Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-01
- By Katharine
NetUlin Burt
Mary or
Eloises
Which
Should Win
Unusual Hero?
~. Copyright, 1888. bv Kath-
drfne Netoiin Burt. Printed
bD arrangement Ufth Met
.~..utr,, Ns,ys10oer Esrv(ce

pany.
Heloise was charmed with her sur.
roundings. 1t was all quaint and smelt
sweetly of roses and old cleanliness and
care. The floor was pleasantly uneven,
a tiny fire snapped in the CRATE, for this
room had been damp. and up in the
hills after sunset. the night had faint,
insinuating chill in its suddenly cooled
sultriness.
Ferdy was a persuasive host. They
drank to their adventure in the cock
tails he mixed. Heloise talked amiably
over their soup and their outlets, their
hot biscuit and sweet corn, their ice.
cream and apple pie. They fingered
interminably over coffee and cheese and
crackers. Ferdinand was an excellent
listener that evening. only he seemed to
be listening to the inn and to the night
as closely as to her.
81 admit your nerve," he said, as
she left the table to sip from her small
cup before the fire and the high, narrow
mantel shelf. Haven't you ever really
heard of Folly Inn"
He wandered around the table, now
cleared. stopping for second at the
door before he joined her and stood be-
side her across the uneven brick hearth.
The room was almost too warm with its
closed shutters and its fire. The mirror
told Heloise that she was brilliantly
flushed red and white and gold. She
had taken off her hat and wore the
sheer black dress she had chosen for it's
graceful dignity. 1t made her skin a
substance of electric fairness.
Ferdinand looked at her delicate bare
forearm resting along the mantel.
No" she said. II never heard it
mentioned"
1T was once quite a famous little
place. Some of the rarest. choicest
Hudson River scandals have been
hatched here"
"Scandals!' Her coffee cup ratified
was the sort of place where there'd be
Bible
"As a matter of fact there is one,
over bn that table. DO you want to
hold 1t in your hands, Lelo?'
''Oh. no--I don't feel the need Of
Bible support. You've never cooed so
mildly, Ferdy:" She affected deli.
cate yawn. You've been almost--bor-
ing--for once in your life.'
His Expression Changed
my wife tells me that for large
strong man, I'm fairly Intellectual" He
was still looking down at the arm and
Lelo was aware of the unchanged direc-
ton of his look and the slowly changing
expression of his face. from which a
curtain like the curtain Of a stage was
lifting gradually.
''She does say rather nasty things
to you, doesn't she? Poor Ferdy !"
''Yes. After you didn't come back
tn ha I to-, hoL
humor. 1t was ID rude of you,
Lelo, to leave me there, and I had an
unholy row with Lucy. She told me she
was at least more successful in her
affairs than ! seemed to be in mine.
She told me that you We're making me
look like a great fool-and act like
one"
Does she consider me one of your
affairs, Ferdinand?'
Lelo examined her fingers to be GER
tain that they were entirely steady and
not cold.
Don't you?'
"No."
"Just-no--like that?"
"Just-no-like that
II saw you on Saturday round the
corner of that hedge. You came back
and looked me over and went away and
left me to sit there and cool my heels
didn't you: You thought me the kind
Of puppy dog that puts up with that
sort Of kicking-didn't you?'
Helose bad a swift and revealing
memory. Seems like she entertains
the notion that man is safe little
pet animal like some kind of n lapdog
I'm not a quarter so safe. Some day
that lady is agoin to get the lesson OF
her life if she don't quit temptin' me-
1t wasn't possible. perhaps that she,
Heloise GrinscoOmbe, had, in Q's ter
ribly candid phrase, been tempting
Ferdy for the beguilement of her bitter,
disappointed tedium? Was it a danger
GUS game! Could it be that a man
was really not. when it came to the
Was this slipping at passion the proper
medicine for the restless craving of an
unsatistied desire? Ferdy's physical
strength, the hot intemperanCe of his
blood. his obvious desire for her, had
been a stimulant, distraction. Per-
haps--she came to the decision sud-
denly and completely-she had better
90 home.
Its been charming, Ferdy," she
smiled and moved around the table
languidly.
You're not going home YETI" he
asked politely, standing. however, still
where he was.
"W- we'll. 1t must be very late. We
nte like epicures and I've talked my
head off. Aunt Selda will be getting
very nervous about me.
He laughed shortly and inexplicably
as she reached the door.
II cant open it, she said.
"Queer!'
"See If you can. Ferdy.
He tried obligingly and failed.
"There's something the matter with
the CATCH
I'm hum"
Call the waiter.
"Oh, he goes back to his own wife
and family after hours
The proprietor, them
Hes in bed. I heard him turn in
about an hour ago. He's snoring sound
asleep by now
"Weli, then, break open the door"
Not on your life said Ferdy
roughly. and then she turned and looked
him over carefully.
"You are going. he said heavily, TO
be punished so you'll never forget it. v
Heloise crimsoned.
Punished? For what. pleasey'
For making fool of me, dear"
IF you are fool, Ferdinand, 1t was
never of my making
Are YOU afraid of me?" he asked.
He seemed to be swelling before her
eyes. He looked very handsome, rather
pale, his eyes thunderous and bright.
mot in the least. ! am amused
Good Then come back and sit
down before the fire. | want to talk
to yOu'