Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-16

~ Aline and Charley had decided to
become engaged Aline was summoned
TO the telephone one morning.
"Oh. Alnc." came in Helen Brad
lcy's voice over the wire. Il have the
most screaming news for you. Ny
dear, you'll simply die when you hear
what it is. can hardly wait to tell
you"
Aline had been cross all day. Sev.
eral things had happened to annoy her.
the most important of which was the
fact that new evening frock had come
home not at all to her liking. She had
fused nearly the whole mnrnin; over it.
and had finally decided to send it back
to Madame Adele's but it had helped
to ruin her day. At the sound of Uelcn's
voice her face relaxed into n smile.
"All right she responded quickly,
I'm all ears
Its about Charley" Helen began,
purpose!y dragging out her news 50 as
to get more of an effect. My dear,
you just won't believe it 49,
I'm do my best" Aline returned,
and smiled tolerantly. AS though Char.
ley could do anything that would sur
prise her. If he We're capable Of that
he might he more interesting. but A. /,
was, there wasn't II thing about him
that Aline didn't know by heart
We'll. guess who was out with him
last night, dancing at Sardou's after
th" theatre
II haven't an idea drawled Al!ne.
''Oh. Aline. yOu'r re Impossible.
( just can't get you stirred up. can J.:
Well. all right. nS long as you're de.
termined not to be surprised !, was
Mabel Collins.'
Mabel Collins" - Aline repeated the
words after Helen as though She hadn't
heard Alright. Helen. did y"u say
Mabel Collins: You must be joking"
Helen was gleeful. so | did get a
rise out OF you after all she said
slangily. well. its quite true. And
Mamma Collins was chap-roning Mabel
Can you Imagine the gorgeous Charley
Tyne spending an evening with Mabel
and her mother:'
whole thing off lightly. chat,ed with
Helen few moments, and finally rang
! off. The news vaguely annuyed her,
although she couldn't tell why. Mabel
was the least attractive girl she knew.
There was nothing about her that could
possibly appeal 10 Charley or any man
. of his type. Then why on earth had
Charley s"n" I" the trouble Of taking
Mabel. ch0peroned by Mrs. Collins, out
for the evening" 1t was unbelievable,
and AIine couldn't understand II, that
was why she was lrritated.
II Charley had been seen with Helen,
or Doris Rar"lay, or Margaret Ruthrr-
ford, .Alinc would have thought moth.
Ing Of Il, All three Of these girls were
attractive, they had charm, but Aliue
did n0t fear them, she was too cOntidcn,
Of her own attraC'ivaness for that. Bu,
Mabel Collins, with her thin little face
uud big, f-frightened eyes. Nnhr
and Charley, the exquisite, the fastidi
Gus, the most easily bored man in The
world; why, it was incongruous. !,
lozen times Alinc had heard Charlie
laugh with the rest Of them about Ma
bells cagerncss 10 be popular and he
failure at 1t. Charley. with the rest O
the boys, had ducked dances with her
. had deplored her taste in clothes. The,
what had possessed him 20 take her ou
; dancing! Had he done it with the ide,
that she. Aline. might be jeaousy Bu
no. that hardly explained it, Ii he ha
wanted to do that h" never would hav
chosen Mabel for his purpose, Ain
2 was intensely curious. inclined Ia b
! amused. and vet she could not seem I
y throw of that feeling of irritation tha
Q had swept over her when Helen ha
g first impaired the news. Every one VIII
I heard about it would laugh just n
Helen had. and somehow A!ne felt tina
y Charley hul made her rilirulnus