Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-01
Charley's Final Choice

HNHE topic OF conversation at every
i social event was the enga cement Of
Charley Tyne and Mabel Collins.
Most of the younger set had taken
Charley's sudden devotion to Mabel very
lightly. They had believed for til"
most part that he had taken up with
Mabel in order to spite Aline, but an
engagement with marriage In the
near future put different aspect on
everything.
Mabel Collins was not the kind Of
was frumpy; she didn't know how to
dress; there was no fun in taking her
about and none of the men liked to
dance with her. Then what was it
Charley saw in her? 1t couldn't be her
money. for Charley had plenty of that
himself. And so the gossips put their
heads together. but no one seemed able
70 solve the problem.
What the younger set didn't know.
and couldn't have understood, even II
tt had been explained to them. was the
fact that Mabel gave Charley devotion.
Everything he did was perfect. Her
plain little face would light up with
an exquisite radiance when he came
Into the room; her shrill voice would
take on a softer tone when he spoke to
AASE CySS IOLlO~ ulu uUOut
with such an expression Of hero wor.
Ship In their depths that It was almost
pathetic. And yet Charley throve on
al this.
His love for Aline had brought hin,
pain. because she had made him feel
inferior. Mabel made him feel every
inch q man. She made him eager to
protect and take care Of her, and, best
Of al, she had eyes for no one else
In all the world but him, which fact
save Charley a feeling of security and
well.being.
OF course, he did not give to Mabel
the love he had given to Aline. That
had been a wild sweet emotion IN the
grip Of which he had been almost shy.
Sometimes. when they were alone, Ma
lVs don't see how you happened 70
notice me? I used TO watch you at
the dances and wonder what It would
bs Ike to know you, and when you
danced with me I hardly dared to
breathe because knew 1t would be over
"And to think that I never knew,"
Charley would tease her lightly.
but, seriously" she would persist,
how could you look at me after hav-
ing known Aline Foster? | think she
10 the most beautiful girl I have ever
seen In my life."
Mabel said this sincerely. There was
nothing of jealousy about her. She
was naturally sweet natured and some
time. her very sweetness troubled Char
~ because he could not give to her
the love that he had lavished on Aline.
But he would look deep into her eyes
and read there the love she had for
him, and somehow during these days.
although there were times when he
longsd for the old days when Aline
bad meant everything to him. he felt
Tor the most part peaceful and content.
With Mabel hs would never touch the
heights, there would never be anything
- their relationship to rouse any great
dspkAs OF passion In him, but neither
would he ever touch the depths, and
In the pleasant valley Of ordinary com
psnicnship Mabel would make him an
ideal wife.
And %. when she asked him oues l..
lions, he would draw her close into his
arms and. with bis lips against her
hair, would say:
Do you love me?'
You know / do" Her respon,e
would come breathlessly quick.
That 10 why love you 30 much ~
he would return. Because You love
me, because ! can trust you with
everything In life that is worth while
That 10 why ] want to marry you"
Ald MabA, clindns to him with
both small hands, would draw q deer
sisA and forget about Aline.
3nnoeruW-An Unexnashad M..t,..