Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-16
MY MARRIED LIFE
By ADELE GARRISON

and said quietly:
Would you like to get out and walk I
little? The air here is sitting"
"Oh, yes yes!" / said quickly ~ can
breathe in here"
He sent a quick, plying glance at me
then took up the speaking tube.
stop the car, please"
Tho chauffeur obeyed instantly. AS tht
man held the taxi door open for us to alight
Jack spoke to him
Walt here for us" he said. we arc
| going to walk a little"
The chauffeur hesitated moment as II
he were about to speak could not imagine
what no wanted
Did you wish to pay for the machine
now, sir?' he said dcferentially.
Jack looked Mt him blanlsy for moment
Then he brought out his bill book.
Afraid I'm going to sklp?" he asked
! kindly How much?"
"Oh, no, sir one twenty-five, sir"
Jack handed him 50 bin
| "That will pay for part Of your walt, he
| said "I'll settle again when we go back"
III I might suggest, sir the chauffeur
said this is very bad place for the ma
| chino to wait Just two or three blocks
farther along this path there is parking
| place"
AN right. we'll find YOU. Let's see, your
| number is"
"J--7Si5 sir"
jack scribbled it on a card he took from
his pocket
Go ahead We won't be long"
! The chauffeur touched his cap. jumped
| into his machine and the next minute was
| out OF sight around the curve
/ could not help contrasting Jacks treat
| ment of the chauffeur with the way Dicky
would have acted under similar circum-
| stances
II a driver dared to ask for payment OF
! his bin before DclSy was ready TO dismiss
him, my husband would have scored the
driver rCundly threatened to get his license
and to do other ridiculous things and dis
missed him instantly.
knew that in reality Jack had as hot
temper as Dicky, and far more dangerous
one II really aroused But, while Jack had
been trained to control his from babyhood
Dcky had never learned to restrain his in
the least.
1t was not the first time I had involun-
tarIly contrasted the two men. Jack Bick
EFT, the cousin who had been brought up
with me- who was the only brother / had
ever known, was the only man in my life
until met and married Dlcky
THE MIGHT HAVE BEEN"
adored my husband l had married him
after a whirlwind woolng during Jacks
absence In South America, No thought of
Jack in any other light than that Of
brother had ever crossed my mind
But two three times since my mar
raEe had wondered why had not fallen
In love with Jack instead of Dlcky. l had
came. 1t seemed so disoyal to Dicky.
Now the dsloyalty seemed doubled
Against DiCkys unreasonable and angry
protest, had gone to dine with Jack, my
first meeting with my brother-cousin after
his years absence. Foolshy had waited
until the dinner was over to tell him that
/ was married
And the result of the waiting had been
that before l could prevent him Jack told
me that he had loved me for years.
E., l., I,
ize it.
A queer little wonder crossed my mind. |
Suppose l had known Of this year ago. |
Would I have married Jack, and never |
known DIclSy? Would l have been happier |
SO?
Then there rushed over me the realIza-
tion that nothing in the world mattered but |
Dicky I wanted him, oh how I wanted |
him Jacks suffering, everything else were |
but shadows. My love for my husband, my |
need Of hIm--these were the only real |
things.
turned to Jack wildly
"Oh. Jack, I must go home!"
yes, yes, presently, dear Sit down here
a minute"
He indicated a bench near us. The air
was crisp. but the sun shining bright
ly and l was warmly clad. I sat down,
more because It did not seem possible to
dlsobey the command in Jacks voice than
through any Volltion of my own.
Margaret" Jacks voice was different
from his usual one that l started in fear.
Yes, Jack"
81 don't want you to reproach yourself
about this. understand dear. The right
man came along, and, of course, you
couldn't wait for me to come back to give
my sanction"
"Oh, Jack I ought 10 have waited.
know it. You have been so good to me"
LOSS is DISCOVERED
1--WE been good TO myself being with
you" he returned tenderly. But 1 almost
wish you had told me over the telephone.
You would never have known how 1 felt,
and 1t would have been better all around"
He bent toward me, and crushed both
my hands in his looking into my face with
4 gaze that was in itself a caress.
Now you must go home, little girl.
pack to-yOur-husband," The words came
slowly.
when shall I SEQ you again, JaclS?"
knew the answer even before It came.
"When you need me, dear girl, il you
,ver do" he replied. II can't be near you
without loving you and hating your hus-
land whoever he may be, and that is a
dangerous state OF affairs. But, where
,ver l am, a note or a wire from the Hotel
Alfred will be forwarded to me, and, II the
should happen and your husband
syer fail you, remember, Jack is waiting |
'eady to do anything for you"
My tears were falling fast now. Jack
tood up and laid his hand on my shoulder
Come, Margaret, you must control your
self" he said in his old brotherly voice
I want you TO tell me your new name and
address,. I'm never going TO lose track of
'ou. remember that. You won't see me-
,ut your big brother will be on his old
OBJ tust the same"
l told him, and he wrote II carefully down
n his notebook. Then he looked at me
ixedly.
you would better put your engagement
md wedding rings back on" he said. "Of |
curse, / realize now that you must have |
aiken them off when you removed your |
'loves in the restaurant, with the Thought
hat you did not want to spoil my dinner
" telling me OF your marriage. But you |
must have them on when you meet your |
husband you know"
How like Jack, putting aside his own
ufferlng TO be sure OF my welfare! 1 put
ny hand in my mum, drew out my mesh i
ag and opened It.
The rings were gone
(copyrightl
CONTINUED TOMORROW
THE CHEERFUL CHFRUB III