Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-23
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
The Hall Bedroom
Ry JESSIE ID. FOX

his arms. Andy Mcdonald would never
have given her another thought.
He was clumping up the last flight
of dark, oilcloth covered stairs, when
he heard a little gasp and then some
thing soft and yielding was flung head
first into his arms. He caught her as
easily as he had caught the ball when
he was fielder, and having set her on
her feet gently asked in his big voice
with the trace Of huskiness III II, Hurt
any," .-,
She breathed quickly, and answered,
| Il guess you saved my lie the,e
was lust the suggestion of a laugh in
that voice that went straight to Andys
heart.
| "You see must have caught my toe
in the olcloth," she explained.
Andy thought she had the softest,
sweetest voice he had heard for long
time. He could not see her face, II
was white blur. But Camilla knew
what he looked like very we'll.
Andy was big with strong shoulders,
and n plain, altogether likable lace;
whose only beauty was its thoughtfui
gray eyes. 100,
II think my dinner is forever lost! =!
! CamllIu Sulu sadly, SJOOplHs W 'N''
about the dark stairs.
They found at last the head of let
tuce, the two rolls still in their bag
and the lemon that was to help make
up the dinner. In the process they
did several things to each other, alto
gether trite and yet somehow most
illuminating.
So it was not strange that the sec
ond time Andy ran into the occupant
of the hall bedroom he lifted his hat
and stopped to talk minute.
Her face matched her voice very
we'll, although it was neither startlingly
pretty nor different. 1t was a little
too pale and the blue eyes we're little
tired under the level brows.
The third time they met Andy asked
directly. would you take walk with
me this afternoon?"
The faintest tinge Of color showed
through Cdmlla's white skin and she
said-for it was Saturday-"Id love
to-"
They walked along Fifth avenue,
stopping before the shop windows to
peer in and feeling II part of all the
thrill and stir of an afternoon on the
avenue.
Camilla's eyes were shining and she
was actually prettier each time Andy
Mcdonald looked down at her. He fell
in love that afternoon with soft
spoken little stenographer, with a
bunch Of violets at her waist and eyes
that were as blue
The next Saturday it rained and
Camilla hesitated and then knocked at
the door on the second floor that bore
the card: "Andrew Mcdonald"
Il thought you might have tea with
me, it's such a cold, dismal kind of
atternoon,' Camilla offered shyy.
at the answering CLEAN of pleasure
) in his eyes Camilla hurried up the
Tight of stairs. She knew it would
: mean that she must lunch mcagerly
for twenty cents all the following week,
put she bought crumpets and toasted
them over her gas burner, and tiny
jar of marmalade--and spray of mar
cissus to put in the bowl by the window.
She waited for him eagerly and with
queer. futtering expectancy, wonder
ing if he would like her hall bedroom.
At his loud rap she opened her door
and smiled up at him.
Andy laid down box of candy as
he said. II brought it for the party" "
0nd looked about him curiously.
For it was the oldest hall bedroom
he had ever seen. He had imagined
e room with bureau and an iron bed
, and enough room just to sit on the
one chair. What he saw was n room
with two windows and an alcove. a
! room that looked sunny in spite of the
, TACT that it was raining, because the
walls were yellow and charming. Sunny
colored chintz hung at the windows and
covered the cushions of the two brown
, tinted wicker chairs.
Cleaning brass candleSticks were on
) table in the corner. a brilliant color
print of blue mountain and an icy
mountain brook hung over the gray
painted table. A couch under a tum
tle of cushions and black luster
bowl held the frail narcissus in the
! window.
pouring tea onto clear yellow cups. he
suddenly saw as another girl - a
girl removed from his own hard strug-
giles by all the beauty of this charm
ing room. Why. she must earn more
in week than he did to have a place
like this!
do you like my room?" Camilla
asked.
"Why, yes, it's great" he answered.
but there was no hc0rtineSs in his
voice. and Camilla wondered if the tea
was bad
When he went at last She flung her
self down on the couch and for some
unaccountable reason choked her sobs
in the, yellow pillows.
For month Camilla scarcely saw
the owner of the room on the second
floor. When she did meet him by
chance he hurried past her with an
abrupt Good evening"" that was worse
than chilly
She wished she didn't live in the
same house with him; she wished she
Iii In hnt 10 t,,,