Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-07
Sisters

MUSP have unconSciously been look
ing forward to long talks and sisterly
condolences with Edith's arrival, but
sne hadn t been in the house ten min
u'es when l realized that l was doomed
10 disappointment. She was a product
OF the new girlhood. a carefully culti-
'ateo rather exotic type with no
Southful enthusiasms. and a serenity
that seemed unnatural.
told her about the dinner party for
that evening. Herbert Livingston IL
IIohiihg you never met him, did you?"
! asked. And then with little laugh,
! VEN on quickly, II hope you won
MINK MIN too old and stodgy to be
amusing l don't know many of the
sUmser se'' but I'll have to cultivate
VI tneih now that You're here. :"
HOW old is hep Edith asked with
n languid wave of her cigarctte And
when l responded with the news that
he was thirty five or so. she laughed
amusedlv. ' ''"s"''
college boys don't nmuse ME. Joon
i'ut tell ne. how is Norman, a. i'm
presSlohable aS ever or are Won keen
ing him in order:'
ne' words were cool almost to the
point of CallOusneSS. and | wos hurt
more than ] cared to admit She must
! nave seen from my face that she had
hurt me-. for she fastened on. II
nope you re NOT banking on sentiment
ana the ties Of marriage to hold Nor.
man, joan. There's no need of your
pu,inS long face and looking
Mouiueu 10 the soul because ! said
1iat E norman was impressionable.
,i! one KNOWS that he has reputa :
tioh tor being a sad hirt."
said nothing. and without giving
sign that she noticed nv silence. she
changed the subject. and asked who
else was coming to dinner.
told her in brief about tha Rene.
dictS' and again that queer cnigmutic
smile played about her lipS. NOT cx =.
aclly your sort. are they" she rc .
marked. II suppose Norman thinks
ne Is attracted to Mrs. Bencdict mer
oltcli rail- for queer types"
She isn't queer, she's attractive ~
| burst out.
but l can tell from the way Won
! tax OF her that you're not quito cas,
In your mind about her." Edith re-.
t"rted'. And again | felt the uncanni
ness OF her perception, as | sat thor,
self. ''' NY
=, AT that moment, Mary Knocked nj
re door with the information that
Edith trunk had just arrived from
the sta'lon. ! was thankful for th,
interruption. for ! was eager TO eS.
cape felt uneasy in Edith's pres.
ence' and as Though ] had nothing tt
oifer her in the way of interesting con
versation. IL was n strange way I,
t'cl toward ones little sister, but ther,
seemed no warmth about her, and tr,
as l would | could not get near her
left her alone with n parting adj
nionltlon; of course the dinner to
night VIII be quite informal"
Yes. ! judged So.' she said core
ieSSly. and she did not turn toward n,
as without another word | Slippcd on
OF the room. closing the door softI
behind me. '''
ran downstairs TO give Mary
few last minute directions. and pause
for moment in the dining room T.
look nt the table. and then | wen
back to my own room to dress. NJ
thoughts We're largely occupied viii
Edith. What would Norman think q
her. and what did ! myself think q
her? She was so blase, so world
weary. not at all as n young girl o
twenty, should be. / could not beIiev.
that she wab actually so lacking ir
enthusiasm. and certainly I did No,
believe that her manner was the re.
suit of experience. Then what In,
caused this change in Edith. what kim
Of people had she been used TO ossn.
ciating with, that she assumed III,
careless fippant attitude toward life