Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-13
Ind So They
We're Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
4 COPYRIGHT, 1919, bv Public LedOcr Co.
START THIS STORY TODAY

x kNBhlNU was III tnc ar nh" -'S" AOiN
- was lovely. Jack had no wish to
20 to Atlantic City; somehow the sea
and Natalie did not lure him, and New
York and the possibility of seeing huth
We're aluring in the extreme. Whlle
he was dressing, the telephone rang.
1T was Mrs. Jergens. Jack, with the
peryersity of most sons -inlaw, did not
like Mrs. Jergens. Her arti6ciality jar
rod on him. He thought Natalie in
way replica of her mother, but
Natalie had only the possibilities; she
copld be what she liked, she was still
malleable.
sHello. Mrs. Jergens," Jack said as
GOOD -humoredly as he could, inasmuch
ms he had an uncomfortable shaving
| jather on his face and had been inter
rupted at critical time OF his dress
- ing. w
sHello Jack I thought l would run
down to Atlantic City today 1or inc
week end. What train are you going
on?'' :.
Jacks mind began to work and 1t
worked rapidly. lie had no NINA 10
| take the trip to Atlantic City with ms
mother in law. Therefore he said
nromptly. II cant tell yet. I've had
some important business that has kept
me hustling. But say. why not go on
downp Natalie will be tickled to death,
and I'll follow later. I'd hate to say
ybnt trnin can leave on yet, and
there's no reason why you shouldh
leave early"
II was decided and Jack whistleu
whom he went out to breakfast. during
his coffee another idea struck him. AS
long as Mrs. Jergens was going down,
,vbv sbould he 90 at all? Natalie would
NOT care one way or another. and the
two women could talk to their hearts
content. He would be, out OF IL IL lie
did go. Of course. he wouldn so,
There was no need of it. lie couid sehu
Natalie long telegram. ana then 10
down the following Saturday to or'hs
her home. That would be enough
The idea appealed to him every way
he looked at it. 1t wasn't as though
Natalie would be alone over the Week
cnd and he was busy at the office. 1t
wouldn't be entirely lie to say tnat
he had to remain in town.
At noon he called up Mrs. Jergens
and explained. He was surprised that
she took it so well. She did not re-
proach him as Natalie had done; IN
fact, she took it as matter oil course.
"I'm sending Natalie telegram
no exnlaiucd with sigh of relief at her
calm acceptance of everything, but
vou'l explain to Natalie, won't you
She'll understand that it's business.
40 YES: she'll understand" Mrs.
Ury
and Jack could not help noticing 1t. IL
implied that she understood all ABOUT
everything and that he needn't bother
to make his apologies too elaborate.
Natalie had awakened to a wonder
ful morning. From her dressing table
she could watch the waves rolling IN
on the beach. There was pleasant
hum of life out in the sunshine, and her
snirits rose with the weather. She
had cried herself to sleep last night,
lint now she lashed herself with scorn.
WHY hadn't she been more womanly
about everything? She was blaming
Jack and, perhaps, without cause. lie
would be down today and they would
be together for the week. end. Then
everything would be all right again.
She ate big breakfast for her and
fingered at the table, newspaper
propped up before her while she slipped
her coffee. She felt happy when after
ward she wandered through the lobby.
She sat at writing table near the open
window where she could watch the
panoramic view outside and wrote
some letters. Then she strolled on the
boardwalk, slim and lovely and very
smart. She even went into an auction
room and listened to the bidding and
bought a Sheffield plate that she could
carry home without much trouble in her
bag.
When at last she went back to the
hotel the morning was nearly gone, and
she began to look forward to Jacks ar
rival. He had not told her what train
he would come on no doubt she would
have word from him, or perhaps, he
wanted to surprise her.
She paused at the desk to inquire
and the clerk handed her yellow en-
yelope. She took it with a gay smile
and ripped it open eagerly. She hadn't
an idea of the disappointment in store
for her, but her eyes skinned over the
few words and her fingers crushed over
the SIP OF paper. Jdch neSsaSe ndu
not been elaborate, it was simple and to
the point.
Business will keep me in town after
all, but your mother will be down to
spend Sunday with you. Will write.
JACK"
A wave of pure desperate longing
swept over her for a minute. 1t
frightened her. She hadn't known her
self capable of it. A sudden determi
nation to go back to New York was
quenehed by the feeling that that per-
haps Jack might not want her. He
would be sure to be furious, and, be-
sides, her mother was coming down. All
the sunlight of the day was darkened
for Natalie; she was sick with feeling
that very much resembled despair.