Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-15
Family Interference

THE days passed, and like gay
L butterfly, Aline fitted here and
there. leading Charley merry chase.
lie grew to chafe under her light trent
ment of him. lie could never get her
to be serious. nor to give him any
definite idea of when she would marry
him. and he was forced to stand a
great deal Of chaf from his friends
because she went out with whom she
pleased, and gave him SO little Of her
time.
Charley was good. d.naturcd and not
fond of Quarrel!ng. but he was proud,
and the day finally came when he was
forced 10 admit that Aline was using
him. The more he thought about It.,
| own mind that she did not love him.
that she never had loved him. He
sometimes felt she was incapable Of
loving any one, although he hated to
believe this.
She went about a great deal with
Mason Long. but she made no attempt
to do this secretly. Aline was fearless.
She cared not at all for public opin.
ion, and she would have scorned to
do an underhand thing. Charley was
fair. He did not blame Long. He
did not take the attitude that this
other man was ponching on his pre-.
serves. He knew Aline, and he knew
that she was to blame because she had
encouraged Longs attentions. but just
the same he was miserable and Aline
was so elusive that he found himself
incapable of dealing with the situation.
Mrs. Foster heard the gossip drift.
ing about and expostulated with her
doing this one day when Phyllis was
present, and with Phyllis. Aline was
always in her most unapproachable
mood.
"Aline, why nre you playing fast
and loose with Charley" Mrs. Foster
asked, determined to be- severe.
Allne arched her brows and looked
innocent. as though she had no idea
what her mother was talking about.
"You know very we'll what mean. '
Mrs, Foster persisted. 'You refuse
to have the engagement announced, yor,
20 about with other men, above all,
this Mr.. Long. What must he think
of you when he knows that you have
promised to marry another MANI
~ think We understand each other, I"
Aline said serenely.
II think It's a shame" Phyllis.
interrupted Indignantly: You're
lucky to be engaged to Charley Tyne.
Plenty Of girls would be glad to hnve
him, and yet you haven sense enough
TO be decent 10 him. The first thing
you know, you'll lose him to some one
else"
Aline turned her eyes slowly upon
her sister. Those eyes were ordinarily
dark gray, but there were times when
they looked almost green, and this
was one OF them.
"It's really not your afTnir. IA II,
Phyllis? But since you are dc s,orlnined
TO bc in on this. let me tell you some.
thing. can manage Charley, there 8
not the slightest chance Of my losing
him, 50 don't worry. But I don't
intend to deprive myself Of any Of the
joy Of life. I don't intend 70 assume
responsibilities before am ready for
them. Some day III marry Charley
when I'm ready to be married, and
when ! do I won't ask any favors
from any one.
Her gaze did not waver, and under
It Phyllis reddened, drew long breath
and suddenly burst into tears.
me like that she sobbed. What I
said was for, her own good"
II know" Aline, snid evenly, "but
you have no right to interfere in my
affairs. I won't have it. And when
you do. you must expect me to retail
ate. Even mother will admit the fair.
ness Of that"
| TomOrrOw-AnnOyin Nsu.