Smyrna times., 1931-12-16
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
ELLEN Meets Peggy's Brother" an
Interesting Short Story Writ
ten by Ruth Arnold

j
ELLEN BURKE, sitting in her
- chair in the pullman as the long
train drew into the station at Phil
adelphia, tucked Peggy O'Connell's
letter safely in her handbag. Ellen
and Peggy had met on shipboard go
ing to Europe a few months before
with their respective parents, and
had formed an enthusiastic friend
ship. 1t was helped along because
Mr.. and Mrs. Burke and Mr.. and
Mrs. O'Connell found each other con-
! genial.
On the way home-for the Burkes
and O'Connells had purposely re-
turned to America by the same ship
Peggy had exacted a promise from
Ellen to visit her as soon as
she had unpacked her trunks.
Ellen lived in a New York apart
ment. Peggy lived in a country
house outside Philadelphia. And
the two girls planned many good
times in exchanging visits.
las soon as you reach Broad
street station" Peggy had written,
you telephone my brother john"
And then she had given his tele-
phone number and his office address.
He'll be expecting you, and will
pick you up at the station and bring
you out home in his car. AS I've
told you, I'm sure you and he are
going to be crazy about each other"
Ellen had heard much from Peggy,
in their many talks together that
summer, about her brother John.
And 1t must be admitted that part
of her excitement at again seeing
Peggy was that she would meet this
paragon of brother.
Ellen knew something of Philadel-
phia. And when there was some
delay in getting Johns office by tel
ephone, she realized that she was
only few steps from his Office.
"I'll just pop around and wait
there" she thought. 1T will save
him trouble, and I'm early. I'd rath-
er wait there than here"
So. carrying her small suitcase
and matching hat box, Ellen walked
the square or two to John OCon-
nell's Office. She hesitatingly opened
the door labeled John O'C0nnell.
lawyer" then she entered the small
waiting room. The room was full
Of girls. girls about her own age.
I'll just wait here until Mr..
O'Connell is free" she said to an of
fee boy. who grinned in answer.
Ellen wore. of course. sheer. light
silk stockings. She wore gray suede
shoes, trimmed with bands of snake
skin. Her hat was Of soft gray vel
vet. that was lovely above her fair
hair and blue eyes. Her frock was
Of gray crepe de chine.
Just as she had taken in all her
surroundings door marked private
opened. and a homely. thirty-year-
old woman. dressed in blue serge.
serviceable and plain. emerged.
Behind her came young man.
Ellen's heart skipped a beat. 1t was
John-she knew from a photograph
Peggy had always carried with her.
you can all 60 now" he said TO
the other waiting girls. "The posi-
ton is filed
The other girls went out of the
room. Ellen flushed and half smiled
at John.
what are you waiting for?" he
asked crisply. Here, come in here
a minute"
But" stammered Ellen. Pm"
She followed him into his office.
Il know. | know. But the job Is
filled. And just for your own good,
let me tell you you'll never get the
kind of job nice girl like you wants
If you dress in buds like those. Did
you see the girl hired? Plain
and reliable. The kind of woman
a man likes to have around all day.
Not ugly. but just not noticeable.
and sure to have her mind on some
thing besides clothes. Now you-any-
body'd know you were thinking more
about your good looks than your
work-and that doesn't do in an Of
fee.
Don't feel offended" said the
young man. I'm just trying to
give bit of advice"
'But you're so stupid" said Ellen
as the door marked Private" closed.
And she picked up her two pretty
little gray bags and walked back to
the station. There she boarded the
next local train to Peggy's home and
explained TO Peggy, when she got
there, that she hadn't been able TO
get her brother on the telephone.
SO Peggy promptly telephoned her
brother not to wait.
When Ellen and John met that
evening, Johns eyes were openly
admiring. Ellen, in pink tulle, with
bare arms and no hat. did not at
first recall the vision of gray that
had disturbed his office that after
noon.
II was not until the next day when