The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-04-16
In the Second
RowBack

A1tAA A~AA AH' AAI Nf" NANA W ANsNtst
AS he drew from his pocket two slips
Of pasteboard, his words came IN dull
even tones.
Here are the theater tickets
bought last week. If you care to 90.
we may as well pass the time there as
IN any other way
Before answering she closed her
book and placed it carefully upon the
table. She gave no hint Of haste nor
Of the response that passed through
her at bis words.
"since you have the tickets. yes"
just as size feared, he caught heB
wrist al she passed and held her in
a firm grasp.
Marian, what sense Is there 10 this
stubbornness7 You know that dc
not care SO much for the reason Of
your going as I DO your not telling
me"
She tried to free herself THAT is
not true she gasped. you want to
know why I went there. I'd have told
you, some time, II you'd trusted me.
"BUt Marian, | hear you've been go
ing there for a month, and i've known
nothing Of Il You knew I'd hate a
thing like that
Your informant ought to have
found out more. Why not have him
try again7 I'll never tell you, never.
No matter what happens, Pl-never
--tell-you."
He dropped her hand at that, and
she went on into the other room.
When she returned she had all her
emotions we'll in control.
They reached their seats in the the
ater just as the curtain went up. In
the half light Marian removed her hat
and coat, and tried to settle herself to
gather the threads thrown out in the
first act.
Suddenly into the strained silence Of
the audience came a voice. She says
she doesn't love him but she'll marry
him."
IT was girls voice, and there was
a familiar ring in it to Marian did
she say she'd marry him?" This time
1t was an older more cautious voice
Yes, but she does not love him.
There was d stir and a wayerng TT
ter among those within hearing
Marian sighed and wondered II ever
again she should feel so much inter
est in anything as one could hear in
that girls voice The play held moth
ing for her She wondered how it was
with James. 20 her the pretense
of enjoyment was becoming a bur
den and she wished that they had not
come.
"she says she does not love him. but
he'll never know. Oh. it's awfully ex.
citing" Again Marian felt the stir in
the audience, again she longed to see
the play with the heart and eyes OF
The girl II she could keep her
thoughts upon the actors she must for
get. for a little while, her heartache.
He says he's a buttinski. Oh, he's
the funniest"
The curtain fell, the lights flashed
up Marian found herself in a state Of
painful bewilderment. Sometimes
when she and James talked It over be
tween the acts. they could come to a
better understanding Of the play She
took cautious glance at her husband
He was sitting severely straight and
still
Marian gave up all thought OF
following the play An unexpect
ed tragedy had come into her own
life. and nothing could blot Il from
her mind. Each moment she was be.
coming more frightened at the out.
come Of her quarrel. They could not
20 on like this.
Hector saws he'll stand by her to
the end, II he dies for It." It was the
girls voice again In explanation
Marian felt a relaxation Of her tense
nerves. On, what a time she should
have had to keep James quiet IT,.
She was back at the old worry again.
( Tt pressed harder. She began to be-
lieve that she could not bear it much
longer. She would have to tell James,
but things could never be the same
again He had doubted her and he
had been so cruel about It that he had
forced her e tell.
Marian glanced at her husband He
cleared his throat and changed his po-
sltion. The voice IN continued con.
versation was tantalizingly familiar.
Cautiously Marian moved her head.
Just a little way. and then
"Oh. mamma. there's the lady that
comes to Helen's to give us the
dancing lessons. Yes. the one right
here IN the silk dress, the shepherds
check. On. she is just lovely'
That's her husband; Helen showed
him TO me yesterday. He IS awfully
GOOD looking
Marian moved closer TO the chair
next the aisle and whispered,
'I--l wanted to buy that Gibbons
for your birthday. James. with my
own money. / knew you wouldn't Ike
my doing
Don't, dear" murmured James
lie kept a firm hold Of her hand
pressing 1t gently now and again. She