Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-27
At Cubids Call
BY MAY CHRISTIE

But, oh il was cold and dreary,
She buried her small face in her
hands and dropped a few tears that
sprang from petulance and not from
either anxiety or chagrin as TO 'the
proprieties.
Miss Eve. I feel . brute. do. in
deed It was all my fault for asking
you 70 take this walk - Dick stood
before her awkwardlS. really sorry tor
her plight. He touched one Of her
hands. But you mustn't give way like
this. Indeed. you mustn't. We-wen
find our way home yet . Once we reach
the railway station we can phone to
the White Lodge and relieve your
guardians mind"
but we're miles from the nearest
railway station whimpered Eve. with
well teigned emotion. Yes, she had
taken care of that. ''Oh. Dick, what
ever will the neighhors say?'
People couldn't be uncharitahle.
He patted her hand. This sort Of
thing is bound to have happened be-
fore in this Internal country. All these
twisty. turny little paths--wby, it's
worse than tho South African veldt. or
the Australian bush! 1t wasn't in the
least our fault"
"Oh. no. indeed :" Miss Eve mopred
up her eyes, thankful that Dick did not
suspect her of having coutrived at this
"situation." But. Dck",-her eyes
looked very big and wistful now
you're SO awfully good and honest
that you don't understand how awfully
uncharitsble and queer other people can
be. They're dreadful, really. They'll
say all sorts Of things She gave a
gIlp.
but who cares what they say?"
Dick sat down beside the girl and
moodily knit his brows. He really did
not understand Ewes emotion.
MY guardian will be simply furi.
Gus 80 She gave plaintivc little sniff.
But I'll tell him exactly how it hap
pened." answered Dick. astonshed.
'There's nothing in the world to be
furious over. He should rather pity
US.
We'll. the situations rather com.
promising" she said. tartly. "Nou can
scarcely expect him IN he plea sed at
tho idea Of his ward spending the night
outdoors in company with n strange
young man and quite unchaperon"d -
But we aren't going to spend the
night out here" calculated Dick. If
We keep going long enough we'll find
our way out of this Internal tangle.
and turn up. like the proverbiaI six
pence, He tried TO force jovial re.
assuring note into his voice. but sig
nallv failed. ~ grant YOU that Mr.
Bellairs must be worrying, Rut wc'l
soon end his worry
Miss Eve knew perfectly that Car.
rington Bellairs already had a SRrcwd
suspicion Of her plan. Indeed. she had
more than hintcd al this particular end
ing to the walk Even If he worried.
and she knew that he wsS doing nothing
Of the sort she did not care
Rut she did care that Dick should
see the compromising situation that he
had led her into. Oh, the blind bat
that he was,
II can't walk another step" She
sat upon the fallen log in a small, hud
died heap. II really can't, DiCk-I'm
Just utterly exhausted. ~
"But you'll catch Your death Of
cold" said Dick. in demonstration.
II don't care walled Miss Eve.
IT m oh. 50 miserable"
II was then that Dick Calardiu said
a curious thing:
"Nou re not half so miserable ms I
am. let me tell you'' FIo propped his
chin on his right hand and stared
moodly into space.
"You? Miserable" Miss Eve sat
up to listen, all attention. "Why. pray,
are you mserable?'
Dicks thoughts were all on Mary
Drew, and what she had said 10 him
last night. Mary had been cruel. heart
less. And she did not care one bit FOR
| him, Life was a wretched, miserable
business. He did not mind what hap
pen"d TO him now.
"Dick :" Eve stole along tho fallen
log and touched his arm with smAll
baud. "Dirk, Whats the mattcr:'
"Oh, rothing :" said Dick. grufR,
Ewes tones were 80 sW""tly pnthcti,
that just for Inouncn, they sccmcu
! like balm TO his troubled hurt young
heart. ITS all right, Eve. I'm Just q
fool, that's all 49,
"You're nothing Of the sort" Eve,
hand slid down his arm until II
touched his own. "You're the incest
man I've known--that's what
think u
Tomorrow--Dlck's Dilemma