Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-02
The Wisdom of Woman

IT WAS Marcia who stepped in where
L Steele had failed and took charge of
everything. I. was Marcia who went
to Hi!lcrest, had y long talk with Mrs
Higgins. and although She told no one
how she managed i, carried Arne
home with her to the house or s'vsi.'
ty.eighth street.
Steele had told his mother ever!
thing. and Marcia had said Tesy little
But in her hear: OF hearts she tex
somehow ss though the Steele pr:de
had been leve,ed TO the ground. Anne
had taught them grent deal. THIS
little wais upon whom she ha" looked
with surercilious eyes !ad behaved liz"
q thoroughbred. And Marcia had the
grace 70 blush when Gle remeInb-Eea
the way she he'd talked ;.hcUt Anne, IL
the past.
Her hrst interview with An:.e ~:
Been brief, and not a. all sentimental.
There would be tine enough ior s"nti-
nent later, and Marc!" wss sare|"
enough to realize that A:ne would reT-T
mental reason. The girl Rad been hurt,
she had suffered beyond he- strength,
and for the time br.Oe emotion waa
dead in her. What she neeIei "
tender care, freedom IRON all wor?T,
and eventually youth would do tie rest.
Marcia was sur" ot Il.
And so. when she o.1G .AnDe Weg.
alone together in Mrs. Higgins pa:."c,
Marcia wasted no time; she came 70 th''
point Immediately.
"Anna. wanr roI Il core loire
with ne. No l DOM wan. YOU 20
talk. want you to hear ne nut frsr.
I haven't come from JOAN. In her.
solely on M own initiative. and | want
you to come home with me- un..l roH
have had a chance 70 rest AID thirE
,hings over. Unless .oH DO this, tE":c
will be- r0ls. I'm not eager for any
scandal connected with our name. and
I am asking rou this Gs q favor 70 nae.
Afterwurd IL you decide against stay nc
with me. thirxa can he arranged quietly
Just as you se, Wiil "o- DO this tvr
me, Anne"
And Anne had consented. After ;M.
a. she had said. it didn't matter. sne
was too tired out 10 struggle aga!nss
lust 10 lie still hour after hour. da!
after day without talking 10 my one,
Il was IN this fraire ~ mind ti.ot SIS
returned 70 New York and tie house
rhat held 50 many memories i0c krr.
Marcia left her Il great dee! Ia her
self, ard after Anne had been Ao!A~
about two weeks. she suggested casual"
that they take a trip together. ''WoUldn t
you enjoy that;' she asked bris&lJ.
~. .if
don't think we'd bore each 0ther ="
Her matter. of fact attitude was rt-
actly what Anne needed. From, the tirst
Marcia had retrained FROM asking Nny
questions She knew that sool"r "r
1ater the girls reserve would brr.E
down. but she was willing TO wait, sHh
today she was rewarded tor her
"I'd love 70 60. but I don; s"e VII"
you're 50 kind to me .. =,
brusquely. "snd in that case I'm Being
kind to ,ayse,f.
The conversation had ended there,
Sat Marcia was satisfied. Anne sal
soonsd Interested and that was a great
doHi. To tell the truth. Anne welcomed
IL chance to get away She lived in
doadly terror OF meeting her husband,
M she shuddered away from the very
Housht Of such Il thing, She had buiit
~ around herself a wall Of reserve and
= vac safe while she lived within Il,
!, ~ hsd even begun to look upon the
hath Of Elinor With less agony OF soul,
~ she wanted 70 drift; she did NOT
want 70 decide anything, and least OF
!. ~ did she want 70 come face 10 face
i Nth her husband. She was 70 AFRAID
~ being hurt again, that she shran!s
;. I'M the thought OF meeting any one.
4 ~ idea of getting away from strang-
\ 80 was appealing and that was why
!, y ognsnfed ~ readily to Marcia q
asa. -.
nv 6eogpw-sasthr and Daughter