Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-24
HIS SECOND WIFE
CHAPTER I
BY ERNEST POOLE
Author Of "The Harbor,' "His Family
Copyright, 1870. BY Public Ledger Co.

" IN one of the parlor cars two young
women sat facing each other. talking
s,d smiling, deeply absorbed. They took
little apparent notice of any one else In
,he car, but most OF the people near
tbern kept throwing curious glances their
way.
These glances differed vastly, as did
the thoughts behind them. A tall, genial
uesterner, who looked as though he had
.ome from a ranch. smiled frankly and
bungrIly on the pair and told himself
with emphasis Those two girls are nifty
6ftv. I'd like dozen CT each brand" /"
Ana a slim college boy with fresh, eager
eyes kept darting quick looks from time
70 time at the older of the two, the
blonde. He asked himself confusedly,
How'd I start in with woman like
herr" And exciting pictures rose in his
mind, In the meantime an elderly, lady,
with sharp, inauisitive air, had put
down the ages Of the girls at twenty-five
and thirty. ..
"They're sisters" she decided, but
then she nearly changed her mind. They
were such contrasted types. The blondS
eaye an appearance Of sleek and
n,oneyed elegance, with carefully undu-
lated hair, a rounded bust, and pretty
features smooth and plump. with a re-
,rousse nose and rich. full lips, and
manner of easy assurance. The bru-
nette was younger and less developed,
slim and 1.-THE, her curling black hair re-
belI,ous, her features more clean-cut
and clear, with wide, eager lips and
warm brown eyes set wide apart.
Nevertheless, they are sisters" the
,,,Ie Iadv firmly concluded. The fam
uv resemblance is quite unmistakable."
And frowning in perplexity, But II
,h.v are sisters" she went on, why is
univ one in mourning7' She looked at
,hs Younger OF the two, who was simply
drsssed in black and then at the blonde,
whose sable cloak put back from her
shoulders revealed n stylish travelling
suit. And why Is one rich and the
other pcor?"
Meanwhile n young woman nearby,
with a fat, discontented face. regarded
the blonde with envy and thought.
"sbe's an actress with her maid. Why
cant Harry allow me a maid, real
clever one like that? Men see these ac-
t-esses on the stage and get to expecting
things from their wives--without being
Wiling 10 pay for It Think what tnat
rlrl could make of me J"
duiet, able-looking woman sitting
tst across the aisle, who travelled for
c,othIng store, was watching the
. Tmaid." the brunette, and was thinRns,
"She makes her clothes herselt. Sne
has been the beauty of her small town
She's smart. too, and original. Tnat
Il Iao nd Hnhl
Of lace, A pity she's in mourning"
But tho large fat man behind the
two girls had little thought for the
| brunette. His heavy eyes, quite motion
| less, we're upon the older girl. He TOOK
| in her sensuous shoulders; the rounded
contour of her bust, her glossy coinure,
the small fine hairs at the back OF her
neck. And he thought. Yes, she mas
| been loved pretty we'll. She was talk-
hg and he could Just ,ss hear tSs her yGfs ttfe
rloved hand on her chair. By her eyes.
which we're Of violet hue. he saw
she was aware of his gaze. Something
cleaned in them that sent a thrill far
down into his sluggish soul. ~
whose eyes were fixed on the brunette,
noticed how hard she was listening,
noticed the fresh expectancy In her
parted lips and clear brown eyes. and
asked with a touch of sadness:
IT wonder what's waiting for you In
| New York? I'm afraid ! don't like this
eompaR ion Of yours. And you're 80 very
young. my dear, and eager and gay
And you are to be so beautiful"
heing made about them both. the
brunette was wrapt in her own Inner
fancies, vivid and exciting Listening
to her sister. swift thoughts and ex-
pectations mingled with the memories of
the life behind her. AS she stared out
~ tho window Halda and woods and
houses kept whirlng back out of her
view-and so 1t was with her memories.
1t was hard to keep hold of any one.
She had lived with her father.
in Ohio, down In the lower part Of the
state He was dead, and she was go
Ing to live with her married sister In
New York He was dead and his
Daughter was not sad. though shed
been, his only close companion and had
loved him tenderly And this brought
a guilty feeling now. which she fought
down by telling herself there had been
little sadness in his death. She pic
iured her father making his speech at
the mnveilng of the monument. How
happy, and proud he had appeared. For
half his life old Colonel Knight had
eEhortCd his fellow townsmen and
painted dark tho shame OF their town :
.odiers' monument, sir! :" He had held
countless meetings, he had gone beg
sinE 10 his reighbors. and every dollar
,t himself could save had gone into
IlqmDhed and after all the excitement
MS hnal victory the old soldier had !
made his speech. aud died.
, around HIM and the monument and |
,ne old frame house on River street, the |
aSy, shallow river. the high school Dear |
ne court house Demley's Tavern across
,he square, the line of shops on either |
sRHe' the new movie" theatre of pink |
ue, and the old yellow church on the
Soner-the pictures of her life trooped |
SW. me pictures of her last few years
Nllh me miracle, the discovery that she
herseIf Ethel Knight who had always
Geen Sn considered plain" was slowly now
TSSneloping into beautiful woman.
t rmdt brought memories which thrilled
ioSa[,iIous faces of men, young and old.
~ohs IONS and glances. words overheard, and
ScountIess small attentions. But these
Sane IN mere fragments, rising only to
N. WnIrIed back again into the past, as
"e lrain sped on toward the city.
yi,h Shhe was going to live in New York
S1n her married sister. Amy Lanier.
S1,i ana rom looking out of the car win
Ethel would turn quickly throw
swtt glance at her sister and smile.
,m ,rna hsr elegance, her worldly assur-
Lreee,, her smiling good humor and
tsnt 'edge OF life" her apparent CON
o,. ner sense of well being, of being
had 'NH ~ anu lONo AMY MllO
mon pu an adorng husband, Amy who spent
bss"m",yy llkn water, Amy with dash and
VeaaHty and style
.sr Mew York just fairly shimmering in
ATIn.hg ATnrs.h she wears :" thought Ethel.
rorn' n,'y sable cloak was long She had
skrt" II at the funeral, with a black
he ana heavy veil. But the veil
had iaG ias! put into her bag as soon as they
Ssck Us!skt revealed rich colors The glittes and
wors rs OF a diamond brooch and she
tbrs7,. small blue feathered hat which
Of Wo, out changing colors in the play