Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-10
And So They
We're Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
cop,yiobt, 1919. bv Public Ledger Co.

rT,SIE came in and stood transhxed
II before the two men. huth closeu
the door and stood with her back
against it, waiting for she knew not
what. It was thoroughly dramatic
moment.
Into Elsie's eyes had come look
Of terror. She was like bird caught
in a net. 1t was Joe who spoke hrst'
who seemed TO have a clear head and
the knowledge of what had to be DONE
shall we all sit down and tax
things over?' he suggested evenly huth
looked around, hoping that in some
way she could escape. and Joe' VINO
seemed to see everything, smiled at her
and nlaced chair. There was nothing
for her to do but drop into it.
Unconsciously perhaps, by taking the
lead and making the first remark, Joe
had placed Gene Mathews in dithcult
position. After all, Joe was the hus-
band in the case; Elsie merely the
pawn, and Gene the other man. When
brought face to face with the man
who has every right to the woman one
loves, the lover is always placed on
the defensive. Ruth stole q look at
Gene. He was pale, but his head was
flung up: he was no coward.
'It seems to me-" said Joe. after n
minute. "that Elsie should have first
chance at deciding this affair. we are
three rational people, aren't wcF We
can accent the situation as it is.
Again silence. Elsie had twisted in
her chair until she was not facing the
two men. She was ptiable little fig
ure in her smart afternoon clothes ana
with her terrified face that Ruth could
Just glimpse from where she was sit
ting.
Finally Gene spoke. ,"1 want to dc
the right thing. the thing that seems
entirely fair to you. Mr.. Banning he
began. 1t was characteristic of him
not to apologize. Faced with the sit
uation, he would make the best of it.
"What do you think about it, Elsie?'
Joe asked turning to her.
She shivered and half turned. Joe
waited for hcr to speak.
"I think the time has come whcT
you must decide what you want to do.
he went on. No one to hear him talk
would have imagined that he was tho
same man who had spoken those i'm
passioned words so short n time age
in that very room to Ruth. No one
would have dreamed that he loved this
,.uran, who seemed just now so en-.
unworthy Of the love of any
man.
t,,,,oI 10 Eluio guIJ0p1t II
seemed utterly oblvious of Ruth il
fact all three of the chief characters il
rhc play seemed not to feel her pres:
Cnce at all.
Elsie" his voice shook with feeling
you know what ] have asked you II
do: you know how ! feel about it."
She did not answer.
'You have spoken about a divorce|
Joe uueried His voice was steady.
Gene looked him square in the eyes
Eyes. ] haven't wanted anything I'm
derhand. love her." he said sim
ply.
Ruth noticed Joe's hands tighten OF
the arm Of his chair.
well. Elsie" he persisted
1t was then that Elsie looked VI
wildly.
Il don't want divorce" she gaspet
out. She turned to Gene, tears stream
ing down her checks. ooh. I know
you'll think I'm a coward" she cried
II feel utterly contemplate. but
know myself too we'll to dream that
could make you happy that way.
couldn't live in a studio and do m,
own work; it just isn't in me. Nv,
been thinking it over and trying tC
find way out, and there just doesn =
seem to be one. I've been a coward
but from the very beginning knew thai
] could never be happy married to you. ;
She looked at him then, his face white
and working with the cruelty of tn,
words she had just flung at him. Gen,
was a dreamer; he lived outside of real
ities. And Elsie, the gay butterfly
from another world had completely
charmed him. He had pinned all o.