Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-30
Edith Speaks Out

TT WAS queer at dinner that evening.
i Edith was very quiet, and Norman
paid very little attention to her. Every
glance Of his was for me, and ne
seemer eager to show me that he had
eyes for no one else.
was divided between responding to
Norman and casting my eyes in Edith .
direction. The change In her looks
haunted me. What could have occur
red to make her look like that and what
had changed her attitude toward me!
The more I thought about it the more
certain I was that there wns n mystery
somewhere that I did not understand.
I was still somewhat of an invalid
md went to my room early. When l
excused myself with little laugh that
evening, I hastcned to remark:
please don't bother about me. I
get tired very easily. Norman. why
don't yon and Edith drop in somewhere
for bridgc?"
Edith was the first to respond.
"Of course not. Joan, I'm tired my
self tonight. and K Norman will excuse
me. III go up TO my room.
We went upstairs together. and on
the landing. Edith turned to me and
| spoke in a low voice.
"I'd like to talk with you for a few
minutes. Joan. May come to your
room?"
"Of course" FASTENED to say, and
| the next minute we were In my room
with the door closed behind us.
| ,,rIo IN "a "a
chaise Tongue and Edith took a chair
and drew It up close beside me. For a
moment we we're quiet. There was an
air OF constraint between us, and thea
suddenly over Fdith's face there swept
a rather peculiar expression.
"Well. Joan, I've made mess Of
things. haven't I?' she said jerkily.
II suppose you'll never forgive me-
II don't understand" l returned.
My heart was beginning to beat fast.
Was I about to be taken into Edith s
confidence? Was she about to explain
some of the things that up to now I
had not been able to understand.
II don't expect you to understand" "
she said quickly, mot till I've ex.
plained to you. You see, Joan, when
to teach Norman lesson. decided to
have a Irritation with him. and when
I saw that I was succeeding and that
he was falling for the fapper stuff
that ] was pulling, / was glad. I In
tended to lead him on and then laugh
and tell him how susceptible he was
but you see what hadn't counted ol
was Herbert Livingston.
! "Oh. Edith" l said quickly, then
was right after ALL"
about what
"You and Herbert"
She flushed brilliant scarlet up Il
the very roots of her hair. and it wa
the old Edith who with a twist of hel
lips replied scarcnstically.
II don't know what you mean bJ
that. H9 hates me, you know. or h,
hated the way I was behaving TO you
Hundreds Of times I wanted to be my.
self, to act naturally, to try to show
him that / wasn't such a heartles
vamp as l was pretending to be, bu
every time ! thought of you and Nor
man, I decided to 90 through with wha
had planned
"Then you never liked Norman1"
asked breathlessly.
Il came near to hating him lots o
times, but I knew you loved him an,
then when you actually played into ~.
hands by running off with Herbert,
knew my little game had come to a,
end. Norman will eat out of your han,
for the rest of your life If you pla
your cards right, but for Heaven sake
Joan, never let him forget that h.
almost lost you, that's your truml
card" .
Tomorrow Recollection