The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-13
An Experiment
In MARRIAGE
BY CAROLYN BEEcHER
CHAPTER CVu.

tninA Will take walk. 1t ha
stopped raining. If you will decide wha
day you wish to leave. I'll attend 4
your. tickets and reservations tomor
row."
"Tn let you know" Her tone was
bit wistful. 1t seemed hard that h
had not expressed just little regret
Impulsively she touched his arm as h,
passed her:
I'm sorry. walter"
NOW that 1t was at last decided
Madge felt none OF the relief she haC
expected. Instead was a very real re-
greet at leaving her lovely home anC
her young friends. Only kitty Camp
bell knew. To her Madge said:
1T III as II you were all dead.
never shall como back OF course. Ant
have enjoyed you ell so much.
My heart Is Just broken over itr
Kitty declared, her eyes filing. %
don't know what shall do without you
and Douglas. don't see how his father
can give him up"
II couldn't have gone II he hadn't"
Had Walter known that, Kitty won
dered. and II he had would It have made
any difference?
,, "Did you have m awful quarrel.
"ouarrel-no We never /quarreled.
1t takes two. they say, ana always
gave in"
But I mean-when you talked
about-going?"
y mo. we Just quietly decided we
could not 90 on"
"Who ever heard Of such a thing7
thought people quarrelled dreadfully
when they separated"
"No-you feel too solemn to quarrel.
could hardly talk"
yet you are gladr'
"Glad it is over, yes. Now I know
he doesn't care. He never made the
slightest objection. Fell in with my
plans as II it were a relief. 1t prob
ably was. Mother said 1t was dan
gerous experiment; that we were I'M
suited to each other because OF the
difference in our ages. I guess she was
right. / was happy for a little while,
though" she added wistfully.
''Oh, dear I wish I could do some
thingr' inpulsive Kitty exclaimed dr. 1T
is all SO DREADFUL Then: What
about Jack Turner, Madge?'
II have nothing to tell you, Kitty
except what you already know. Jack
says he loves me. / believe he does.
/ think-I love him. II find do after
am free I shall marry him. o,a ,.o,,.
At know and feel SO guilty about It.
I have told him exactly how l feel'
have urged him not to depend upon me,
have told him that am not sure. Yet
l am-almost. $50,
will marry him and be happy ever
after-when this horrid business is over
What will your people say?'
"They aren't to know until after l
have made my visit. Then l shall go
to San Francisco and stay unul get
the divorce"
Il don't see how. you are going to
manage it, but perhaps you can. ia
be willing to bet a whole lot you wont
fool that big brother of yours very
Il have worried a little about him;
But Walter will write mo and l Will
keep him posted about Douglas, 80 II
I am very careful I guess I'll get
through without causing him TO sus-
pect." >,
Three DAYS afterward Madge. Doug
las and Hannah, whom Walter had in
sisted must go with them, were on their
way to the coast. The days na1 Ma odee
very full. There was much for Maoge
to do before she left. All her, personal
belongings she took or packed away.
"One would think she never was
coming back: "Hthe maids grumpled.
That's because she amt never gone
away before to stay no time at al.
the cook returned. she thinks every
thin ought to be put away until she
gets back. For me l am glad OF It,
There's less work to DO.
Madge and Walter had talked very
little about the coming visit and sub
sequent separation. He had explained
that a certain amount was banked IN
her name; that each month ne Woulo
put the same amount in the bank LOT
her. Then had added:
when the other-the divorces ar
ranged, I will Gee that you anu Oousias
are cared for" -,
IT had all been done so quietly. with |
out any fuss or explaining beyond tnose
few words. that Madge had no idea now
often money had proved o great maker
Of added trouble under similar clrcunis
stances. But as always she que tsausIt
nothing Walter told her. she though.
he was generous, but he always nag
heen. When she thanked him, SAID IL
was more than she would need as SIM
ply as she would live. he answered
harshlY that he knew what was oes.:
his boy in his arms. Madge stole sew
eral giances at his stern; wnlte Isce,
at his grazing hair, which somehow
seemed to have grown winter Oh iMte.
But they said little, no more tLlan We sS
necessary. When they reached me
train, he gave the boy to Hannah. Kissed
both Madge and him, then stood waving
until they were out Of his sight'
"a 4 CHAPTER .CVIII.
How good 1t was to be at nome egln
with those who loved her. Madge
Thought when she first glimpsed the
ranch. The entire family had met nes
at the station some neea metss Delighted
to see her and the baby, had expressed
SO much love for both. that 1adge al
most forgot her unhappiness In the JOY
of her Homecoming.
Douglas had sat on his grandfather's
lap all the way. He had sh .SDtr d no
light. Their praise OF him. while IL
ne tu,rllv pleased the young mother,
also made her feel a bit guilty because
of Walter. the father. ,.u." h.r
''He's q. sturdy little J., te hiT,' good to
run Wild for a time. You too. dear.
vnu aren't looking very well. fou
haven't been 81, have YOU ana kept 1t
from us?'
mo. mother. haven't been III at all.
am little tired, N be all TEN
when l am. rested. Mau c1arne she
her dire, tlon-a suspicious glance; She
must he careful or William would know
something was wrong peiote she Ma@
ready TO tell them. she had oeier
mined to have nothing mar eii'S o+hnrs'
sset 50 much for herself as the others'
Mo matter what happens afterward'
7 ,yont them TO think OF baby ana me
kindly" Madge said to herself hot'ot
all sure her people would ever condone
her divorce or forgive her for her at
"Tbcv couldn't understand--father
and mother" she said as she noted the
strong bond between them WIN new :
Interest 'They are so happy together (
ibat il will be almost impossible for !
them TO realize what IL means to be
and-not happy. ,,..,,,- I
somehow Madge felt that William
might understand; that he. because OF
his visit, his knowledge Of Aimee Loree. !
Filings he had seen and resented while '
with her would know she was not all