The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-11


she didn't care. All fear, or nearly all
OF displeasing him had left her wher
she gave way TO the reckless spirit thai
Of late had actuated her.
Il want to speak with Mr.. Kenney
This is Mrs. kenney."
"Mr. Kenney Ii not In the office"
when he comes in ask him to cal
his home, please"
HE isn't expected back. II he should
come in l will give him your message. .
Madge hung up the receiver. a wor.
ried look on her face.
Suppose something had happened
TO hiniv' She turned pale at the thought
The girl had not said whether he hat
been at the office or not. She would
call again.
Hello, this is Mrs. Kenney again
Can you tell me what time Mr.. Ken
ney left?"
"He hasn't been In today"
you are sureY'
ITO whom are you telephoning? Is II
you are asking about?"
Walter had come into the room where
Madge was talking and had heard heI
question.
Walter--yes, was, fearful
something had happened TO you" She
had hesitated over her reply, 80 sur
prised was she to hear his voice.
mo such luck for you he said
shortly. Then: please do not cal
my office unnecessarily"
Madge wanted to scream. He didn't
ing In his office. or anywhere where
she could reach him cause for her tele-
phone call.
I'll try not TO disturb you often"
she answered crisply. For a moment
she stared at him as II he were some
stranger.
81 tried to get you last night" as
hA nnetUnFah tho lnnk thtIf WI nnhIa
to do so. Later / feared you might be
asleep and hated to disturb you" He
waited, then as she did not speak, he
went on: Il was with some business
men at the club. We did not finish our
talk, although 1t was o'clock. when
we turned In. So decided to remain
there for the night and meet them again
this morning instead OF going to the Of
fice."
Madge's eyes wldened at the elab-
crate explanation, not one word OF
which she believed. She hadn't the
slightest doubt but that he had spent
the time with Aimee Loree. The ugly
thoughts that frequently came to her
concerning their intimacy now gave her
twisted smile Of ipcredulity an enlight-
enIng. intuition to him.
II have told you just as It was" he
added, just as the telephone shrilled at
Madge's elbow.
as Mr.. Kenney at homer II so please
call him to tho phone" came Mrs.
Loree's throathy voice over the wire,
a voice Madge never could mistake.
"She timed her call nicelyl" an un-
lovely sheer on her lips as she relin-
quished the receiver to Walter and
walked from the room.
She fairly ached to hear what Walter
said to her. but her pride. now aroused,
would not allow her to linger. So, head
high. che left him talking to Aimee
LoJee while she sought her room.
"I'll talk to him now about going"
she unused as she stood looking sadly
from the window. 1T Is time when he
ceive me about it--yes, I must go!'
CHAPTER XCvIII.
Madge walked to and fro restlessly.
her ear attuned to catch the slightest
sound. Finally she heard the creak of
the stairs. Walter was coming up. but
slowly. draggingly, as II doing some
thing he dreaded, she thought, with a
curl OF her lip. She remembered how
she used TO wait for him, with love, and
the wish for his presence In her heart.
Now II could mean nothing pleasant.
She would be sure to say something
about Aimee Lorce, and he would be
angry and cross with her
She rushed to the door and turned
mo hty uS Illb HhHu lHiu upou tiiS hhous
She saw II turn, heard him NUT
Ter something under his breath. then
go into his own room.
Softly she crossed the floor and also
locked the connecting dressing room
ioor. But 1t was useless precaution.
rs Walter made no further sign that
he wished to enter.
Madge sat down In front of her Dress
ing table mirror and pushed the clus-
tering hair from her forehead. She
cooked steadily. appraisingly at the re-
1ected glass. a thing she often did when
thoughts OF Aimee Loree, Walters
for the handsome widow. dis
urbed her.
1--WE lost him, lost him forever" she
laid to herself, her thoughts still on
ais albright absence. She lost sense
" everything save her blind pain, her
pride.
Full of tempestuous angry sorrow
md hurt pride. Madge gazed at herself
ong and steadily. 1t gave her curl
us feeling OF gazing at her own naked
motions. Her face worked convul-
lively.
ut is terrible! He might have waited
Intil / had gone" she muttered, shaken
With self-pity. Her love for Walter
I iirst had been so prideful. SO trium-
ny she now had was one of almost
hysical abasement. added TO soul hui
OF tho most agonizing sort. |
he had failed In every way.
A new thought, unbidden, almost re-
ulsive, came to her. II she had so |
a ye that she could ever hold another |
Jack? She was humbled, Inundated. |
Tho crawling red spread over her face |
I tho unaccustomed thoughts. She felt |
uffocated. She leaned upon her elbows
nd gazed into the mirror as II In Its
epths she could read her inadequacy.
Madge wondered II 1t could be possi-
la that Aimee Loree loved Walter bet
er than she had when she married
I'm, or II Il was other qualities about |
he widows love that drew and held
Walter In spite of the devotion she had
iven him the FIRST years OF their mar
ed life.
Their girl OF only twenty-five ever felt
, stranded as she did. so utterly with
ne hope; IL ever there had been n girl
hose love had been so disdained and
hose place so quickly filled by some
oman whom everyone had expected
or husband to marry.
Madge had perhaps not heard, or II
he had she had not believed that there
no such thing as reawakened love
,tween man and woman once it is
Fad. Women shave pleaded and men
ave consented to ''try once more" but
have failed. Swecthearts,
ter becoming estranged, seldom are
,ppy after coming together again;
arried people almost never. Men and
omen marry, are unhappy, are di-
lrccd After while they decide to
v Il again. They remarry. But how
ten In this remarriage n lasting af-
ir3 Usually 1t Is a matter OF months
,rhaps, in n few cases years. But
most without exception they separate
yniu