Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-10
basketfui OF lovely roses with her

II wondered whether should bc In
time for cup Of tcn," she said as she
shook hands. "I'm so thirsty, and your
tea is always 80 good. Mrs. Fcrnald.
No, please don't get up!" This to Alec,
who had made ON effort to rise.
She put her hand on his arm, pre-.
venting him.
~ shall be sorry came If you're
going to make a stranger Of me-" she
can drop in and sce INV friends without
any formality.' Now I'm going 10 sit
here beside you and have my tea"
She drew chair M to his couch,
She was woman of whom one would
h9vo said at frst sight that she was
plain. but after q moments copycrsa
tion with her ono realized that there
was something better than mere beauty
Of feature In her face.
Aer eyes weie gray and open eyes
that could not belong to a small souled
woman--that were as frank and sweet
as the woman herself; her mouth calm
and good. tempered.
"a perfect dear-every one Just
adores her" 30 Molly had described
the Wears wife to Lilith hefore the two
women ever met, and Lilith fully in
Iorsed the sentiment. As rule she
Mrs. Ashford was one exception: she
was really pleased to see her. -
"Of course you've heard the wonder.
ful news. haven't you?" Mrs. Ashford
esked presently. II mean about Mr..
Harden--every one Is talking about IT.
and l am frightfully excited myself.n
II have just been telling Lilith, but
she doesn't seem at all inclined 70 he.
iieve me- Fernald said, a trifle sulkily.
She has known Harden some time, YOU
see, and fatters herself that he is to be
a confirmed bachelor till the end of the
Mrs. Ashford laughed.
II certainly thought the same; It
only shows how mistaken one can be.
AZ any rate, l am very glad-for both
their sakcs. Molly is a dear child she
really deserves little happiness.
Then-then 1t is truei' said Lilith
brea thlessly.
Quite true. Mr.. Harden told me
himself this morning: l was very sur
prsssd; OF course: but glad US we'll It
must be lonely for him UP ut Manor
Dyxs--a woman IL needed there badly"
But Molly is n child, un Uniformed
child! IAlith broke In impulsively.
Of COURSE she hastcncd to add,
she's a dear: I'm very fond Of her. but
as Johns wife! !" She laughed, shrug-
ging her shoulders. II really can't be.
lieve it!' she added.
Mrs. Ashford looked puzzled.
well. It's quite true" she said
again. Mr.. Harden told me. and he
also said that they would be married
soon-and very wise Of them he is not
young man, and is RICH"
(which Is no doubt the reason for
q oy{rr knl = IA
said rather spitefully. "The Danger.
fields have never had penny of their
own; they will hardly know what to do
with so much money, should imagine.
poor John! He will find he has mar
ried the entire family if he isn't care
Her heart was beating with anger
and Jealousy; 1t was true, as she had
said a little while ago, that she had
never cared for any one as she cared
for Alec. but no woman likes to be
dethroned from the heart of a man to
whom she has once been all the world,
and she had been so confident that
John would never care for any one
else.
She could not understand it. An
last night she had lain awake plot
ting and planning; trying to think how
she could persuade Harden to help her
without giving him anything in ex-
change.
Kisses she did not mind-they hurt
nobody, but somehow in the face Of
his passionate Outburst she was not
sure If she were strong enough or
clever enough to keep him within
bounds; he had never been a patient
man years ago he had wanted to sweep
her off her feet and marry her, penni-
less though they both were.
She wondered If he were still the
same impetuous lover he had been then.