Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-16

least, be near him, and perhaps some
times see him.
She was young and romantic, an,
Walter Sheath, honest fellow, ha,
never touched her heart.
She was glad when at last he lef
her; his presence hampered and irri
tated her; vet when she was alone II
her room her fresh courage and high de.
termination began to waver. .-
Supposing she was a failure! Wha,
would she do when all her money hat
gone and there was no home upon which
to fall back?
And the dread Of loneliness and ar
unknown future shook her anew. Dur.
ing a wakeful night she decided a dozen
times to write 10 Walter Sheath and
cay that she had changed her mind, but
when the morning came she knew II
could never be.
She did not love him; she did not
want to be his wife. Even tho vague
ter{ors OF an unknown future were pref !.
erablc to the monotony which was nil
she would ever find in Dilbury.
She went to see Mr.. Junkers the next
day, and told him of her decision.
He listened quietly. the faintest smile
on his lips before he said smoothly:
My dear child--do you know that
you are not Of age?"
Elizabeth flushed.
Not Of age? My birthday is next
week, and ! shall be- twenty one /; can
do what like then -.
He looked n little nonplusscd. and
tried reasoning from another stand
point.
ut is impossible for you to make
your. own way in London; you are not
In the least fitted to battle with the
world. You must at least consult your
aunt, and see what she says. She Is
your only living relative now."
she does not want to be bothered
with me- Elizabeth said proudly. "and
] DO not want to 60 to her house again"
But In the end she had to consent to
90. Mr.. Junkers went himself to see
Mrs. Mason. He told her very strongly
that It was her duty to prevent Eliza.
beth from carrying out her plan.
"She Is only child" he said. "You
are her aunt. Al have told her that she
must come to" you--at any rate for a
time"
Mrs. Mason did not want Elizabeth.
II cannot afford to keep her." she
said plaintively. II think my brother
behaved very badly in not leaving her
or us any Of his money. Why in the
world all that fortune should 70 to en-.
dow some wretched hospital when his
own relatives are practically in want I
cannot see: He was always selfish; he
never cared for any Of u.s."
Mr.. Junkers knew the type Of woman
with whom he had to deal. He cut her
short.
Then I may tell your niece that yos
will receive her?'
For the present; only for the pres.
ent." Mrs. Mason said firmly. Eliza.
beth must look out for some work.
Goodness knows, l have worked hard
enough in my time. ] suppose, though,
she is not fitted for anything but house.
work."
Mr.. Junkcrs smiled.
"She seems to have got come idea
in her head that she would like to teach
dancing he said.
Mrs. Mason almost screamed.
"Dancing! That girl! She cannot
DANCE: She has no appearance. Heav:
ems! Who will 60 to her for lessons?"
Mr.. Junkers shrugged his shoulders.
Perhaps you can persuade her to
change her mind." he said mildly.
She's little fool" Mrs. Mason
said viciously. but suppose she will
have to come to me for the time being.
ut all events"
So Elizabeth cane.
An Cnwelcome Guest
Elizabeth went back to her aunt's
house on Thursday afternoon. and In
twenty -four hours she was seeking des-
perately for means Of escape from It.
Mrs. Mason received her coldly, max
ing 1t plain beyond doubt to the girl
thai she was not wanted.
ut is as much as I can do to make
both ends meet for myself and Dolly"
she said. IF l were a rich woman
YOU wo,il! be more than welcome but
now. naturally, I am anxious to do
everything in my power for my own
child. You must take n post. Elizn-
beth: 1t Is an ordinary thing for girls
their own living nowadays, and hun.
dred pounds will not keep you for any
length Of time"
Il didn't expect it to-" said Eliza.
beth helplessly. "And,' she added.
with a touch Of courage. II did not
want to cone to you at ali. Mr.. Jun.
reason ! came"
"You are an ungrateful GIRL" Mrs. |
Mason said.
She swept ont of the room. leaving
Elizabeth to the tender mercies Of a
maid.
She was shown to her room---a small
one on the second floor. II am to
bring your supper up here. miss" the
maid said, rather apolOgetically. Mrs. |
Mason and Miss Dolly are going out to
u dance
She wondered afterward at the sud.
den fame Of eagerness that crossed the
girls face. but 1t died down quickly. |
and Elizabeth only said quietly !: |
Thank YOU; | am not hungry" "
When she was left alone she looked |
round the room despairingly She was
not wanted here; If she had been smart
and well dressed and rich she might |
have found a welcome; but. as it was,
her one longing was to escape.
She ate her supper in solitude, her |
mind full of plans by which She could
get away.
Dolly had looked into her room for
a few minutes before she went to the |
dance: she wore new frock that made
Elizabcth's heart ache by reason Of fits
sheer daintiness.
In her widest fancies she had never
dreamed of anything half so beautifu.
She looked at Dolly almost with rever.
ence.
Il hope you will have a good time
she said when her cousin turned to 60.
Dolly laughed carelessly.
IT dare say | shall. but Neil Farmer
and I have quarrelcd. | dare say we
shall make 1t up again some day. but
tvo Inn't cnook V'vn