Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-22
The Master of the House

LNOR a moment the two stood there
L facinG each other and there was
about Anne M inhcxibility of purpose.
hardness against which Steele, ac-
cuNtomed nj his life to having his own
way, was pOwcrlcss.
1t was incredible that she should be
standing there refusing his offer and for
q reason that showed only too plainly
her lack of faith in men. For the first
time and then only for n moment Steele
thought IF Anne's past. What had she
i been forced to endure, what agony had
been hers 70 have brought her to this
point? But that thought was swallowed
up almost Immediately by the stab
bing realization that he was not to
lave her.
II" had sudden impulse 70 take her
| by force, 10 refuse 10 TAKE seriously
what she had said. In the friendship
that had sprung up between them, she
| had shown him occasional glimpses of
| herself, intimate little revelations of her
characters, and he knew that deep in her
there lay buried capacity for strong
emotion. 1t was in her to love and to
love as he did. Perhaps it was because
Of that very thing sh" had buckled on
this armcr of sophistication.
Anne" he said suddenly, canine -
| But mt that moment the door clicked
and Marcia came into the room. Al
most before he knew it, Anne had made
her escape and mother and son stood
facing each other.
For the time being Steele was
beside himself. lie was conscious Of
walking up and down the room like n
Gagged animal, of saying things to Marcia
| that he would never have dreamed of
saying in his right mind, and she stood
silent making no defense. until finally
when there fell n momentary silence,
, she sn!d evenly.
"She asked me- not to tell you. She
didn't want you 10 know" And then
before he could reply to this. she hur-
red on.
"John, be reasonable. This girl could
never make YOU happy. I'm your
mother and I know what I'm talking
about. Just now yOu don't care be
cause you're Infatuated with her. but
afterward when you are cool headed
and ready to think, everything will lool,
different. have obtained position
for her with Elise Barringcr to teacl
the two younger children. The work
isn't hard, md Elise is more than kind
DR.. Henderson thinks that Anne Is
strong enough to take up light work
nov, and she IS eager to go. ! had q
long talk with her today"
Marcia pnused. There was an ex
preston Il her face half pleading and
half tender. She wanted the best foI
him, If only hc would realize that, and
in her heart Of hearts, Marcia actually
believed what sh" was saying. She was
certain that some day that specter o
Annc's past would rise up and make
trouble for all of them, and she feared
because of her own experience will
Johns father, that mans love Is not
enduring enough TO withstand the ugli
ness of suspicion.
But John Steele was visualizing Ann,
ms govrrncss TO two small trying chill
dren. Anne the variable, half woman
half child, Anne the creature OF FIRE
land snow, a gOvcrnrSs, little sistel
TO the rich? Never, not while he lived
whether she became his wife or not!
shes not going TO become n servan
for Elise Bnrringcr," he said abruptly
"This time, mother, you've oversteppe,
the mark. You had no right to max
tplans over my head and without con
.sulting me. For the present Ammo TEN
,ple will remain here as our guest. Wei
let the future take care Of itself, bu
LET this one thing he clearly understood
I will not brook any Interference froI
any one whcre she Is concerned
. His dark eyes were broodng, almo.
3 menacing, and before them Marci
nuniled. But the next morning
: : strangely enough, Anne had dis
/. appeared.
no taI Gnr