The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-07-04
-In0id Mother
LETTER FROM LESLIE PRES
COLT TO LESLIE PRESCOTT,
CARE OF THE SECRET
DRAWER

DRAWER
Well, little Marquise. I had a long
visit and a most interesting talk
with Ruth, and l am absolutely all
up in the air. I don't know what to
do. It all seemed so easy when 1
was in New York. I was so happy
to have $4,000 TO put into the lin
gerie shop and enlarge it. Since l
came home. however, Ruth has
made me think that that $4,000
I should be given back to Karl and,
of course. I know Karl won't take
it. Everything connected with those
pearls is to him something very
sacred and sentimental.
on the other hand, Ruth thinks
Jack will be perfectly furious when
he finds that he is indebted to my
former sweetheart for the money
that got him out OF his fig when he
was gambling on the stock market.
She a Y he'll have a fit every time
he sees me wearing the pearls. and
she can see no other way than that
I should return them and the $4,000
to Karl. She is sure thai Jack VIII
insist upon that. and only after l
have done that can 1 make a way
for telling Jack all about it.
But you see. little Marquise. I
have promised Karl to keep that un-
canny string of beads; and besides
shall I confess it to you'll have a
very human objection to sending
those pearls back. because 1 know
my sister would gain her own selfish
ends. In fact. little Marquise, I
think perhaps this is the biggest
reason Of all why I don't want TO
give the pearls back-Alice has been
so nasty about them.
Ruth also told me of another
great reason why at this time we
must not enlarge the shop. Il am
not so sure that I can go on with the
shop. Leslie" she said.
This struck me all in a heap, for
had 10 idea of anything Of the
kind. She has been so successful
and seemed to be so happy in her
work.
you know" she explained, that
Walter Burke is on his way home,
and 1 have tacitly promised to
marry him. I am not sure whether
he will allow me to keep the shop
after we are married. It all depends
upon whether he wants to travel or
whether he will be satisfied to set
tie down here. And ever if he did
settle down, would he like me to be
in business for MYSELF"
"Then you have decided in your
own mind to marry Walter Burke?"
Yes" answered Ruth hesitat-
ingly. He loves me. He has loved
me for a long time and whatever
Walter Burke's reputation with
other women has been he certainly
has been faithful-in his fashion
to me.
This business has been a great
CONSIDER to me, Leslie. 1t has tided
me over the hardest place in my
life. I think perhaps nothing could
have given me the self-conidence I
needed to go on living except to be
successful as I have been in my
work. You see, I had been very I'M
successful as a wife. But oh, Les
lie, I do get tired and lonely. After
my days work Is done. when I go
back to my little apartment, lam
apt to have a few minutes, especial
Iy if 1 am very tired, devoted to self
pity. and I wonder what is the use
Of it all. Each one of these times
makes my loneliness q little deeper,
for you must know there is nothing
as corroding and devastating as
self-pity.
I'VE all Of us want to be happy
selfishly happy. We want some one
to be devoted, some one to whom we
can turn always. It's the tragedy
of human longing, human loneli-
ness
do you think this longing is ever
completely s~atisfed?" I interrupted
mo, dear. that's why 1t is the
great tragedy of humanity"
Copyright, 1924. NEA Service. Inc.)
NEXT: Letter from Leslie Pres
colt to Leslie Prescott, care of the
secret drawer, continued.