Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-30

never thought that thau couidst be,
More than a midnight dream to me-
Tallentyre called at Mr.. Stureess'
office on the Monday after Kathy's we'd
ding.
Jill heard his voice outside the door
before he opened It, but she did not
glance up from her work. though her
heart beats Quickened little, and she
was conscious OF the warm color that
few to her face.
Iallentyre was not alone; though
Jill never raised her eyes, she knew MS
plainly as IL she had looked that there
was woman-a young woman with
him.
They passed on into Mr.. sturgess'
private room, and the door was shut.
Jll stopped writing; she had made a.
least dozen mistakes during the few
seconds it had taken Tallentyre to cross
the Office she screwed the sheet of pa :
per impatiently in her hand.
There was a family lingering smell
OF expensive scent in the ofice-two of
the clerks OH the other side of the room
were talking together in an undertone,
and chucklng.
Jill looked across at them-she was
longing to ask who the woman with
Tallcntyre was, but she was afraid to.
1t seemed an eternity to Jill before
that inner door reopened and Tallen-
tyre came out again; she heard him
SPEAKING; heard him ask in his lazy
voice
I'm sorry-shall pick you up any.
where later?' and the sharp soprano
that answered him.
oh. don't bother; may be ever so
long"
They went out together and presently
Tallentyre came back alone. Jill knew
that he looked at her as he passed, but
she would not meet his eyes she won
dered why it was that she felt so
angry.
One Of the clerks came across to her
he laid some letters on her desk to be
typed; she plucked~up her courage and
asked him who the lady was who had
Just gone out; she saw his smile widen
9 little as he answered, That's Mrs.
Mrs. Machen." Jill echoed the
Hillyard's sister. Kathy's new sister,
in law, she wished now that she had
looked at her; wished that she had
seen what sort of woman it was with
whom she would presently have to make
friends, for, of course, when Kathy
came back from Paris she would wish
her brother and sister to be introduced
to her new relatives.
Really ~ she said interestedly.
WAS it really Mrs. Machen."
The young man looked amused.
What do you know about herr" he
asked. why are you 80 interested?"
Jill laughed.
MY sister married her brother last
she said with a touch of
pride. He stared
"Your-sister he did not believe
her, she could see.
There was little pause. "Well,
I'm blessed" he said. He went back
to his desk and told the other clerks.
and they all looked across at Jill in
terestedly.
She smiled to herself as she went on
with her work; soon Mr.. Sturgess' Of
flee would know her no more; soon
there would no longer be any need for
her to hammer typewriter till her
head ached; no need to pinch and screw
and scrape----
Good morning" said Tallentyre's
voice at her elbow.
Jill had been so engroSsed with her |
thoughts that she had not heard his |
Good morning" she said,
She knew that the clerks were
listening with all their ears; she hoped |
lallentyre would not say anything she
would mind them hearing.
What he said was:
II expected to meet you at your
sisters wedding on Saturday"
Jill flushed crimson: she felt hor-
ribly mortified; she raised her head
with n little touch Of dignity.
~ couldn't g0-my-my brother was
100 i'll to be left" She hoped that he
would not guess she was telling him a
lie she wondered why he thought she
lad kept away. 1--WE can never leave
nim when he is ill.," she added des-
u see," his grave eyes searched her
ACE he stood hesitating for moment
beside her, then he turned and walked
lway.
Jill heard him go achingly; it seemed
now that she could ever hope
20 live in the same sphere Of life AS
his man at that moment 1t came home
o her with dreary conviction that no
natter how hard she tried, or how
she longed to get out Of this
rut, she would never be
,be to do so. 1t was the desire of the
moth for the star; II would be far more
sensible TO give up her ambition--to
force herself to contentment.
But when she went out to lunch, she
Iound Tallentyre waiting outside for
ier.