Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-06
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NJATALIE'S faut6nding was en-
IN tirely unlike her, yet 1t gave her a
certain pride in feeling that she was in
some part returning Jacks indifference
with spirit. To simply look surprised
and be hurt. that was impossible: that
was the thing she wanted to avoid at all
costs. Her mother advised her to ig-
more everything and to pursue her own
way, to do just as she liked with life.
. but It was hard to do this. Natalie was
very young for one thing; she had not
learned to rule her emotions; girl like
she wanted a lover. and it hurt to find
that Jack wasn't one.
Jack was doing astoundingly well,
and Natalie was Tapped in luxury. II
external things are necessary to assist
romance, Natalie certainly had them for
Jack denied her nothing but himself, but
she got so that she hated to dress and
20 places for fear of being asked about
her husband. and for fear that people
already suspected that something was
wrong. One day when Jack returned
from business to find Natalie moping in
aethe dusky living room, he spoke scath
ingly
"Why on earth don't you get out
somewhere in the afternoons?"
Where shall go?'
Anywhere. You went places before
you married me. didn't you?'
eyes. but things are different now"
She felt that her explanation was not
enough. but she had to use it to defend
herself.
Different. how different? cant
see that anything has changed for you
materially. Get out in the air, don't
stay inside moping all day long. Other
women occupy their minds"
Ruth Raymond for Instance. said
Natalie and then held her breath. She
had been afraid to put into words the
suspicion that had been in her heart
for some time now. but the words were
out now, and sorry or not they could
not be unsad.
"Well, Ruth Raymond docs get out
In the world. you must admit that: she s
always busy at something. Why don't
you plan to study something. anything
to get your mind of Yourself"
Natalie swallowed bravely, and then
spoke.
L
little more of each other. Jack :
You've hardly gone anywhere with me
OF late. and people will begin to talk
That's it. people will talk. That's
all you think of your mother spends all
her time worrying about the snCech OF
people and you're just as bad. You
knew when I married you that I had
business to attend to. didn't you? Thor
for Heaven sake don't depend upon mt
for every bit of recreation you have try
to scare up some independence and gel
interested in something outside of mar
ried life"
Natalie subsided at this and they ate
dinner almost in silence. The little
colored maid was deft and silent. too
Natalie was afraid of what she might
think. She wished she didn't care Sc
much. Afterward Jack read the paper
for few minutes and she walked over
to the window and looked down into
the street. She could hardly see for the
tears that filled her eyes and yet she
was searching about wildly for some
thing to say to him: something inter.
esting that might awaken his interest
II only she could interest him. if only
he didn't think her quite such a sim
pleton.
Jack turned the paper Impatient,
and then with an exclamation, threw il
down and stood up.
"Well, I'm due downtown in hal
an hour. Guess I'll drop in at thu
club on the way home"