Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-25
IIfe's Surprises for Mary

hnAh1, III tho ueoPeie'iNh VI hSA uAo
l coyery Of him, had told DR.. Sales
,b,t nothing could surprise her. It was
rash challenge to topsy -turvydom. Life
lad many surprises in store for Mary,
ponv more overwhelming. none perhaps
n unexpected, as that which came to
br threshold on that sultry Friday
night She had finished clearing up her
upper dishes, for Heloise had fancied
dinner hour of half.past seven when
he reality was a supper at half-past
dr. Henry Grinscoombe had wandered
cut into the night to make an early
r,ndezvous with Kinwydden. Mary was
,lone. She was alone, and she was
sItting on the top step of her narrow
stairs, because here, with the door
soen below and a window open above.
x. little house drew in breatbs of night
m. and Mary's curls were pleasantly
Iited about her ears. She wore the
ibinnest Of worn white frocks, carefully
nended and daintily laundered by her
avn capable fingers. She told herself
hat she ought to be making out Q's
Drogram for tomorrow. She told herself
Nal IL Grinscoombery had not been
CrInscoombery, she might be flowing
though the dark in big car, like MIR.
S,dden's She decided, tucking in her
mouth corners, that 1t would be more
amazing to be Looping across an endless
srsy green plain with Q. These dreams
Kurt, but they were a sort of ecstasy.
Msry's Imagination was as vivid as
mai OF most reprcssed and thwarted
natures. She dissiparcd in visions.
Ste leaned her head against the balus.
trade, caught her knee in her hand
and half closed her eyes. She felt tie
,ving of the horse, smclt sage adrift
aero her nostrils, heard Q's COM
uanionable, brief laugh. lie might put
out bis hand, comradely, to crush hers,
I.cause they we're both so free and
appy under the white light of big
western moon. If only the beat of the
ponies hoofs had not counted up
trurs. Two dollars-two thousand
Dollars, they hammered, that must be
pald to DR.. Sales. Or elsc--two kisses,
two thousand kisses. She jerkcd dis
ustedly back from a big soft face
md her head bumped against the rail-
ng. Some one below her was MUIR
puring. Mary! Mary" She must
have been asleep.
Mary stood up mechanically and came
down the stairs. Grinscoombery in the
person Of her tall cousin stood in the
doorway. Mary could not believe il
until, lighting a gas-jet in the hall,
Le definitely made out white, tired.
laughing face under a wide green hat.
"Heloise! But you look 50 hot and
used" j" :,
Heloise pulled off her hat and pushed
back from wet temples the clinging
golden hair.
II walked every step Of the way to
Ne you, Mary. It's a revol ution.
Mary led the way into her sitting
room, pulled down the shades, and III
the lamp. Hclose flung herself down
In the wicker chair.
What time Is it?' she asked family.
There were no signs Of that late dinner.
Eight O'Clock or later. III get you
some lemonade. Eleloise, do you mean
that you came to see me against Miss
IGrinSoombe's wiShes-that you quar-
reed with her on my account"
"On your account and Q's.' Hell
e'se fingered her hat confuscdly and
lifted eyes that were embarrassed to
Nary's gentle sternness.
But don't like it bit !"
With this emphatic expression Mary
vent into her kitchen to make the
kmonade and IIeloise dropped back her
head and closed her eyes, tanning her.
kH with her wide hat. 1t was not only
Searincss that made her shut her eyes, it
vas distaste for her surroundings. To
aeolse's spoiled senses. the working
mans house, for all its ncatness, was
u ofense. 1t smcllcd of paint, it was
eoS; the noises of the town, grating
acley wheels, clapping footsteps, rough
,wces, filled it. IIcloise dreaded
ue appearance of an inebriate
uncle: Was it here that Q re-
slVed his lessons? His image suf-
'ered from the association. No. she
would not telephone to. nor ask him
y meet hef here. How could sh,
Ne Planned anything so undignitied,
~.s,;s ~ M;s1eless' so vulgar! y clnndestinc
n. I,''hs IN such n room as this, under
,ssar ,ss rrna1pperonage Of such people. AL
,,Ssu' ieloise was beginning TO taste
,,e,, e snarp naror of Aunt Selda y
ESSpaeSy. The walk in heat and dust
,a", %a .aken the first fine flush of her
,oS ,nS.y impulse from her, and she was
cr.;. ~" ;sohsClouS Of cold discomfort. Her
,oon' an'" IN thiS sitting, shabby, tiny
,s, WAS was the vericst stranger. The
Es was certainly a blunder in taste.
r,ggoS.i "aS iecilhg, true to Aunt Sclda'
seSi,Sh' mSess,n,h' Ike a fool. 1t would be
r',s,ole b, rau TO break through all the hit
Ss,nsars sears OF estrangemcnt that lay
lsnore ms cousin Mary and the
,NnI5 I%' ana herself, and even II she did,
~ =, herself prosper?
,,ron,O. awe So'! something a great deal
An ,s'n, ,nail lemonade for making such
Erino Mary had come in, and was
,assoss d tray with pitcher and two
prst,r On the table. Her pretense,
cise 6o"hn "na quiet and proud, gave Hell
Mary '1rH r, l',tIe of her courage. Yes,
cOulS hmsht be worth II, If only she
hgs nm, p.,'rRed out of her surround
petely me moment, lIeloise was COM
ade in a. S1 loss and slipped her lemon
hess tbsn 'i.Ec' affecting greater weari-
Iol Game" A'e' ''eiolse' Just why
Jour frienJ - PROMISED TO try TO be
ponts snaouo Mary's smile was smile of
mail facoa trimming amusement. Her
'he had Ia, SIparkl"d II was as though
you are - |''','hrd, 'What a funny girl
hgly il. And lieloise felt mortify-
desperntoo nn funny girl" She made a
N a,S wor,S, effort to win back her sense
ossUir.aly superiority. She did nor
which " u N" Lady Bonntifui spirit with
her, discerning aunt had discredited
he Of co,y my dear, Q has often accused
" you 'rT"rulcc Torulcc because of my neglect
unjustiv certainly you have been most
Mould IL L,reated by Aunt Sclda, and |
9s posSi,, iG 10 much to make amends. If
tsays I've thought about YOU
Nm ana much. Every Sunday, for
~ Az t"a years, I've walked up the