Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-13

"ieu W PIescrVe tnlS one casual mects
Ing. ground?
Rather clumsily Carmichael said,
Ill SEQ about tho extension thing for
you II you like"
oh, thank you." said she absently /;
ne did not know whether she meant she
would like him to do this for her or
that she would do 1t herself.
AZ she took UP the telephone. book
and stood with It open In her hands,
carmichael rose again and turned ab.
ruptly away. He moved to the hearth,
dug the heel OF his pump into the
crumblins end OF tho log. Anything to
Keep himself from giving movement or
glance that should startle her. For
now suddenly he felt the atmosphere
very tense again. Now again It was
the beauty Of the woman that called to
him. He was on Gre with this new
flame. that blazed revelation into his
own heart. He was all awake; here
In this sleeping house, in this quiet
room he was alone with her. She was
his, as far as rights went. o., a..
On the one hand, the civilized man
acknowledged regretfully that there are
no rights" In a woman; on the other,
the savage lover in him began to claim
The decent human soul Of him recOilcd
from an advantage taken ut such n
timo.
mot now. dash IL. now now-if
ever,' he thought incoherently.
Hero was girl who Ind his word,
given when he did not know that it
would DO any sacrifice to keep It.
"Of course it's going to be Hades,"
he realized now then he found him.
self. full Of shndowy. unreasoning hopes.
Perhaps, a good deal later on, he might
-- Yes, he might find no could get her
to understand. After all, hadn't they
started, three months ngo, with some-
thing like plain rudeness? Hadn't that
developed into common courtesy at
least? Later, hadn't certain cool
friendliness been evolved? So
mightn't he try his luck, much later
on, ut turning this into Affection
and more? He must school himself,
with all the tenderness and tact Of
which he was capable, TO break down
gently, the barriers between them.
OF these, the first wns her uncon-
sciousness Of the situation. She sensed
nothing Of it.
In perfect serenity, she stined little
yawn Of drowsiness with ono hand,
with the other she turned over the leaves
of tho book.
'I've no head for telephone numbers
or anything" she murmurcd half to
herself. Double l. I.lcwelyn,
Colonel + -" Llcwelyn, Mr..
Robert
| She stopped, staccato. at the sudden
ft,r pf No 10y, I,,h Ian
himself to make no movement to start!e
hcr). He (who had so very recently
resolved to use such gentleness, such
tact, such guile) exclaimed, almost
barked at her, "What are you tele-
phoning to that fellow about?'
In real surprise, she looked up at him.
Carmichaels face was the darkest thing
imaginable--the face Of Il very fair man,
angered. She uttered quick, "What?"
- Instantly he pulled himself together.
He returned, politely but coolly, II
only meant it was rather late ut night
to SO ringing people up---"
"IIc will oply just have got back to
the Temple" from Clover, also with
great poiiteness ''and. anyhow. Bobby
Llewclyn always sits up very late,
reading"
ooh. does hc:"
"What is it? Why do you-----
Why do you adopt that tonc:" from
Glover.
81 was not aware that I was adopt
ing any particular tone, returned
Carmichael-and 1t might have been the
Eternal Jim, talking to Rosemary, and
smarting with jealousy.
A woman of any love experience nt
all would Instantly have recognized the
note. Not 30 Clover, so quick in other
ways: in this so slow to understand.
"Only,' he continued as ii careless.
ly. ~ thought that's what you used to
object to: Precisely one Of tbs com
plants you made to me-
Complaints? What do you
mean7"
II mean that you once mentioned to
mo the nuisance Of these incessant
telephone talks these people would drag
you into? However, I'll 90 and leave
you to it"
"Please stay. Yes. would rather
you did," she said, stif.y. ITO SEQ
that it is nothing I am being dragged
into. It's merely his gold cigarette.
case that Mr.. Llewelyn left behind on
the top of tho piano. As ! know It is
presentation thing that he valuedHT Il
thought he might feel anxious about it /;
and 50 I'm letting him know at once
that it's quite safe"
She got the number. Apparently
Llowelyn himself answered the call.
Carmichael, standing by the hearth,
heard the cool little business.likc tone
Ito which ho had listened on that first
morning in her offico). giving the news
Of the cigarette cases whereabouts.
Then, Il will have 1t sent over to YOU
tho first thing in tho morning >
Oh, no, why should you? No trouble
$50 No! Don't como - Oh! II
you put 1t that way, no reason at all.
Come and fetch it II you like "
7 haven't got a day Yes; prob.
ably shall be in. - Good -n----
Yes, / hope everybody enjoyed them
selves. Good night!
AS she put down the receiver she
glanced at the tall figure on the hearth
rug. 1t was MS IL she asked, Have
you anything to say about that?"
But Carmichael had himself now we'll
In hand over the inner tumult. Almost
good -humoredly he remarked, ~
couldn't help being q bit surprised to
see your young friend. You know I
thought 1t was for that very reason
that that was supposed 70 be here?
I thought he was one Of the men that
I'd got to keep out, as 1t were?"
"Hs Is out, returned Glover. "He
can't bother me 70 marry him now
"No. no, / suppose not. But he
can, imagine. go on bothering you
----bOtherinr You about other things -