Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-18

s.,,ontly. "Oh, what on earth ID the use
,o,nq n man II you can't make a
oman care for your She did once,
IA n ought not to be SO very difficult
a. make her care again. She-shes
s,st longing for some one to be good to
g., and love her. That's why she seems
like Mr.. Kettering. I know. 1t Is
vi, seeming, Jimmy. know her better
,,.n vol, do. IT'S only that he came along
,,,., when she was 30 unhappy--just
Cssn she was wanting some one to be
IA 10 her. And he has been good to
She really has" she added earnestly.
rrmy drew long breath. He rose
a. hls feet, stretching his arms wearily.
~ don't deserve that she should for
.,vs me-" he said, with a ney sort Of
snm,lity. "But--but II ever she does"
u. took q quick step toward Gladys.
arc ask her to come and speak to me.
,,.re,s a dear. promise you that I
.or,t upset her. I'll do my very best"
> che went reluctantly. and as soon
"a tho door had closed behind her. JIM
Nv challoner went over to the looking
class and stared at his pale reflection
sn,,ously. He had always rather ad-
r,,red himself, but this afternoon his
nailor and thinness disEusted him. No
Tponder Christine did not want to look
At him or talk to him. He passed a
nervous hand over the refractory kink
semembering that Christine had once
said she liked 1t brushed 1t up again
II seemed a long time before she came
down to him. He was sure that half an
4. gA1 at Ixyg htaN
the door on him befote 1t opened again
and Christine stood there. little PALE
A little defiant
you want to speak to me-" she said.
Her voice was antagonlstic, the soft
curves Of her face seemed to have hard
YES Won't you-won't you come
and alt down 2" Jimmy was horribly
nervous. He dragged forward a chair.
but she ignored It. She shut the door
and stood leaning against It. ;, al,
II would rather stay here she said.
sand please be quick II there is any
thing important to say"
The Indifference Of her voice cut him
10 the heart. He broke out with genu-
ine grief; - ,o,uu
10 forgive me?'
Just for moment little CULVER con-
yulsed her face. but 1t was gone In
stantly. She knew by past experience
how easily Jimmy could put just that
soft note into his voice. She told her.
self that It was only because he wanted
something from her, not that he was
really In the very least sorry for what
had happened. for the way he had hurt
her. for the havoc he had made OF her
life.
TT isn't a question of forgiveness at
ALL" she said. II didn't ask you to come
here was quite happy without you"
That is very evident" he said Bit
terly The words escaped him before
he could stop them. He apologized agi-
tatedly.
Il didn't mean that; It slipped out;
know what I am saying. If you can't
ever forgive me. that settles It once and
for ALL Of course but"
She interrupted.
why have you come here? What do
you want?''
The question was direct enough. and
IN deportation he answered 1t directly.
Y have come because my brother will
be home next week. and I want to know
what am to tell him."
For the first time she blanched little.
Her eyes sought his with a kind Of fear.
does II matter what you tell him?"
"T mean about our marriage. The old
boy was 80 pleased that THAT you
It Will about finish him II he knows how
IL he knows that We" He foun-
dered helplessly.
you mean il he kn6ws that you mar
ried me out Of pique. and that found 1t
OUT" she added bitterly
=, He attempted no defense; he stood
there miserable and siient.
You can tell him what you like" Raid
In tho very least"
~ know you don't. I quite realize that !:
but-but II, just for the sake Of appear
ances, you felt you could be sufficiently
forgiving to-to come back to me. just
added with an embarrassed rush. 4
| wouldn't bother you. I'D let YOU do
:ust as you liked. I wouldn't ask any
thing I-I-"
Christine laughed.
You are inviting me to have a second
honeymoon, in fact Is that it?" she
asked bitterly. THANK you very much.
enjoyed the first so tremendously that,
of course, It Is only natural you should
think ! must be anxious to repeat the
experiment."
Jimmy flushed to tho roots of his hair.
u deserve everything you can say. I
haven't any excuse to offer. and l know
you'll never believe II " were TO tell
YOU that--that when Cynthia-"
She put up her hands to her eyes with
Z little shudder.
II don't want to hear anything about
her don't ever want to hear her name
again."
II am sorry, dear" Tho word of en-
dearment slipped out unconsciously.
Christine's little figure quivered sudden
~ she began to sob.
She wanted some one to he kind to
her so badly. The one little word of en-
oearment was like ray OF sunshine
touching the hard bitterness of her heart.
melting 1t, breaking her down.
"Christine! said Jimmy in n choked
voice
He went over to her. He put his arm
around her. drawing her nearer to tho
nre He made her sit in the armchair
and he knelt beside her. holding her
hand He wanted to kiss her, wanted
10 say all the many passionate words of
femorse that rose to his lips, but some-
now hc was afraid. Ho was not sure OF
ner yet. He was afraid of startling her.
OF driving her back into antagonism
and suspicion
Presently she stopped sobbing: she
ireed her hand and wiped away the
tears.
1T was silly to cry" she said jerkily.
There was nothing to cry for" She was
tshamed that she had broken down
angry that the cause OF her grief had
esen that one little word of endearment
spoken by Jimmy.
He rose to his feet and went 70 stand
Sy the mantelshelf, staring down into
There was a long silence.
~ When-when is Horatio coming?"
chrlsttne asked him presently.
i dent know for certain. The cable
said Monday but 1t may be later or even
She looked at him. His shoulders were
her
There was an agony of indecision In
er ner heart. She did not want to make
,Inings harder for him than was abso-
,uteiy necessary, and yet she clung to
ner pride-the pride that seemed to be
whispering to her to refuse--not to give
w 10 him Sho stared into the fire, her
eyoJ still blurred with tears