Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-02
THE UNWELCOME WIFE
By HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
co.,....nht. 1870. by PUBLIC Ledger 90.

and liked her. She was a lovely. imagina-
tive child. with the bloom Of youth
like an aura all about her. He had
talked with her ds only an older man
can talk listening to her shy comments
on life, encouraging her to tell him her
ideas. He saw in her something diff
ferent, something infinitely more precious
than the average young girl possessed.
She had definite personality which the
Harrimans had done their best to sup
press in every way possible.
AS for Tony. he was too young to
have for a wife a girl like Charlotte. he
was too selfish 10 appreciate her save as
she gave him pleasure He was too
youthfully arrogant TO perceive anything
Of rare sweetness In this girl. whom his
mother had encouraged him to think be-
meath him. Nick saw Il all clearly. and
resolved to call on Charlotte Just as
soon as she was settled.
He did not stop to think that his re-
entry into Charlotte's life might cause
trouble. The general gossip of society
had been that Tonys wife was an un-
sophisticated little thing, not at all the
type 70 hold Tony, and that her disap-
pearance had been arranged by Mrs.
Hartman 40 that she might have educa-
tlon along certain lines. Evelyn Harri-
man herself had taken great care not to
allow the night of the country club dance
to be connected In any way with Char
lotte's disappearance, She had not an
nounced the fact that her daughter-in-
law had gone until three days afterward,
and the servants had all been pledged to
secrecy.
Nick knew, because he had seen Tony's
angry face and Mrs. Harriman's frozen
society smile directed on the culprt.
Il had amused him to show Charlotte
more attention than any one else present
and the fact that the girl genuinely
liked him and responded so readily to his
monopoly Of her had rather touched him
Loyal as she was to Tony. for Nick
rad never succeeded in drawing word
Of anything from her concerning her life
Nick knew that she was not happy All
his life he had been selfish. He wouldn't
have harmed a hair of Charlotte's head
hut he knew that she cared nothing for
him. and he had. therefore, determined
on that night deliberately to make Tony
Jealous Now he was eager 70 discover
the truth Of the matter. TO verify his sus'
pICiong, and ne was actually eager to see
charlotte again, 10 discover whether OF
not she has changed. Her startled gasG
over the telephone told him that she
was surprised
IT want TO come and pay my respects,
he said lightly. 'If may.
There was a moments silence. anc
| then Charlottes voice, slow and with g
strange reserve.
| I'm afraid L wont be possible for m'
10 see you. Mr.. Fowler"
But why7" the words were surprised
IT'S difficult to explain over the tele
phone"
'"rhen let me come and See you.
want 70 talk things over with you
surely you don't mean that We ar
not going to be friends any longer"
Charlotte felt suddenly hemmed in b:
her marriage. She was like bird shu
up In a cage, surrounded with all tina
she could eat, but deprived of her free
dom. This man had been kind to he
and whatever his life had been. Ton!
had been entirely unreasonable In hi
attitude toward him. 1t wasn't tha
Siok's friendship meant 50 much to her
Tor n actually didn't, nothing seeme'
TO matter, But she did hate to be rud
TO him, II was humillating to have I
confess that she could not see hin
Nevertheless, she drew a long breat
and said with a little air OF hnality;
I'm sorry"
Observation-Disclosures Tells Tony Abou
Nick.)