Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-10
And So They
We're Married
BY HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
Copyright, 1919, Jv Public LEDGER Co.
START THIS STORY TODAY


" with Jack the following afternoon
She felt sense Of guilt in having al
lowed him to think she would go. She
could not help feeling, too. that she
was not being fair to Natalie in see
ing Jack at ALL and for several days
she saw nothing Of him. After the
funeral Natalie returned home for good,
but she was very white and silent. and
said very little to Jack about anything
He asked her once why she felt SO
badly about something that could not
be helped.
You. never seemed TO care so much
for your father when he was alive he
said bluntly and not very thoughtfully.
Natalie looked at him with wide blue
eyes. mournful eyes that made Jack
feel like shaking her. He thought her
attitude showed lack Of stamina.
II know it," she returned slowly,
that's just it. I never thought much
about it. and / never knew mother
would feel as she did. It set me to
thinking"
well, there's no need of thinking
about it now, and making yourself un-
happy about it. why don't you run
down to Atlantic City for a week or
two and forget about IL You need the
rest and change
Natalie's pale little face lighted up.
''Oh, Jack, how splendid, and how dear
of you to think of it. When shall we
go?"
eve. Why l couldn't possibly get
away just now"
But you could take me and come
down over Saturday. couldn't you|'
Natalies tone was wistful.
| Jack was about to refuse even that,
but somehow he couldn't quite do it.
L guess I'll have to manage to take you
down. he assented.
In the days that followed Natalie
quite cheered up. She was more than
usually quiet, but she took some inter
est in getting her clothes together for
the trip, and she was almost happy On
the prospect of going away with Jack.
The death Of Natalie's father had been
the first bit Of trouble that had ever
come into her life, and it had saddened
her that and her mothers uncontrolla =
bic grief. She could not understand how
her mother could treat her father as
she had when he was alive, hardly see
ing him from day to day. arguing with
him about bills, treating him, in short,
like provider and not husband, and
then be so utterly prostrated with grief
Immediately afterward. That and her
own life with Jack were beginning to
make n woman out of Natalie where
before she had been only a child.
Thursday night Jack came home from
business cross and irritable. The first
thing that he said was to the effect
that he would not be able to 60 with
her the next day. To Natalie this was
the cruelest blow that could have
struck her. He knew it when he saw
her face, but instead of childishly com
planning as she had done when, during
the first days of their marriage, he haG
neglected her and failed in thoughtful
ness, she said nothing at all. He coulG
not bear the look in her eyes.
"But III come down Saturday. ht
added quickly. ''I'll see that you gel
off all right. won't that do?"
you'll surely come Saturday,"
''Sure thing
And Natalie said nothing more, forced
to be content with that.
After she was dressed on FRIDAY
afternoon with her smart little travelling
bag all packed and looking very smart
and up to date herself, she sat before
the mirror waiting for Jack. She was
still very pale. and there was curious
h,sbal caal;nD in har haart bn% ol,
robbed her of capacity for feeling. Sht
rummaged in her handbag as she viewed
her pale cheeks, and touched then
family with pink it gave her a quicl
bloom that was vastly becoming, anC
she smiled little. She looked at hel
wrist watch and wondered why Jacl
did not come. She hadn't great dea
of time to catch her train The tele
phone rang, and with n sinking hear
she flew to answer it.
"Natalie?" 1t was Jacks voice.
"Yes, Jack, where are you?"
Jump in a taxi and I'll meet Vol
at the station, at the information bu
reau. Can you MANAGE"
Yes" family.
"All right. I've had lot of extra
business today. See you at the station
Goodby." There was the cold clickin,
of the receiver set back on the hook.
Mechanically she did as he told her
She telephoned downstairs for the hall
boy to come up for her bag She gath
cred together her gloves, her purse ant
her cape and went down after him. Sh
got into the taxi and gave the address
and she sat with still hands folded il
her lap and coldness about her hear
that she could not understand.
At the station she got out, paid hel
bill, gave her bag to porter and wen
into the huge station. She went t.
the information bureau and waited, bu
no Jack. In her bag were her ticke
and all the money she would need
Five minutes before the train came il
she walked aboard the train and al
afternoon as the train few through tn,
country she sat motionless at the win
dow trying not to think.
I'm the next installment the gam
progresses apace.)