The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-13

i piuo moon an nour In the evening.
How faithful you have been to him, even
though unhappy. Are you stili sad
Perhaps you are; but, dear, all endings
are sad. That is. In a way. The death
OF a love. the termination OF any period
In life, has certain sadness. II will
pass when all is over and done and a
new life commences for you" There
was but little more-another plea for
letter and then he sent his love.
he had used no name where he re-
ferred to Walter. Madge smiled at his
caution, then admired Il. His letter had
stirred up many thoughts-thoughts OF
Would she miss Walter when she
could never see him agein2 She glanced
| at a large picture OF him framed in
silver on her dressing table. II had
been a present to her mother and had
been put there TO please Madge during
| her visit.
Jack was right. All endinEs were sad.
There was a feeling OF death about
them. She longed for Jack because she
| felt desolate. The question had tor
tured her: Gould she 90 back to wal
ter?" Now she felt that there was no
returning. She had cut the ground from
pass away, as Jack had said, when a
new life commenced for her?
She replied almost at once to his
letter:
Dear Jack-Your letter was a Joy
full surprise. am in exactly the same
position as before left New York-as
you know. I am not puritanical. am
only decent in refusing 10 do anything
wife should not do. You, my dear,
with your fine sense Of honor, will be
the FIRST one 10 agree with me.
Il am. well and, as you say. happy
most live out Of doors and am brown as
n Mexican. When ] leave here I will
let you know. Until then l shall not
write again.
Does this cold little note disappoint
you? I can't help 1t, Jack l can write
no differently. Yours. Madge."
Shall / post your letter, Sis7" Will
liam stood in the doorway waiting.
"No--yes-please-no. III go with
you. 1t will be a treat" William would
wonder why she was writing to Jack
Turner.
She ohatted all the way to the coun-
try postoffice. Only once did she APP
pear at all different from the gay little
sister he so delighted in. He asked her:
How much longer are you going to
DO with us, Sis? And is Walter coming
For moment she was embarrassed.
William noticed then because OF her
careless manner thought he had been
mistaken. But IL warned her that she
must be very careful for tho remaining
two or three weeks Of her stay.
How horribly irnpolite to ask how
anxious to be rid Of me?" She pre-
tended to. pout. Then: walter said
nothing about coming. He was very
busy at the office when left" She had
spoken quite calmly and after one keen
glance at her face William forgot his
suspicion. POO -4ut
"You know bettert ia like to keep
you always But wifo's place is with
her husband so I suppose you'll be
chasing back to your old man and leave |
us desolate." He meant nothing by |
"old man" yet Madge felt somehow
CHAPTER CHI
Removed from Walter. Madge had |
lost all that recklessness his neglect |
had developed in her and was as care |
full OF what she said and did as II she |
were a happy wife, instead of one |
about to leave her husband.
Her mother saw and approved.
"Madge shows SUCH delicate per
ception Of what is due herself as a
wife. I am delighted. l feared because
Of her youth she might be bit care
less when she got with all the boys
she knew before she married. But she
Is discretion itself" Ara.
Could Mrs. Clark have seen Madge
n one Of her reckless moods Of the last
few months before her visit. she would
have scarcely recognized In her docile
laughter the girl who had thrown con-
Jention aside; who encouraged Ingram
West so hagrantly. That a woman can
DO goaded into such things she would
nave deemed almost impossible--that is
4 nice woman. But Madge remembered
and her cheeks would burn and she
would despise herself because Of the
IEwardly Madge was filled with con-
slant questionings, although she gave
10 outward sign. Finally out of this
questioning. this wondering. the decl-
sion grew in her mind. sharper. clearer
han ever before that she was doing
light to leave Walter; that after n
While she would be happy. 1t Is. not
strange that she had at times wavered
n her determination. While distance
nay not lend enchantment. 1t often does
minimize unhappiness. The absent one
s not quite SO severely Judged as when
ace to face. So Madge blew hot and
old In her thought OF Walter. at times
II she should have gone on
little longer, at others wondering how
he had gone on so long.
She looked back at the long evenings
vhen she had walked up and down her
DOM. longing for the simplest caress,
he merest kind word from him, to rest
ne moment In his arms--while he was
ut at the club, or. worse still, with ,
limee Loree. At such times she had ]
10 regrets. only a desire to have II all
yer quickly. To be free.
Her mother and sister as well as her
irl friends extolled Walters generosity
s proven by her lovely stylish clothes, {
err well chosen tewelry. She had told
err mother of her allowance and to the Z
'ugal rancher's wife 1t had seemed a 8
)rtune.
mot many men are so liberal" she &
'GVan when
HE has always been most generous
it'll me-" Madge replied. glad to DO '
BILE to talk of him naturally.
She loaned her gowns and hats TO tho }
iris so they might copy them. She t
elped Susan with her trosseau, happy I
lat she could add many dainty tribes
rat her parents could not afford. She q
ade mysterious trip to town and @
ought William a wonderful gun, and n
err father and mother gifts OF soft y
ressing gowns and slippers.
AS the time for her visit drew to [
ose she became more quiet lost much s
the gayety that had made them be- [
Eve her happy. She could not decide b
neither to tell them before she left or J
rite them from San Francisco. >, h
TITS cowaIdly, but l can't tell them,
ia said to herself. II will write them" n
One lovely day she left them. They =
tied to have her go, but her mother ii
bleed the sentiments OF the entire q
mily when she said; G.
I'VE have had you a long time,
lughter, over two months. II would n
II be right to urgs you to stay longer, a
UGH as we shall miss you and Doug
g." d.
Na6ge felt like criminal yet lacked "
urage to say that 1t made no differ a.
zee where she was as long as she was M
It going TO Walter. =
JIThnn ba Al San TTQnCiHrO |
q found letter from Jack Turner. He A
gcd her TO 70 TO Reno as being n -
orter way 10 freedom. 1t fitted In -,
tn her mood. II was farther away .,
ON her people; they wouldn't 20 TO ~
mo 10 dIssuade her. They might take ~