Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-08
The Daily Nooelette
Forihtaring Emily
BY n. Louis Rayboid
ouEAvENs above, how sick get Of

hanging on to strap or weuReu III
be .wcen others as weary as myseli
Of the daily, deadly round of monot'
ony ~
Then her brown eyes wldened and
the ,frown lifted as tho car came to
an abrupt halt ut the drawbridge and
Emily caught a glimpse Of breakwater
and sea and sails on n far horizon.
II was always that way on the ride ia
I and from the Office where Emily earned
good money as a skilled typist. That
momentary sight OF the sound caught at
whatever wanderlust lived in Emily g
city raised heart.
| And this morning when she was on
her wgy 10 give decided No to
Peter Williams proposal that she share
! his salary as assistant manager of Hor-
ton & Hastings. the company whose
employees they both were, the distant
! llue waters particularly appealed. Oh +,
to get away from it sll. To sail and
sail and sail-----
Deep down somewhere In Emily s
heart tiny voice whispered, Why
not?' Why not take her savings and
fare forth into some strange place and
seek advcnturc?-just once before she
grew too old and settled 10 romance.
Peter wasn't offering her romance. No,
indeed. Just ordin"iy. stolid matri-
nony.
The humping Of the trolley car over
the bridge reused Emily to more than
mere dallying with the interesting prop
osition. "1'll do it - she all but cried
aloud. "T'll do that very thing And
probably she herself did not realize how
much her dread of seeing the look in
Peters face when she refused him had
TO do with her mad scheme.
That was how it happened that on
that particular morning the office OF
Horton 4 Hastings was minus its
star typist. Nor did any OF the puz-
alcd force picture Emily as she nc.
tually was-hurrying first Of all to the
bank and then to the station: sending
n telephone message or two; buying Il
ticket to the ncighboring big city; and,
finally settling back in the train with
\ current magazine, box OF choco-
lates and shrug of unconcerncd
shoulders. Peter felt sure she was i'll.
and kept impatient tabs on the clock
until the noon hour arrived and he
could telephone in privacy to Emilys
boarding house.
Then when he did he turned white.
Miss Richmond" said Emily's land
lady acd,y. had sent an expressman
for her trunks. with never word at
the breakfast table about her plans!"
Life for Emily had become interest.
ing at last. A modest room in mod.
erately priced hotel breakfast as late
as she pleased and a varied menu to
choose from: sight seeing tours through
the shops: matinees and concerts 60
lore. Just what would happen when
the savings of ten years were gone
she did not bother to inquire. Had
she given the matter n thought. she
would doubtless have quieted any lurk.
ing doubts by rejecting that her abil-
ity TO earn living in one city would
stand hcr in stead in another. But for
the present the passing moment alone
interested her. Even Peter had re.
treated TO the background of her mind.
Then, oddly enough, 30 inconsequen-
tia! a thing as a heavy downpour
brought the first twinge of regret to
Emily. Shut indoors through a thrifty
desire 10 spare new suit she had
recklessly lavished half a months sal,
AIRY on, she read steadily for several
hours. Then impulsively she threw
the book across the bed.
Love-love--love! Was there moth
ing else 10 write about? WASN'T there
anything else worth while in the
world?
An hour later and Emily, driven by
sheer boredom out into the storm. took
refuge from the penetrating chill Of
sleety rain in a huge moving picture
palace. Settling down in the all but
absolute darkness, she gave herself up
to watching. at first half f-heartedly,
then with more interest. the picture on
the screen. Strange TO say, there was
just reminder Of Peter in the stall
wart hero. Absurd though it was, un-
der the circumstances Emily's heart beat
trifle faster.
The story progressed. the plot thick
cned and resolved. and Mt last the hero
Inc melted into the Peter like hcro's
arms. Emily heaved tiny sigh. At
that moment. out Of the darkness mt her
side, masculine hand took hold of her
arm.
Like fash Emily lcaped TO her feet.
squeezed past the unpardonably imru-
dent person at her side with never a
glance and rushed out into the rain
Then she drew long breath. She had
heard Of strangers attempting such ia
miliarities. but had never supposed such
things could happen to her II Peter
had been there Put then it was only
70 lone women that thing OF that sort
- ~ vi t'uuuchis IHIiiH eyes ulleu.
That was what she was-"a lone
woman in strange city"
And there came to Emily longing
for the dngy old office. with Jim. the
office boy, lounging outside the rail
and Peter working away at his desk
over in the corner and her typewriter
before her. Work and companionship
why, they were worth more than
shopping tours and loneliness, moving
pictures and unprotectedness.
II say, Emily, didn't mean
when | touched you in there"
"Pctcr,,' Emily could not believe her
cars nor Yet her eyes, although surely
rhis man at her side was the man she
hadn wanted 10 marry.
"YO,. dear said Peter shamefac-
"dly. Here I am. ] hunted up the
cSprcssman who took your trunk and
tracked you to the city and found your
name on the hotel register. And, Oh,
perhaps ! was unpardonably curious.
but when you realize IT was because I
love you, Emily. To-day ] followed you
into the theatre and after while got
a seat at your side, although I kept my
head turned so you would not recognize
me. Then at the end your sigh was too
much for me. Oh, Emily, when are
You coming back TO us:'
Emily slipped her arm through Pc.
ter's. when is the next train, dear"
she asked huskily.