Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-10
"When q Girl N1Qrries"
A New, Romantic Serial Dealing With the Absorbing
Problem of Girl Wife

, Pat removed his hat. ran his
hand enthusiastically over his
gray hair, tossed his head nervously
and turned to me with what ]
feared would be a look of indigna-
ton. Instead he was twinkling.
And what do you think it was?''
he demanded, surprisingly.
Il thought you'd say None OF
your business, busybody.' Truly /
did," l gasped.
II never descend to the obvious"
said Pat solemnly.
| broken.
"It was Virginias picture" I haz-
| arded.
Warm" replied Pat. But only
warm. 1t was a little miniature on
| ivory / had painted from picture
| in my watch-the only one Virginia
forgot to pack up and take away
with her"
l put my hand over Pats and we
rode in silence, staring ahead up
the white ribbon of road that reeled
out ahead of us aimlessly.
May / tell him to take the left
| fork here at the crossroads? Both
! the other roads lead to the old
place" said Pat, suddenly, with the
effect of speaking through shut
teeth.
Yes" ] agreed. wondering what
l had expected to accomplish by
| this drive that was torturing Pat.
Does she know the old place is
hers?" he blurted out.
I hesitated. How was I to tell
him of the quarrel with Jim-of the
pride that had turned to cold fury
when Virginia found out that Pat
had dared to buy the old estate and
put it in her name? How was 1
to tell him that he had failed?
Yet it was with intentions based
on these facts that I had summoned
Pat. l had meant to urge him to
drop his gentle methods l had
planned to tell him that Virginia
was running away and that this
confession of weakness gave him
his opportunity-if only he would
go to Virginia this very evening.
Weary from her day of planning for
the trip and miserable because
Phoebe had defied her, bitterly con-
scious that both Phoebe and Jim
were estranged from her, I felt Vir-
ginia might yield to a coup and
almost welcome Pat.
But I had forgotten Pats basic
SVliiltIiCSS WIN "oIICtl' n VI ttol
attack might have worn down
Virginia's defenses. Then Pats
courtesy to me when l dared too
much. made me realize that he
wouldn't force himself on Virginia.
My big idea crumbled to dust be-
fore my eyes. Second thoughts
were sober enough to convince me
that at best 1t had been only a wild
idea.
The pathos of the little miniature
he had hidden from us was too
much for my resolutions. I couldn't
try to egg Pat on to forget the
chivalry I felt to be part of him.
Does she know" Pat asked
again. Does she see how I thought
perhaps 1 could make amends this
way for everything.
How you must have hurt herr"
I countered at a venture. 'It isn't
like you as I know You, Pat. But
you must have hurt her terribly
| then"
II did" said Pat sadly. "Over
and over again. Her pride. Her
eager, dominant youth. didn't
understand then what it meant to
have the Harrison pride I didn't
speak Virginia's language. I hurt
her more than she could stand.
She grew very cold then. 1 began
to drink and she shrank from me
as from something unclean. She
| couldn't bear me to touch her. I
let her go. 1 had to. 1t was all
l could do for her"
You let her go?" 1 asked. you
J let her go? Just what do you
mean by that, Pat dear?"
What 1 say" he said patiently.
II couldn't make woman stay
with me when I adored her-apd
it was degradation and torture for
her to feed my eyes on her with the
! love l couldn't hide
Then l began to see. l felt as If
someone had opened door for me.
One more glimpse into the shroud-
ed room of Virginia's unhappy past
| and | should know