Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-13

questions about the family, either, "
said Minnie. truculently.
"She wanted to know who was DR.
Dicks mother. Said she had had q
woman here from Wyoming. and she
thought she'd known his people"
Mrs. Crosby stood very still.
II think she should bring her ques'
tons to the family" she said. after q
silence. Thank you, Minnie"
/ Bonnet in hand, She moved toward the
stairs. climbed them and went into her
room. Recently life had beer growing
increasingly calm and less brset with
doubts. For the first time. with Dick :
coming to live with them ten years
before, boy, of twenty two, she had
| found vicarieuS maternity ana sioried
In it. Recently she had been very happy.
The war was over and he was safely
back; again she could sew on his but
tons and darn his socks. and turn
! down his bed at night. lie filled the
Old house with cheer and with vitality.
And. rs David gave up more and moi @
OF the work. he took il on his broad
shoulders, efficient, tireless. and in
creasingly popular
She put her bonnet away in its box.
and suddenly there arose in her frail
old body fierce and unexpected re
course and abided by it. He had
even now no doubt or falterings. just
us in the first anxious days there had
been no doubt in him as TO the essen
tlal rightnesS OF what he was doing.
And now
This was what came of taking a life
ana molding II in accordance with q
predetermined plan. That was for God
to DO, not man.
She sat Gown near her window and
rocked slowly, to calm herself. Outside
the Sunday movement Of the little sub
urban town went by: the older Whcc-
her girl. Nina: who had recently mar
ried Leslie Ward, in her smart little
car; Harrison Miller. the cynical bach
elor. who lived next door, on his way
to the station newsstand for the New
lork papers young couples taking small
babies for the air in q peraubulator :;
Younger couples, their eyes on each
other and on the future.
That. too, she reflected bitterly
Dick was in love. She had not watched
him for That very thing for 30 long
without being fairly sure now. She
had caught, as simple David with his
cce!ioate heart could never have caught,
the tone in Dick ) voice when he men
toned the Wheelers. She had watched
him for the last few months IN church
on Sunday mornings. and she knew that
as she watched him, 40 he looked at
Elizabeth
And David was 90 sure. So sure.
The ONCE door closed and Mrs. Nor
gan went out. knitted scarf wrapping
her ears against the wind, and follow
ing her exit came the slow ascent of
David as he climbed the stairs to wash
for dinner.
She stopped rocking.
David - she called sharply.
ne opened the door and came In, il
bulky figure. still family aromatic of
drugs. cheerful and serene,
~ you call me-" he inquired.
Eyes. Shut the door and come ir.
l want TO talk to you.
He closed the door and went 70 tl,c
hearth rug. There was n PHOTOGRAPH of
Dick on the mantel, taken in his uni
form, and he looked at IL for a mo-
ment. Then he turned.
Ian right. MY dear. Let's have
say?' '' "
He stared at her.
'She usually has" he said II
never knew yoH considered it worth
repeating. No. Nothing IN particular, "
The very fact that Mrs. Morgan had
limited her inquiry to Minnie confirmed
her suspicious. But somehow, face to
face with David, she could not see his
contentment turned to anxiety.
II want to talk to you about Dick. :"
'Yes?"
II think he's in love, David"
David's heavy body Strengthened, but
his face remained serene.
I'VE had to expect that, Lucy. l., |
1t Elizabeth Wheeler. do you Think" |
Yes"
For a moment there was silence. The
canary. IN us cage hoped about,
on the other of them.
shes Il good girl, Lucy"
That's not the point, Is it?"
DO you think she cares for him"
II don't know. There's some ink
of Wallie Sayre. He's there a good
Dit."
"Wallie Sayre!" snorted David.
Hes never done days work in his