Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-17

'Why:
Because you re 'whiZ.
Snngrecs brows puzzled.
Whats whiz?" he asked
"Oh--anythin; that's all right. /
Thought YOU were II luittcr'-that you
ecrc frightened. YOU know
II was. At the risk of being no
Songer a 'whiz.' must say that l still
Am-morc so than ever.
But you did it. That's the point.
] insist that you re Il 'whiz whether
Son want to be or not.
II hope you won't ask me to ride
again. though h" said. Il had no
idea that horse could be so violent.
She laughed. Il won't. won ever
Ask you to do anything you don't want
to do. that is except to come TO III!
tea"
why do YOU think I wouldn't want
- do that
well. it isn't altogether your line.
e. IT,"
She smiled at him charmingly. And
this means that I'm forgiven. doesn
IT,"
"Yes.''
There was n silence. which Cherry
improved by lighting n cigarette. She
hadn't been altogether at her ease. al
though she had succeeded in creating the
impression of being SO. But she now
came to her point with the directneSs
that was one of her characteristics.
"You know. DIR. Sangree. she went
on. that when decide to like any
body. I want them to like me.
'Oh! And you mean-"
She laughed gayly.
That l want you TO like mo IN spite
Of what people say-in spite OF what l
seem to be. Because I'm not nearly rs
had as wanted you to think
was---'
"Please. I beg Of you---
Let me finish. I don't want you to
believe because the girls OF today aren' I
kept in lavender seclusion that they re
going to the devil, Some Of them may
but that's because they'd have gone
there anyway. People don't change
as much as that. The old people used
20 run the show and bring mp IA lot Of
smirkin- little hypocrites who knew n
great deal more than they pretended to
know, and did on the quiet lot Of
things that we girls of today do open.
ly." She waved her fingers airily.
"Oh. don't think I'm apoiogizing for
my crowd. I'm not. I'm just putting
you straight on this: that the girls of
today are no worsc--if no better-than
the yirll that used to be. I know it.
Because I'm one OF them.
Sangr"c laughed. "Why should you
suppose that I'm setting myself up n
Q censor on the young people OF today
perhaps ! don't suppose it. Per-
haps ius' feel. in view OF Il thing YOU
saw one night. that owe you this eX
rianatiun. You know. Dicky was
drunk. Dickv is fool sometimes. but
hes strG light.
'You mean morally. Of course" said
enngrcc dryly. "Otherwisc his sense Of
direction is-cr-faulty.
She laughed. And then. II suppose
:uu don't believe me. know he's not
your scrt." she said. "Rut like
Iichy. Hes a 'whiz too. and he eats
Out Of ry hand
your fr,rndship:' asked Sangree.
Now you're laughing at me-
mo. I'm NOT. ! was just thinking
That ! Lad already shown symptoms of
doing IL, same thing"
Say. that's ripping Of you. Gem
erous t"1 after what happened. But
I'm doilg all l can to make amends.
arcn't r.
She rose and tossed her cigarette into
Che bushes.
I've got to 60. Luncheon out at
Piping Rock Bur I'm glad you'd see
me. Won't you come over as soon as
you can? Not Sunday afternoons
that's bore. Phone when you cun
get out. Wouldn't you like me to take
kou for motor rde:'
Il would said Sangre". "prOvidcd
eou don't 60 over hundred miles AN
hour
I'm only go sixty. pro'ni>" you.
Good. by.
She offered him her hand which
he took with his left. 1t was hard
little hand, with firm. bnyi>h grip.
the hand of friendship, he believed, of
one 'whlz" for another.
Good by he muttcred.
She took few steps down toward
the machine and then flashed IL quick
smile over her shoulder at him.
"GOod-by again she said And
don't you believe everything YOU hear
about the younger tribes Of Manhattan
Or about me. Promise|'
II promise.
Good by"
She put her foot on something and
with whirl followed by series OF
enorts and explosions she went down
the drive in gale of dust and disap-
pearcd among the trees along the high
way. Sangree turned back at last to
ward his quiet chair and manuscript
with much the same attempt at mental
readjustment with which one enters q
doorway after having been exposed to {
boisterous air. 1t surprised him how
she had carried everything before her
fixing his status and her own with q
defniteness which was bewildering ant
Incredible. She had lifted him, at'l
bound, out Of his slough of meditation
into the wide empyrean of youth. Fol
tie moment he was no longer a many.
lettered philosopher grown staid som,
years before his time, but a hopeful anC
amused spectator of the Human Com
sdy. For new degree had been con,
ferred upon him. lie was now 4
"whix."
He grinned as he took up his pip,
and with difficulty filled it. What wal
1heSs about this wild young creature
vhich NJ compelled him? Was 1t heI
boeuty, her yigor. her joy Of life that