Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-26
HIS SECOND WIFE
BY ERNEST POOLE
Author of "The Harbor," His Familv''
Copyright, 1870. by Public Ledger Co.

iooE Eshel WA was IN mad tc learn to sing" he
marched her over to the piano And
they had quite a session together-tiij
Amy suggested going out 10 a new
cabaret ,.ats she heard of that day. Her
voice sounded hurt and strained And
ethel from that night on dropped ali
mention of singing "''
Her curiosity deepened toward this
clsy love anair, the husband and wife
out of their lives, things Vial IN LILIES tss
Ohio town. The sober wee girl in The
nursery Kept just as quiet as before.
Otten Ethel opened that door ana went
~ and tried to make friends with it's
grave shy little inmate and the hostile
nurse. And returning to her room she
would frown and wonder for a time, But
the pretty things piling in from the
snops; and the gay anticipations, soon
Swiftly this household was erowing
more real, the rooms familiar, Intimate
the days routine with It's small events
were becoming parts of her life, Her
own room was familiar now, for by
many touches she'd made Il her own.
And the dining room and the living
room, where she grew acquainted with
Joe, these too assumed an intimate air
Most OF all her sisters room grew more
this was still far from familiar ID held
too much, II meant too much.
Shall I ever live with a man like
The, way thcv locked at each other at
times The way they seemed keeping
watch on each other. n Joe we're o,,t
very late at night, Amy would almost
invariably grow uneasy and absent
minded and there would be a ohalieng-
,ng hig NOTE note IN the way she greeted him on
was In Amy's room. She went out when
Joe came in; but queer little gasp
ing sigh behind gave her q start and a
swift thrill, for. although she did not
turn around she knew they were in each
others arms '
And again, late one afternoon when the
sisters came home and found Joe AT
york. with a tired anxious look on his
And the picture of her small gloved hand hand
npcn Joe's heavy shoulder remained in
EtheIs memory. 1t seemed so soft and
yet so strong.
She can do anything with him she
,,fGs' ,yi,,' :, Wnsn ,,, / marry somebody how
Upon the living room mantel was a
photograph of Amy. And on the
siISS,i,. smScth and pretty face, with the lips
let eyss parting tbnrs and in the smiling vo
something which Ethel did not quite
name to herself-for she had forgotten
me me night long ago in her high school
Giub when they had sturdily tackled the
tne picture grew familiar and real, filled
IN by the living presence here Of this
woman who so carefully tended her
beautiful body. her glossy hair her
smeeks and lips; this sister with so
many moods, now intent and watch
ful. now. good-humored. indoient, now
eNpectant, hungry. now smlingly con
tent and gay.
m And as the picture grew more real
warm and close and thrilling, IL svmI
bcliZed for Ethel that mysterious force
which she could feel on every side. driv-
ing the throngs of humanity--in this
Sity wnere so many things she had once
y ueeIned Important were fading rapidly
away. Ihat hungry hope of a singers
career. that craving for work and self
education, trips to Paris, London. Rome
DOCKS. art and clever people, salons
ofiiIiant otiiI discussions of life; and deeper
SSsii, Sa,,;, tn0sS mysterious dreams about
nhiVlng children and making a home
all began TO drop behind, so quietly and
change. ''o
For this was happening in a few
OF those dazzling streets and shops.
thcsa models. gowns, hats, gloves and
shoe, IT'S not what you say that in
wbss yepssts yoI menmit's m how you look and
sister grew vivid in Ethers eager mind
And with it came the question. now
ardent though still a little Confused 'o"
snail | ever be like that?"
Ethel mad been about four weeks in
friends. Amy. was giving a dinner the
next evening in her honor: and TO let
the cook and the waitress have a rest
on the preceding night Joe took Amy
business had gone we'll that week and
Joe was a genial husband They had
a sea-food supper and later he took
%tnem % to play. When they came home,
Ethel went to her ROOM for she felt
vgIS ,raS tired ,Ired. 1t was not long before she
dressed. "o' nail
Amy is sick - he said sharply. 60
ana q help her, will you? I'll try to get
On Amys bed. little later. Ethel
saw a face 50 changed from the one CT a
rev hours before, that she felt her heart
lump into her throat. Amys face was
Ugly ana queer distorted by frequent
spasms or pain. But worse was the ter
ror In her eyes.
-, Ethel, I think I'm dying :" she cried
Something ate-it poisoned me p
mere was violent catch in her breath
ingH Ethel held her sister tight, asked
luick anxious questions and did things
o relieve her, but with little or no sue |
;ess . seemed hours till Joe came
al madn WIN MN was a doctor, who
nte the hall Ethel followed anxiousIy.
'he heard the doctor questioning Joe,
md she heard him say. A'
I'm afraid it's ptomaine."
What does that mean" Joe fiercely
inquired. But before Ethel could hear |
ne reply she was called back into the |
,edroom where on her bed with both |
'anqs clenched Army was saying.
~, l cant bear this Make him give
ne something-quiCk,' -
The rest of the night WAS him o,d |
! maze, or which Joe was the center
Ioe half crazed and impatient, making |
impossible demands.
you can't get a nurse in a minute, |
ny friend. at a. M" the doctor cried |
I'm doing my best If youll give me a !
The fight went on. The nurse arrived, |
,nd turning to Ethel the doctor said |
Zoe into the living room. But there |
With sudden curse and a groan he be- |
'an to walk the floor.
This doctor-what do we know OF |
him? He was al I could find We
haven't been to a doctor IN years!
Ah-thats II :" And he went to- the |
telephone, where in a few moments she |
leard him saying tensely, Bill old |
nan, I'm in trouble" And she thought, |
What have you done?" she asked
Got Bill Nourse on the phone. He's
bringing another doctor"
But Joe You should have asked |
HIS one first :"
should II" was his distracted reply.
The second physician soon arrived and
vas as surprised and distracted as the
Irst one when he found how he had
een summoned. In a moment with an
ry apologies he was backing out Of the
oor. But Joe caught his arm
You two and your etiquette be
Go in and look at that wom-
n y he cried. And with glance into
oes eyes, the second doctor turned TO
he first muttered, Hold this man. He's