Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-11

ih thC WVuIuh . SciNhCVs tShS b's
In return not unkindly tolerance,
many half-worn garments and a sort
Of moonlight social position.
Cousin Anna was glad to have Els.
peth included in invitations, but adroit
In so arranging things that they could
rarely be accepted. Elspcth, you see,
was like the paying gucsts--with
difference, that she paid as sign manual
of Miss Maitland's philanthropy. This,
In addition to being secretary. seam.
stress in extraordinary, errand girl,
maid and overscer Of the servants, was
no bad return.
Elspeth's heart sank sometimes at
thought Of her future II Cousin Anna
should marry. But she bravely masked
her tremors and made the small jcsts as
under. Miss Maitland had truly had
beaux .plenty--but for the most part
they had evidently been captives to her
rent roll and bank account rather than
her charms.
Despite a hawkish nose and tight,
thin Tipped mouth. she was not i'll
looking in full regalia. Stately things
suited her almost Oriental darkness--so
did the glow and fash Of jewels. and
the softenings of rich fur. Also her
background set of all these things. So
1t is not strange she had rather taken
the visiting professor by storm-he was
over Of long standing. and verging now
upon forty -fve--the perilous years
of indiscrction for the male of the spe-
cies. running thence TO the coffin lid.
Likewise he had impressed Miss
Maitland. She was a-weary OF single
life, Of uuecning II in her provincial
environment. The atmosphere Of n big
college appealed strongly to her imag-
ination. So she had given her intend
ing suitor glance for glance. sigh for
sigh, and was fully persuaded to ac-
cept him when next he came to town
matter still indefinite In date, but
sure to happen.
The two Of them made fine. stately
pair in the dining room. 1t was richly
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS carving. rare rugs,
much FURNISHED silver and cleaning
glass. to say nothing of a fine antique
mantel and really crcditable pictures
hung sparcly above the wainscot.
just now 1t was ut its bcst--cnn.
dlc-lit with long table running cat-a-
tornered, and all too crowded with Gates
of the best. 1t was decorated with
| fruit-the centerpiece n mound of hot
house grapes. cleaning. translucent,
! opaque line, in the cross lights.
lie had eaten hasty. very greasy
! luncheon after the morning lecture,
washing it down with thirst provoking
! liquids and punCtuuted the drinking with
olives. So, when the hostess excused
herself at some urgent bcCkOning. he
set down the hcaping plate which had
| been thrust into his hands, plucked a
grape, ate 1t with such satisfactory
results he ate on and on. quite OBJ
| llvious of staring eyes all about. Pres
emily, his thirst somewhat slaKcd. he
moved toward the farther end Of the
long room. where, slightly ambushcd by
a picture just above him. The por-
there's masked an open door that led tc
the buffers pantry. where were all the
reserve eiibles. Voices came through
it. hushed but distinct. One was Il
growly bass. the other piping treble,
almost whine. The bass voice said
yocanically: "You tell her she's got
to pay I'm clean tired of all this shce-
nanigan. Them grapes is wuth all OF
twenty-f-i-v-c dollars. You hear mo
Unless she does pay right off the rec
she'll be sorry woman
'Mr. Jackson, how can you! With
Cousin Anna so good to you--givini
you all her business and you know
that brings you a lot more,' from the
treble.
And I do 1t at a loss-hern,
mean; 10 per cent off wholesale sh'
will insist on-and renting my bcs
fruitses fer show -off. Tellin' me tn,
honor bein' here is so much. Lord
she makes me sicl;--and all it stand
me in is bein' laughed at by the res
here. They know old Dick Jackson
amt no social ornament; also an,
; furder that Miss Ann Maitland's n
close as--as the bark to tree. Now
here's the word with the bark on 1t
I'll be paid fer the dee vastations o
that fellow with the one-eyed spec
tacles, else beat out the truth to every
body that comes inside the shop to
morrow
Nobody could have eaten all thos
beau ii full grapes - pleaded the treble
The bass growlcd back: mo, On
Eye couldn't hilt the full of 'em--bu
with his pickin' and choosin' he spill
every bunch-I got proof-my hea
waiter seen him and took notice. Te
that ter yer Cousin Ann. Me, II
through
Heavy footsteps followed. with
chorus of soft sobbing. Prof Gran
slipped outsidc-tO see a slim. sma
creature III q soft blue frOck, her fac
buried in her hands, tears rainin
through her fingers. dropping over
/ huge platter of salad and shaking pite
msly. Somehow he found courage t
D take away the hands, lock int
drenched slate-blue eyes and say thing
that dried the tears in them. Innr
countably he led the owner Of tAci
away to the living room. Miss Matt
land found them there an hour later
quite oblivious of all the rest of tn
world.
When Prof. Grant brought his ne,
wife to the college town she had nevr
jewel beyond her wedding ring an
the simplest possible trousseau. AIS
slate blue eyes that laughed rather thn
wcpt, and they laughed whenever any
. body said, Sour grapes
/, Copyright. 1872,