Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-19

iter Drlght eyes Frightened her leap
ing heart leaped higher. How had he
managed to do It? Had he come each
night, in the dark, had he crept stealth
iy about the grounds, had he entered
the house like thief in the night"
oh, wonderful thief to steal
maiden's heart leaving his grace
ful, fragrant plea? Evelyn had thrilled
often at her own thoughts. She was
rather in a habit of thrilling, but Ger.
tainly never until now had so delirious
an ecstasy danced through her blood.
Bond paused a moment, leaned upon
his hoe, cooked an eye up at the sun
and then stood looking at his hands.
Poor, dear, blistered hands !" mur-
INJURED Evelyn softly. For were not
they the soft hands Of gentleman,
bistered in the name of True Romance?
The capitals are Evelyn's.
Out in the garden Bond sighed. Be-
hind the porch vines Evelyn sighed.
There could be no doubt that now he
was casting a longing look toward the
house, though, of course, a stupidity
matter fact person might have con.
tended that his gaze wandered toward
the kitchen and that perhaps the un-
usual mornings work had put into Mr..
Bonds mind mere sordid thoughts of
boiled potatoes and thick slices of cold
roast. The same stupid person might
have held that his sigh was less the
amorous aud tender expression of \
lovers passion than the painting breath
technically known as blowing" Of
man unused to hard work.
Bond took the hoe handle again into
his poor, dear, blistered hands and
WINGED at the contact Of hard wood and
soft flesh. And then he did something
which, technically speaking again, is
known far and wide as soldering
Under cover Of seeming activity he was
resting. Going into this thing as he had
he had not taken into account that
just pottering about all the morning in
the hot sun would become extremely
unpleasant. He was ashamed to throw
up his hands and quit; he had tackled
the contract and he was going to see 1t
through. But he should have liked to
lie down somewhere in the shade and
take nap.
That being quite out Of the question
he had the uneasy feeling that the
Old Black Witch was spying upon him
all Of the time--he did the next best
thing. He seemed suddenly to find
something demanding n gardeners at q.
tcntion at the root of rosebush. He
went down on his knees, poking around
and putting in time.
'Iie is knceiing!' Evelyn's heart
missed beat and then resumed its
knocking at her breast as though 1t
were crying, open! Open and let my
Lord Love in ~ And Evelyn, as though
she were communing with her inpatient
heart, was whispering cxcitedly: HE
is knee,ing at our rosebush "
She saw Enid and her aunt's secre-
tary lettering in the shade OF the sum
mcr house, saw them vaguely ss
through at great distance, feeling that
they were not in this same world.
She saw Ronnic gleefully chasing a
gleeful puppy or being chased by 1t,
round and round the summer house.
SO far as they entered into the scheme
Of that creation inhabited ut this mo
ment by Evelyn Daily, heiress, and Ar
mold Bond, hero, they might as well
have been couple of wrens.
running up the stairs. With quick fin
gers she chose the queen of the white
roses upon her dressing table. Before
the mirror she smiled into a pair oi
smiling eyes, fastened the rose deftly
in her hair, arranged the hair itself q
little more bewilderingly. and powdered
her nose. WhereupOn, being armed and
armored for the fray, she went down
stairs demurely, swinging her big straw
hat in her hand. She always liked to
have something in her hands.
TOO bad the roses weren't red ~
thought Evelyn as she went through
the garden. For she was singing softly.
and the song which had suggested itself
at the critical moment was,
ooh. my luves like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June;
Oh, my luve's like the melodie
That's swcctly play'd in tune. ."
Bond on his knees. deep in medita-
tion if not actually dozing, started and
put out quick hand for his hoe. Eve
lyn, coming upon him with the big
white rose in her hair and the red rose
song upon her lips, also started. He
somewhat guiltily; she prettily.
"Oh !" she said. 1t meant Dear
me! had no idea that there was any
one else here. - And ,nen us she looked
at him wondcringly she said breath
lessly. "Oh Mr.. Bond"
Bond, caught unaware. coughed and
grasped his hoe handle firmly like an
old knight. thought Evelyn, with a
lance. And, for no definite reason he
could lay his mind to, he began to grow
slowly and steadily and hotly red.
Mr.. Bond !" murmured Evelyn
ooh, how could you!'
Bond looked embarrassed. Perhaps
he was. 1t was evident that Evelyn
had heard nothing from Rachel Steth :
crll. The girl would think him mad
Maybe he was mad. She was a re-
markably nice looking girl, cool and
fresh looking and gowned most at
tractively. He wished he hadn't gone
quite so far in this idiotic makeup: he
might at least have omitted the artistic
smear across his cheek Nor had there
been any sense in getting such ridic-
ulous pair Of shoes. And he'd have to
explain.
"You didn't know" he began rather
lamely for Arnold Bond. capable cash
iCr Of the Lockworth bank. II
thought that maybe you 90
lie broke down quite naturally since
he hadn't had anything in his mind
except tumble of fragments composed
ward Mrs. Stetheril for putting him In
such fools fix.
Evelyn's eyes were shining
That l would understands" she Of
fered softly.
Bond mopped his forehead with the
very handkerchief he had bought for
the occasion. a hideous blue and white
affair something less than yard square.
Then he stuffed it hurriedly into his
pocket.
Your aunt" he began stiffly, sis
woman who looks at everything from
her own particular point OF view. We
have differed upon certain matter.
'"ro put it into plain English, she's
oot - IN for mo Uop1 mud plnntu II