Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-13
LoUe Calls!

VNITH fingers that were suddenly
w cold, Cleo pushed back the layers
Of tissue paper and disclosed to view
American Beauty roses. She gave an
involuntary cry at the extravaganza OF
the gift, for never before had she seen
SO many Of them at once, and then'
glimpsing a tiny envelope almost hidden
among the flowers, she snatchcd II up
and held it crushed in her hand.
Mrs. Ridgefield gazed at Cleo curious
~. She had never tried to pry into the
girls affairs. but her daughter had al
ways been quite frank about the meu
she knew, and this morning her manner
seemed queer and distrait.
For a moment the two women stared
at each other, and In that interval
Mrs. Ridgefeld had queer sensation
that Cleo had suddenly grown up. The
feeling brought a lump into her throat
and made her feel suddenly old, and
she rose from the bed and went over
to the window lest Cleo see the tears
that had sprung to her eyes.
With an impatient movement Cleo
drew the card from the envelope, and
then, suddenly her heart leaped.
She stared at the card with eyes
grown suddenly luminous. The blood
surged into her checks, and her hands
| trembled. 1t couldn't be true, II sim.
ply wasn't possible! Things like that
didn't happen in real life, and yet here
| was the card. And on 1t were the
words that had brought back her hap.
| piness with a rush.
"1n appreciation of last night
CAREY PHELPS"
She turned from the card back to the
roses. They had meaning for her now
because they were from him. lie had
sent them to her. He had hurried out
the first thing this morning in order
to get them to her rs quickly us posi-
! bic! Did that mean that he cared!
Surely it couldn't mean anything else,
true, and Cleo felt suddenly very hum
bic.
But II he did care, and she caush,
her breath at the thought: il some do,
lie should come TO her and tell her tha
he loved her--some day after they hat
become friends, how different everything
would be. Memory conjurcd up his fac
for her. and with the vivid Imagination
of youth she saw his cold gray eye
nf1ame with emotion. emotion that sh
had aroused. The next moment. abnsh
cd mt her own daring. she had sprun
out Of bed, and with the roses all tar
cled up in the lace Of her nightgowl
had rushed across the room TO he
mother.
Mother. look Did you ever sec any
thing so beautiful in your life-and di
YOU ever know man so sinfully waste
; ful?"
Mrs. Ridgefield gasped. and her eye
wandered from the flowers to Cleo
transformed face.
Never before had she seen the 81,
look like this, and the man who coul
bring such look to Clco's face wa
n person to be reckoned with.
'Who sent them. dear?" And sh
e tried to make her voice sound casual.
Mr.. Carey Phelps!' Cleo spoke II
name softly and clearly. as though sh
l introduced him to me. and we dancec
and that's all. absolutely all. I ncvt
expected to hear from him again"
Unmindful Of her mothers keen eye
Cleo turned her hot face toward the CO.
= velvet of the roses, and with a cate
in her heart Mrs. Ridgeield realize
that at last Cleo was awake. Th
!, man. whoever he vas, had reused h
emotions, he had it in his power to NAL
what he liked Of her. but wns he b
enough to appreciate the extent Of h
power. was he worthy the love Of
woman like Cleo?