Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-16
Edith's Warning

SURELY paid afterward for those
L few moments Of weakness. for again
and again I went over the scene in my
minds eye.
Herbert had left abruptly and rs I
remembered. although was hardly con.
scious at the time OF what I was say.
ing. told him to 60. With my re.
vulsion of feeling I had been almost
hysteriral with the desire to be rid Of
him. felt at that moment as though
! never wanted to see him again. I
was ashamed of what had happened,
and even the thought Of Norman's de-
linqucncics failed 10 comfort me for
that moment Of weakness.
Had Herbert known? Had he sensed
the response in me as he had held me /?
! fairly writhed at the thought as I
sat by my window in the darkness with
my cheeks on fire and my heart beat
ing like a trip hammer
Edith and Norman returned and for
once they did not linger downstairs, but
came up laughing and talking. | felt
secure in the privacy Of my room, for
Of lat" Norman had not sought me out
alone, and Edith never dropped into
my room for bedtime chat. But this
time she stopped at my door and
knocked.
"Joan. may ! come In for mo-
ment:" her voice was disarmingly
sweet and hesitated. After all, It was
the first time Euith had come voluntar-
lily to my room. Perhaps II I let her
in it migh be the beginning Of closer
relationship between US. That thought
was n temptation even while l shrank
from the kecnness Of her eyes, and the
fear that She hight suspect that some
thing had gone wrong.
However, the desire to get closer to
Edith. to understand II possible what
was going on in her mind, was toe
Of lights, so that she might not suspec,
, that had been sitting up In the dark
ness. ! went to the door. unlocked it
and threw it open.
She came in slowly, eying me closely
! met her eyes. but ] could not fathon
their expression. and I was glad tina,
my own betrayed no hint Of tears.
norman and ] went for walk, .
! she said smoothly. seating herself dain,
: tily in low chair. Edtth's movements
were all calculatedly graceful. she never
threw herself about as most girls o
her age did. In fact, everything abou,
: her was studied and deliberate, she
, might have been woman of thirty five
from her manner.
, "D!d you have nice ridc?' sht
> continued
3 every nice" returned. settling my
self among the pillows of my couch.
MIR. Livingston did not stay long
did het' She went on. Something
about her manner made me feel tina
she was trying to pump me for IN
formation, and although ] could no
understand why she should be in,
terested in what had happened be
tween Herbert and me, ! knew in {
flash that she lad had some particula,
reason for coming TO my room. 7
certainly hadn't been because she ha,
wanted to be- with me without any ul
terror motive.
s"'Hr didn't stay long after We re
turned. said quickly, But we tool
much longer ride than we had cx
Edith was silent q moment and Whci
she finally looked up there was quee
little CLEAN in her eyes.
""'Did you ever stop to think. Joan
that you're flying IN the face of Hilrol
conventions when you arc seen so mucl
with Herbert Livingston? OF course
it's nothing to me- she went on, II
!, the face of my growing amaZemcnt
= 'but ] hardly think you would give s.
J. much Of your time to any man who wa
u not your husband. unless you cared fo
e him. I'm just giving you some fricndl
n advice, that's all.