothered to say good after
noon.
Margery actually had the impcr-
her forgotten parasol.
I'm really not such q bad lot as |
Seem--' her voice was contrite. but
her eyes were mischicvous. "We'd
much better pretend to be friends: If
you'd think it over you'd see why. I'm
going to be here all summer"
Then we're going away for the
summer ~ Bertha famed out
1t wouldn't be any use" Mar
gerry shook her head thoughtfully.
He'd use business for an excuse and
come back. You might go for month
by yourself, later on. but just now
you'd be foolish
Again she was talking to no one.
Bertha had crossed the road and was
hurrying around the corner.
Margcry eyed the clock rcfiectively
as she dressed. She had to scurry
bit. 1t takes skill to look attractively
careless. But at the exact moment
when Charles reached the bend in the
hill that made him pant, the ubiquitous
roadster slowed down on its way back
from the village.
"Cooky night :" she called gayly.
Hop in and spoil your supper. What
do you s'pose happened today? Bertha
came to spend the afternoon with me
and we had great old visit about you.
seems she's thinking about taking up
golf and I'm awfully keen about it.
and I'll bet it would be bully game
for you. They say that everybody who
ever played croquet well learns to putt
easily, and as near as I can make out
it's putting that wins the game !"
Charles munched his cooky. A little
kindly feeling for Bertha reused itself
in remote cookie of his dormant heart.
She was behaving much better than
he'd dared expect. Making much less
fuss than he'd anticipated. And he
liked the golfing idea, only he hadn't
been able to get Bertha worked up to
it. She just thought It would upset
the servants because dinner would al
ways be late: it was pleasant to know
she'd forgotten that side of it. He
began TO discuss details eagerly. Mar
gerry deposited him at his front door in
high spirits.
He fairly ran up the porch steps. He
flung friendly arm across Bertha's
shoulders rs he waved a gallant fare
we'll to Margcry.
Thanks. old lady, for going .to see
Margcry. That's the way! Told YOU
you d like her when you knew her. Isn't
she the greatest kid for falling in with |
anything the other fellow wants to do?
I'll bet YOU girls will be winning medals |
in no time. You were a pretty good |
sport to ask her to play with u.s. Seems |
she's got some sticks, but she's only |
used en- a couple times. so Wen all |
start even. Lucky We belong to the
blamed old country club, ch? Paid
dues all these years and never got our
money 5 worth. | guess I'll phone Fred |
right away about getting an all-s sum
mer guest card for Margpry. We'd |
better go in on the early train and order
clubs. 50 they'll be out in time for
playing Saturday." a
Bertha didn't say anything. Twice
before dinner and about three times
Turing dinner she opened her lips to
announce that she did not intend to
play golf. But for the first time in
something like seventeen years Bertha
was beginning to think before she spoke.
She cried herself to sleep that night.
She was ready, even to her new veil.
'Iasp. for the eighteen train.
If Charles had imagined in that sug-
yestive moment when Margery had an
nOunced that she was going to pay her
'ancied debt that she was planning any
romance, he was destined to
laZcd disappointment. TO Bcrtha's ut.
n amazement the strange young per-
son even ceased to taxi him from trains.
Her avoidance of tcte-a- tetcs would +
nave been disarming if she had not so
openly insinuated that she was a rival
Sor Charles affections.
To the casual observer the three of
hem became allies in ignorance, the
lufferest buffers on the course, the
bitter trial of the bored instructor who
nore than earned his wage. BY the
bird week, when Bertha was plOdding
long, nearly hysterical with fatigue
ven before she reached the fifth hole,
he agonized professionals eyes cleaned
With relief when he heard the incOrrigi-
Die Margcry suggest that they might
earn tennis quicker than they were
getting on at golf.
"ThIs game is too slow for young
olks like u.s." Margery gcsturcd toward
he busy courts beyond the sixth hole.
That's the sport for lis. This takes too
Ong, anyway. Now tennis is more fun
because we can get in a couple sets in
he morning and play late afternoons,
Oo."
Be it said to Bertha's credit she did
ry tennis twice. But after that she
lnitted ON the benches for endless hours
while Margery and Charles enthusias-
ically agreed that they liked tennis
wen better than golf. Bertha had
cached the brooding stage. 1t was June
md she was wearing broader brimmed
lats than ever, hats whose crowns were
pulled down to the tips of her ears
lor eyes had Il pleading, haggard look
look that Charles never noted.
For Charles was far too intent on
himself in those days to think abou
}ertha. He had forgotten to be tire
f her. From a sedate tobacco broker
Who had been rather Crouch he hon
ecome a jovial, rather elephantine plA!