Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-20
"I'm Stiil in Love with You,
Elizabeth

CHE stood up obediently and he put
y the big coat around her. Then, obey
n, an irresistible impulse, he caught
hsr % him. He released her immedi-
.te,v however, and stepped back.
w love you so," he stammered.
tim sorry, I'll not do 1t again.
She was startled, but not angry.
~ don't like it," WIS all she said.
And because she did not want him 10
think she was angry, she sat down
again. But the boy was shaken. ne
not out a cigarette and lighted ~, ms
Sonds trembling. He could not think
of ANYTHING to say. 1t was as thoush
h. that one act he had cut bridge ne-
Mind him and on the other side lay a'l
the platitudes, the small give ana take
Al their hours together. What 10 ner
vas a regrettable incident was 10 MN
rreat dramatic climax. Boynke, ne r..
fused to recognize its unimpoItu.n.'e "
her. He wanted to taik aoout t.nt ~. .ou
when You said just now that you
A;dn't like what did just then, DO you
~san Won didn't like me to do 1t! or
thot Won don't care for that sort OF
thinpS OF course know, he added
hastily. "you're not that kind OK girl.
He turned and looked nt her.
lyon know I'm still In love with you'
don't you. Elizabeth" ~
She returned his gaze frankly.
II don't see how you can be wheh
YOU know what you do know.
III know how you feel now. But
know that people don't go on loving
hopelcssly all their lives. You're
Young. You've got".-hc figured
auickiy-"you' got about hfty ,oad
years to live yet. and some OF these aaEs
you'll be-not forgetting" he changed;
when he saw her quick movement.
know you'll not forget him.: But re-
IL wonder" she said. her eyes on the
moon, and full of young tragedy. III
they are, If one can remember without
loving. then couldn't one love without
remembering
He stared at her. ;,
You're too deep for me sometimes,
he soid, "I'm not subtle, Elizabeth.
daresay I'm stupid In lots of things.
But I'm not stupid about this. I'm not
trying to get q promise, you know. l
only want you to know how things are.
I don't want to know why he went
away, or why he doesn't come back. l
only want you to face the facts. ia be
good to YOU" he finished. in a low tone.
'ld spend my life thinking of ways to
make you happy
She was touched. She reached down
and put her hand on his shoulder.
"You deserve the best, Wallie. And
you're asking for second best. Even
,,x ,nOHa th0f
suppose. Fifty years or n hundred. 1t
would be all the same"
you'd always care for him, you
mean?"
"Yes; I'm afraid So
When he looked at her her eyes had
again that faraway and yet flaming
look which he had come to associate
with her thoughts of Dick. She seemed
infinitely removed from him. travelling
her lonely road past loving. outstretched
hands and facing ahead tOwart-well,
toward fifty years Of spinsterhoOd. The
sheer waste Of 1t made him shudder.
you're cold. too, Wallie," she said
gently. YOU'D better go home
He was about to repudiate the iden
scornfully, when he sneezed She got
up at once and held out her hand.
You are very dear to feel about me
the way you do" she said. rather rap
Idly. II appreciate your telling me.
And II you're chilly when you get home
you'd better take some camphOr.'
lie saw her in. hat in hand. and then
turned and stalked up the street. Cam
phor, indeed! But so stubborn was
hope in his young heart that before he
had climbed the hill he was finding
comfort in her thought for him.
Mrs. Snyre had been away for
week, visiting in Michigan, and he had
not expected her for Il day or so. To
his surprise he found her on the ter
race, wrapped In furs, and evidently
waiting for him.
II wasn't enjoying it, she explained
when he had kissed her. ITS n sum-
mer place, not heated to amount to any
thing, and when 1t turned cold--where
nave you been tonight!"
~. "Dined at the Wards and then took
Elizabeth home"
How is she!'
She's all right"
And there's no news!'
4, lie knew her very well. and he saw
tnen that she was laboring under sup
pressed excitement.
What's the matter. mother? You're
worried about something, aren't yOu?'
have something to tell you. We'd
better go inside.''
de followed her in. unexcited and