Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-25
The Letter


THE morning the postman delivered
1 the letter, Rand was not at home.
Judy held Il in her fingers for long
time. sstaring at It through eyes that
hardly saw. The postmark was New
York City and the writing was un-
doubtedly a woman's.
II only it were possible to see what
was inside
With a sudden mad inspiration Judy s
thoughts leaped to the teakettle in the
kitchen. A little steam from the spout
and the flap would curl back so that
she could remove the letter, scan Its
contents, and put It back in the en-
velope. Rand would never know!
NShe took a step toward the kitchen
and then suddenly shame enveloped her
Quickly, as though the letter burned
her fingers, she dropped It on the table
and went about her mornings work.
But the thought of the letter followed
her, and every time she went into the
studio and saw It lying where she had
put 1t. the temptation came over her
to take it up and examine 1t more
closely.
But she resisted, and when Rand
finally came in. she remarked in as
matter of fact voice as she could sum =
|
you on the table"
She watched him closely and with
jealous eyes as he picked it up, and
she saw his brow wrinkle MS though he
himself wondered where 1t came from.
Then he had slit the envelope and
drawn out the inclosure. Judy watched
him under her lashes rs he read II
through. and she could have shrieked
aloud when, without word, he put II
in his pocket.
She wasn't to know, then. who had
written It! He had no intention Of
telling l,,r, and certainly It vas hel
right to know. She would ask him
and he would have TO tell her, and yet
he mustn't think that she was jealous
for, after all, the letter might not b.
from n woman, and all her fears nigh
be for nothing.
He was at his easel squeezing on
paints on his palette when she asked a
casually as possible:
"Whom was your letter from
RANDI"
He looked up with a start. and thel
suddenly realizing how difficult i
would be to explain the letter to Judy
he flushed. His hesitation lasted 70
only a moment, though, for it was no
Rand's way to conceal anything.
"It's an invitation to tea,' he salt
From whom?" Judy was keeping he
voice steady through effort.
'From Carlotta Young. writer.
met her the night went out to th
Italian restaurant
$50 she was the woman you foun'
more companionable than you did me
always knew there was some one
although you carefully kept her nam
from me-"
"There was no reason why I shoult
name over every one In the party"
mo, you were quite careful not t,
mention any one, and I suppose 20,
and Miss Young are good friends b!
now"
~ have never seen her since tina
night"
Judy laughed scornfully. do you cx
pect me to believe that?"
"It's quite true, whether you believ
it or not
"Then why does she send you an in
vitation to tea without inviting you
wife?"
"She probably doesn't even know tha
I'm married. You needn't worry. Judy
I won't 90 as long as you feel this wa
"You won't Co." Judy Knocked in
high, shrill voice. why you actuall
talk as If you were doing me a favor
Why should you 60 to see anOthe
woman, when You are married? Why
why, will you answer me that!'
But Rand did not answer. He wa
dumb before these mad ,rages of Judy
and he found rs he looked DULY a
his canvas, that all incentive to wor
had slipped from him. 1t was as thoug
he had nothing to work for, and yet h
must fight that feeling if he intended t
make good.