Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-12

angry; then she altered her mind. There
was something about the little gray old
woman that touched her that in some
way aroused % sense of pity. She had
no right to pity duchess at all, but
well, where shall 1 begin?" she
said,
You can begin whero you like. whers
did you live, how did you manage
yon were very poor, l suppose?"
hsdnt 7 shoe to my foot and my
only drcss was all rags Aunt had worn
II out before it came to me-" Sunny
said. II remember the trouble used
up with string" She paused. Some.
times, when l heard an organ playing
in the street, I'd forget and start 10
dance, and then I'd lose both shoes.
Once one of the boys picked one up and
ran on with II, and had to hop after
him But / caught him. all right"
60 on" her Grace said.
telling yOu-.-" She paused. i Tho m
footman came in with the tea on n silver
tray lie placed it on little table.
That's all /; you can CO." her Grace
Sunny poured 1t out; !, sho began feel
she talked.
II had to go to school. of course II
didn't tho inspector would have been
after aunt--and how many lumps?"
three her Grace said.
"Samo for me, when can't get four"
sunny said. She ratified on, and the
old woman listened. Sunny told of life
in the pickle factory, told OF her small
beginnings and how gradually and with
luck she worked her way UP.
And now" she said nov, I've had
an offer Of eighty pounds a week to-
"A cabinet minister's salary" her
well earned, II not better !"
But / don't know II / shall take It
yet; y.tIta.d Il depends on Barstowe."
Sunny opened her eyes. "Barstowo OF
him?"
depend on hm?"
Sunny explained
so, though you are not bound by any
agreement with him, yet you will con-
s,der him before accepting such a fine
"Of course" Sunny said
You are curious girl! Unusually
honest, ] should say! :"
Nothing to write home about" Sunny
said. IF ones honest, ones just hon
est and you can't help It, can you?"
NO, i suppose not-and $3.50 you
are going to marry Dobrington?'
Sunny started, she sat boIt upright.
I'm going to do no such thing" she
said sharply.
DhN Ht lONto NOu'
"Who-who told you?"
Il didn't need telling. | saw It,; II
was very apparent. He worships the
ground you walk on, Sunny Ducrow :"
Anyhow" Sunny said Il am not
going to marry him.
Why not?"
"Because-oh. because il is impossl-
blew - ,.,.,.,r,,..
Sunny stood UP. Because" she said.
4. l., -
I'm sunny Ducrow, that's why it is inn
possible 70
Her Grace looked at her. Explain"
she said. ut Is the difference in your
rank you mean?"
"rf course, the difference betwce:. US
In every way! I'm not in his class His
mother would break her heart, his father
would have fits; besides, he'd be miscr-
able after a timc--hls friends would turn
against him and laugh at him !"
Rot" her Grace said.
sunny started. But it's true" she
said: "a man can't marry beneath him.
f-if he found out afterward he'd made
"He wouldn't, you're too clever for
that; you'd keep a mans heart, Sunny
Ducrow, always and forever. fancy
that man who loved you once would
love you always and consider the world
well lost for you!'
But you =" Sunny gaspcd. "You
arc"
The Duchess OF Lulham," tho old
lady said. "And know what | am talk.
ing about ! am an old woman, q very
old woman and a little tired. | have
seen many things, and I can gee with
far clearer eyes than you can. I've seen
the shams of this world, I've seen the
lies, the subterfuges, the pretenscs, till
I'm tired of them. have seen young
men and young women marry because
they happened TO move In tho same cir
cles, and | have seen them pass from
mere boredom to sheer hatred OF one
another, I have seen all that and a
great deal more. And I have learned
one thing. old woman that ! am, l have
learned that rank and riches, titles. and
Norman blood, go for nothing when put
In the balance against honest, honorable
love"
Sunny gasped. This from n duchess,
this from her Grace, It sounded like rank
heresy!
I'm tell YOU something, her Grace
was a curate in q little village. He had
six children, four sons and two daugh-
ters, of which ! was the elder. We had
less than a hundred pounds n year TO
live on, and we were almost as shabby as
you were Sunny. And then, one day,
there camc into my lfc n man Of rank
a nd position, infinitely above the rank Of
Dobrlngton. This man loved mo and I
loved him. He asked me TO he his wife
and thought then, as you think now.
como when he would regret having mar
ried r. poor girl, a girl of lowly position
and of no birth.
'T hesitated my father thought with
me 4: no was most unworldly man. But
in tho end my lover won, hI madc INC
his wife" She paused '"rhank God I"
she whispered "Thanlc God. he madc
me his wife! II Is fifty years ago now
pcst woman on this earth, for thirty !
years l held his love and made him
happy He never regretted, he--hc |
blessed the day when lie took me from
my little country home. He died In my
arms. blessing mo and thanking God for
our happiness" She paused tho tcars
we're in her eyes, thcy rolled down her
face She went to Sunny and put her
arms around her.
Child. that Ia the lesson wanted TO |
put love first. nobrington 10 a good. |
true. honest lad. II Is tho man himsclr |
not his name, nor his birth, not his title !
nor his friends; Coons'der him; only |
love for him. It Is the advice OF an old |
old woman, n woman who has known |
the best and greatest happiness that this |
world can give; don't miss II, Sunny, !
don't lose It 90
pereG You mean mean IT, r. ssHhS"y sho gut "hs hsr
arms around the Old lady and clung to |
her. You mean it, you think that
II know he loves you, and he's a good |
lad a: his love Is worth tho having. Take |
It, keep it. cherish it. hold his love
"And-now give mo another cup Of
tea, with only two Jumps in this time, ir |
you please, Sunny Ducrow."
"But--but his mother" Sunny said. |
His mother. she asked me. and"
"Norah Blcssendale ls a fool She
has not had the experience have had. |
She knows nothing; she married because |
she was told II was her duty to MARI. |
EOrtunntelN for her. She has ncNar |