Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-23

pected this message SO soon; not until |
tomorrow morning.
1t was the message upon which hung |
the future OF Elphinstone Brothers. |
ClOver's car had gone; her pearl -string
and her diamonds. And now the bank
was ringing her up. 10 say
Gould Mrs. Carmichael arrange
to come round herself and see the man
ager for few minutes at once?'
yes" Mrs. Carmichael called,
steadying her voice, steadying her shak-
ing white hands. eyes. 1 will come
nOw."
Eagerly, yet absently, with her mind
chaos of hope, apprehension and un-
certainty. she gathered up her gloves,
her satin sack from the desk. I'm
seeingly she swept the loose stationery
back to the drawer. she closed it, sne
hastened to the door.
AS she ran to the lift feverishly she
was whispering to herself, Everything
depends upon this-everything depends
upon this" And there whisked
clean out of her mind all thought of
that letter, left lying among the writ
Ing paper In that unlocked drawer.
The life flew down with her. Con-
cerned only with what the bank had
city street.
The Morning Of III Only's"
Enough Of city streets and business
Offices,
The scene shifts.
Place-Up the river.
TimeAThe end Of q perfect June,
morning ut seven: "Summer. time"
seven that still hints "it's only @
o'clock in the morning really" The
hour when larks are shriilest; airs
most fresh.
A vague, opalescent landscape.
Above. newly risen sun. shimmering
through early morning river mist like
a great silver submerged coin. Mist
blurring every outline of the Thames,
the willows, the dew -pearled meadows
dream loomed up the big white house
boat with its garland of sleeping flowers.
A dream. face peered out Of one of its
windows, watching dream figures, free
limbed and swift, move down to the
platform above the waters.
Splash!
rippled into one silver undulation. Two
|
shoulders. Back across the stream
flonted the voices of the swimmers.
The bass voice called: "Essy, dar-
ling! Don't hurry it. Pause at the
end Of your stroke"
"Can't-' gaspcd the treble.
IAN very well to say 'pause' when
OBJ
Eve got you, dear. Now then
| hot y, hot rl "
across. That's 1t. Catch hold Of the
bough here, Right?'
At the further bank the swimmers
hoisted themselves up to the oyerhang-
ing willow. He, settling himself astride
of the branch, flung out an arm to sup
port her; and, seen through the soft
ening vapors they might have been
Naiad and River god. She was blond
skinned. her shape nodded as II in
black wood under his wet blue sheath
suit sloped chest broad az an up.
land meadow; that columnar neck
showed white az curd under the collar
line and his arms, below their woman
ish.. tapering suavity Of limo, rippled
steel.
The Naiad beside him shook tho brigh,
drops from her and smiled upon thia
magnificent slave Of hers.
"What a pity" she exclaimed. that
you can't always 60 about like that!
Rather cold," grunted tho mar
good -humoredly. "An right In the
summer time"
"There. I knew you'd say that.
was waiting for 1t. / always know
what you'll say next"
Sorry, my dear, II he's not sum
lat MI, ~ noI
"Oh, but don't mind that now
Ever since we've all been down hero IN
this heavenly place leading the life 0,
free and happy water'voles. I've fell
quite fond--'
Even Of your lout Of a Hance."
eyes! Every engaged girl ought Il
river before she finally decides. 'Th'
Ordeal of Water is important.
would prevent tragedies. Also peopl,
would get a chance who never got 1
before. Supposing one had never seer
, swan, except waddling about on dr.!
land?"
"Some catch here" grumbled tn
young man, "about swans or geese
There's lot of both about you
you goose. But ever since you've beel
: teaching me to swim and dive and pad
die and punt--Well! l see you're s.
l much better than I am in these way
3 that it just doesn't matter how muc
r stupider you are in all the others.
''Thank you for nothing. I've
9 good mind to shove you in"
!, "No---!' she leant away, caugh
Q at handfuls Of leaves, repulsed him wit
little laughing cries as Of syrinx amid'
the rushes. Don't you dare to kiss n
with your face all dripping wet -
"Yours isl"
Go away, wretch They'll 80 20
|. from the house boat"
: "Iet them," grunted the Etsrns
y Jim.
For this Naisd was Rosemary Msa
a dows and that River god Mr., Jim Hol
@ That was his newly bought house. boa,
Ia across the stream. The HOlts had In
vited for this week guests, includin
Is Mrs. Meadows, her two daughters, h,
o niece, young Mrs. Carmichael, an
|. sundry lads; attaches Of Sandals.
j. They'll be all getting up and wavir
= shaving brushes out OF the window
d 20 away, Jim, goi No! Not on
,e There. Here's everybody---"
splash" from the platform agair
n running chord Of splarhes. Aga
Ig the sucky ripple rocked tho meadow
1t sweet OF the margin. Again heads va
a ~-.l~~k <hA ~1lIl~ ~&0~s>~