Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-14
BY Mary Roberts Rinehart

think Of you in that house, It's q
wonderful house, Elizabeth. She's got
q suite waiting for Wallie to be married
before she furnishes It,"
Elizabeth looked around her virginia.
little room, with it's painted dressing
table, its chintz, and It's white bed with
the blue dress on IL.
"I'm very we'll satisfied a. I am,"
she said.
While she smoothed her hair before
the mirror Nina surveyed the room and
her eyes lighted on the frock.
old thins7" she demanded. Il do wish
you'd get some proper clothes. Arc you
going somewhere?"
=. "f'm going to the theatre on wsdnes.
WHO with?" Nina in her family
was highly colloquial.
with DR.. Livingstone"
'.Are you jokinsf'' Nina demanded.
"Jokins9 OF course not"
Nina sat down again on the bed. her
eyes on her sister. curious and not a
little apprehensive.
cts the first time It's ever hap
pened, to my knowledge" she declared.
II know he's avoided me like poison.
I thought he hated women. You know
Glare Rossiter is"
Elizabeth turned suddenly.
"Clare is ridiculous" she said. "She
hasn't any reserve, or dignity, or any
thing else. And ! don't see what my
going to the theatre with Dick Living
Nina raised her carefully plucked eye.
brows.
Really she said. "You needn't
jump down my throat, you know" She
considered, her eyes on her sister.
Don't go and throw yourself away on
Dick Livingstone, Sis. You're too good
looking, and he hasn't a. cent. A sub.
urban practice, out all night. that
tumble down old house and two old
people hung around your necks. for
DR.. David Is letting 80 pretty fast. 1t
Just won't do. Besides, there's a story
going the rounds about him, that
II don't want to hear II, II you don't
She went TO the door and opened It.
him in my life. But just remember this.
When ! do find the man I want to
marry, I shall make up my own mind.
As you did," she added as a parting
shot.
She was rather sorry as she went
down the stairs. She had begun to
suspect what the family had never
guessed, that Nina was not very happy.
More and more she saw in Nina's pas
sion for clothes and gayety, for small
possessions, an attempt to substitute
them for real things. She even sus-
pected that sometimes Nina was a little
lonely.
Wallie sayre rose from deep CHAIR
as she entered the living room.
"Jp1ln ~ ho ea{I bI Syaa on thf
point Of asking Central to give me this
number so ! could get you on the up
stairs telephone"
Nina aud I were talking. I'm
sorry"
Wallie, in spite of Walter Wheeler s
opinion of him, was an engaging youth
with a wide smile, an air Of careless
well being, and an obstinate jaw. What
he wanted he went after and generally
secured, and Elizabeth. enlightened by
Nina, began to have a small anxious
feeling that afternoon that what he
wanted just now happened to be her.
self.
Nina coming down?' he asked.
II suppose so. Why?'
"You couldn't pass the word alons
that you are going to be engaged for the
II might, but I certainly don't in
tend to-"
"You are as hard to isolate as aus
germ" he complained. II gave up a
perfectly good golf game to see you,
and as your father generally calls the
dog the moment appear and goes for a
walk. thought might see you alone. "
You're seeing me alone now. you
know"
Suddenly he leaned over and catching
hnv ,,I