Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-06
The Marriage Trifzer
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright. Public LEDGER Co.
Keith Protests

Married 10 the man she loves. Bar
bdrd Knight takes for granted the
fact that everything tCHi como To- her
tCithoW an effort on her part. Az her
nc she has been spoiled and mar
rage to Keith Grant has been hc
elimination. for he is the most eligible
man Of the season. barbara does
nothing to add to Reiths life. she
goes on III n tChirl Of Odicty and fever
ish entertaining, hardly eUer seeing hor
husband alone, and IN q strange tcdy
Keith becomes friendly tCith Rather
inc NctUbery. his prirdtc secretary.
college tContdn, as finely bred as Bar
bdrd herself
THE end of March found Keith and
L Barbara married nearly year Bar
hara had reached the stage where she
almost never showed her feelings for
Keith, excepting when they were abso-
lutely alone together. which was so sell
dom that II was almost negligible. She
dreaded the sharp tongues of some of the
women. above all Leslie Gilmore, Les
u" would drawl out languidly, There's
Barbara Grant making love to her hus-
band. I declare. Barbara, you make me
think of an amorOus parlOr maid,
whercupon every one would laugh and
Barbara would feel young anu foolish.
Just about this time Lawrence Ben
ham took a fancy TO motor somewhere
was invited and decided that she ought
to go.
ut isn't wise to offend Leslie these
days" she said to Keith. AS he looked
closely at her noting the tired lines
around her eyes, the hardness of her
voice and the restlessness about her. he
had a momentary fear that was hard to
describe. Where was all this foolishness
to lead them? Suppose Barbara. deciding
that it would be fashionable, fell out OF
love with him entirely, what then? Or
suppose, In some other way they drlfted
apart FcaI sweDt over him and he
suddenly caught Barbara in his arms.
Barbara loved Keiths caresscs. but
she wanted to make the time for II her.
self and the time was not ripe when
crushed the delicate tullc and lace OF
her frock the rough material OF his suit
scratched her soft flesh, and a strand
of her amber Colored hair caught and
wound about ono Of the buttons of his
coat. pulling 1t away from the soft clus-
ter held with n comb low in her neck.
She struggled protestingly.
"Keith. please dear, not now. You're
crushing my frocl and running my
hair :"
Keith, with his lips against hers. was
oblivious 10 her protests. and she beat
with small impotcnt fists against him
in an effort to release herself.
Don't be such bear" she gasped
when he set hcr free. There was some.
thing about the expression Of his eyes
that made her want to excuse herself
lightly. II waa the first time he hHC
taken her in his arms and she had pulled
away like that. Generally she was able
to fend him off laughingly.
Barbara" he said suddenly, 'Iet'I
stay home tonight. Let's just call up and
make an excuse and stay home together
You'll be gone several weeks and WI
want something to remember"
Barbara was seated again at he
dressing table repairing the damage h
had wrought we cant, dear" sh
said applying powder to her throat will
a big swansdown puff. IT'S impossible
the Martins would never forgive u.s. Blu
We'll steal away carly" she promised
smiling at him. "Will that be all right? 2
Keith said nothing more, but earl!
happened to be . o'clock. for some of th
party wanted to go Summing. Keith no
ticed that Barbara was one Of the frs
TO assent and he was forced to accom-
pany thc crowd who went downtown ir
three limOusinCs. He hated the stir and
fuss they mad" when they entered tn,
haunts Of the underworld. he hated tn,
way the women were stared at, he hated
the whole ID a Of getting thrill ou
of sitting in the same restaurant witt
people from n different walk in life.
Barbara was exhausted when the!
finally returned home. Suddenly she re