The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-06

This had been her only lnpAe-ag she
: told herself the only thing she ever had
done that she would wlllfully keep from
: Walter She had tried to tell him OF
Ingram VESTS advances and he had
refused 10 listen. Anyhow. abe rea-
sonod she had hated Them had spurned
} them, and had let Mr.. West know they
were disagreeable to her. With Jack
II had been different. She not only
had not objected at first. but had in
vited his caress-hence the guilty feel
ing.
"I never will let him do II again.
she had declared when alone. "Neverp
Then God will forgive me and II won't
be very wrong not to tell Walter.
Madge In many ways was still but
child, vet something told her that
J Walter might not treat Jack Turner'S
advances as he had those OF his own
friend, Ingram West
Madge for days was very quiet very
subdued. Walter seemed not TO notice.
but remained away or went out as
usual.
PLEASE stay with me tonight, Walter.
or let me so with YOU" Madge said.
II have been alone all day"
| II have an engagement. Why did you
stay aloneg You seem TO have Guilt
waited any number of people. Why
didn't YOU go see them or have them
with your Kitty Campbell seems TO
enjoy you" He went out throwing a
careless goodby over his shoulder.
why doeFho make himself so hate
fm? Why Is he so unlOnd TO me2 |
can't think why he should have wanted
meditated ms so often she had done
before. She crossed to the window.
Tho sky was hung, with innumorable
stars, the air was soft and cool, such
a lovely night How | would have
loved to 20 with him. wonder where
he was going and why he never tolls
me-" She turned from tho window
| into the semidlrkncas OF the room. her
face a pale oval IN the dimness. For n
moment wild resentment for the treat
ment she constantly received from this
man who had promised TO love and
cherish her swept over her, Then her
thoughts turned 20 Jack Turner and she
Whispered; II am glad some one ceres
| for me-"
Madge wondered why a mans love
lasted so short a time. why so brief
period had changed devoted lover
to q cold. noglectful husband.
| She went beck over her life with
him. In what had she falled2 She had
neglected none OF tho little amenities
OF life that 30 so far toward making
home happy. Her house was perfectly
kept, her table abundant and good.
Since she had made the EFFORT she had
learned TO dress hecomingly. to carry
herself well. She had tried 10 improve
her mind as well as her manners. had
| Confofmod IN many things TO his ideas,
even when they did not coincide with
| her own. Besides. now she never wcpt
never greeted him with red or swollen
eyes--this she considered the greatest
accomplished OF NIL. for. OH how often
sho wanted TO cry, how often she felt
II would he n relief
Had Madfo felt that business was tho
cause OF Walters neglect aho would
"A
hints Of card parties and midnight sup
pors had reached her through Mrs.
Gleason ana others, She had made hor-
self believe that Walter was IN love
with Aimee Lorcc, But II he were not
he might as well he II he wcro going
TO give her so much OF his time.
Mrs. Loree had called after dinner
10 which Madgo had invited her, and
MadEe had not yet returned hor call,
She hated TO 20 alone, yet she felt that
oven Kitty would he a drawback. she
lntonded.-.lf she couId--to ind out
something OF this woman's relations
with, Walter, something OF how she fns-
oinated him.
Madge had not the slightest idea that
she was standing upon thin ice, that II
might give way under her feet NJ any
time and engulf her In turbulent wa
tors She had yet TO learn that defoc-
ton IN n husband was never an excuse
fur the Same In wifo. So she was In
cllnod TO excuse anything she now did
on the ground that what was sauce for
Rnnfor was sauce for tho goose Moi |
that she did very much. but now she no
longer tonndod what Hhe did do 10 Wal. |
tor II he asked questions she anawored
truthfuily. IL he said nothing neither
did she,
Naturally Walter know practically OF
the long EVENING" Jack Turner spent
with her while he was absent. Jack
never romainod af.tr eleven, Walter
was seldom IN before midnight. Per
haps had no known he would scarcely
have resented tho Young mana presence,
especially II no had also known tho In
nocent manner in which Madge and
jack passed tho time.
Music reading aloud. or chatting OF
tho childhood which was brightly pic- |
turod in their mInds- Madge's on the
ranch Jacka IN boys school where |
he had boon placed BY relatives when |
he lost both fathor and mother and
where lie had remained until he went TO |
college.
oeoasisnally they would roll IN the
rugs aud dance. Then Tannh would |
hiring them In supper cook had made
10 tempt thom. M innocent enough.
suroy. yot all leading IN tho direction
whore trouble grows,
Madge dressed carefully for her cali
upon Mrs. Loreo, more carefully than
usual. she felt II momentous under
taking, dreaded Il terribly. yet was
anxious 10 go,
dainty parlor maid told her Mrs.
toroc was Mt homo and would be down
at once. white waiting Madge walked
about the room looking nj tho pictures
on tho wall. etc. Suddenly she hest.
tnted before "A small table set In tho
window. A large picture OF Walter
framed occupied tho CEN
Ter of the table, small vase OF flowers
The only other ornament
"Sh0 keeps flowers before his pie.
lure" Madga said 10 herself Just as
4 calm, cold voice said