Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-11
HIS SECOND WIFE
BY ERNEST POOLE -
Author of "The Harbor," "His Family"
Copyright, 1890, bv Public Ledger o.

| w uul dIny carr ana HmilN
Giles. And she found It very pleasan,
TO be chatting here so cozily. Not that
she meant to keep II UP. This sort OF
woman2 Hm-,well, no. But on the
other hand why not? After ALL New
York was very big city
I'm never going TO shut myself up in
one little circle of people" she Thought
Il mean to Keep rubbing up against life. >
There was an added pleasure, too. in
the vague warm self-confidence which tn,
young widow gave to her. you car
take care Of yourself, my dear" sale
| Mrs. Grewe's small lustrous black eyes
Well? is he treating you betterT
she asked.
yes" said Ethel.
He's very wise" They smiled al
each other
Hes becoming quite sensible Ethe
And have you found those friend,
They're In sight" was Ethel's an
swer. Her hostess smiled good-humor.
dYou won't be able to keep me-" sh,
| said. "He won't stand that"
Ethel knit her brows
Hell stand good deal" she an.
swered. when once / know where
I'm, the meantime you'd better lcav,
, me alone"
The two parted in affable fashion.
| There thought Ethel in relief "I
got though that rather nicely. I needn't
| go again, Of course"
She had started out for a brisk walk
and she drew deep breath of the frost,
air, The air in New York was aften Sc
gay! And Mrs. Grewe had given heI
such feeling of independence. Sh,
saw a man turn and look at her-th,
beast But she smiled as she hurried
on toward the park.
Still. the brief visit had been rathe
| hn, ILL.,
Gus
However," She walked briskly on
i whats the difference between Mrs
CARR" she asked. Nothing whatever
except that Fanny, so far as we know
has taken the trouble with each man L
have wedding and a divorce. The onI,
other difference is that Fanny has n
taste at all, while Mrs. Grewe. has heap
of It! And she reads thnga-ever
Shaw and she likes good music. ur
She Is going tonight to 'Salome.'
For a moment Ethel let her mind ru,
| over all the operas she herself was goIn
to hear. and the concerts, and the play
she would see and the dinners she woul
go to, the talks in which she wou
take part: She could see herself-,-jus
ssnti'lstng ssme bod; 70 Mrs rowN with os Jerk sh
II isn't very defiling to turn to her fror
| Fanny Carr! I'll do as | please! sh
| impatiently thought.
Still, 1t had been rather daring
fitted in exactly with several talks SIT
had had of late with Dwight, her mus,
teacher: talks in which each one of then
had taken rather a challenging tone tha
had grown distinctly intimate. on
night when Joe was out of town she hat
gone with Dwight to the opera. And sh
had not mentioned II to Joe--not that sh
felt guilty at all, she had simply dropped
II out of ler mind. In love with he
husband? Yes. indeed. And let Dwigh
or any otaer man try to go the least bi
too far
"As Fanny doubtless does with Joe
she suddenly added to herself For
moment she walked viciousy. Then sh
thought again of Dwight. He had tol,
her she really had voice enough wild
which to go on the stage if she chose.
Though I hope you won't" he ha,
added
why not?" she had asked In repI,
he had hinted at perils that made it al
sound rather thrilling.
said. ' '
Il might sing in concerts"
Joe wouldn't like it."
"Oh, bother Joe -"
Dwight had smiled bit. 1T wonde
what you will do" he had said, ''if 10
tlivyers?"
IF he what?"
"F'lvvers--drops back and make
| " tilOSc olHtI lIltIluS U
his"
He won't do that" But her voic
had been tense. for the intimate feelin
in pwight's tone had made her a bit un
easy.
We'll" he had told her in a low voice
I'm a friend of Joes, you know, an
] don't propose to play the cad. But /
you and Joe ever should have a break
don't drop me, too. Do you under
stand?"
She had hestitated a moment upo
just how to answer. Her heart ha
pounded rapidly.
That isn't going to happen" she ha
told him graVely.
Sure of that"
Yes, and you would be--if you un
deIrstood, me better"
I'm in love with that husband o
mine for lfe," she had informed hr
impressively.
smiled.
| Suppose l understand you bette
than you do yourself?"
She had glanced at him, seen tn
gleam in his eyes as he had draw
closer. And then very suddenly sh
had found it hard to breathe. What t
say to stop him?
AT this moment" she had nearl
gasped, you appear to me so very
fat !'
That had BOWED MIN oNer--natur
ally! In the next few moments the at
mosphere had become chilly and dc
pressed, and with a sudden rush @
shame the certainty had grown upon he
that she had made a fool of herself, tina
he had meant to do nothing at all. An
from blushing furiously she had turne
little white and had said to him.
please forgive me. ] didn't mea
that. was-just a silly fool Let's 6
on with my lesson"
Now that I've learned mine, yo
mean"
And then regaining control OF hel
self she had turned upon him quickly
"Oh, be sensible, for goodness sake
How are you and ! to be friends IL yo
act like this, you silly boy? You ough
to be ashamed of yourself :"
LGQNrrIA IA.IIIrD TAAIlln POW