Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-07
The
Marriage Trifler
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Copyright. 1870. bv Public Ledger Co.
Another Surrender

This Is a story Of a girl toho took
marriage too lightly. Barbara Knight
t1anted society and love dfterpdrd,
Hhen she married Keith Grant, al
though she really loped her husband.
It wasn't until she discovered several
things about the ife she tDds leading
thdt she dctudlly began to think about
tt all She SdW her younger sister,
marriage for money. she sato the shall
lotoness Of the friendship she had made
and she SGU her husband become
Interested in another pomdn, an in
nocent friendship enough. but 1t tOds
calling to see that some one else could
gtve Keith tUhat she had never taken
the trouble to give him.
KEITH analyzed his feelings on the
way home that evening. He was
going to miss Katherine's friendship
more than he realized just at present
He wondered what marriage would do
Tor her. Would II spoil her attitude to-
ward Ire? Surely not that. for she was
marrying a man who liked to do the
splendid man and between them there
should be a complete understanding
from the beginning.
He reached home and found Barbara
In his den. She wore a simple little sum-
mer dress and the windows were open
to the breeze, that was blowing cool and
direct into the cosy little room
Keith stooped to kiss her, and said
lightly "1 didn't know you ever came
here here You know yoon hate the furnish
words were light. but the meaning be-
hind them stung. For a moment Bar
hara's pride rose In arms and she was
about to retort hotly. and then remem-
bering. she said softly:
You're quite right Keith. but came
here today because there Is so much Of
you In this room"
Keith sat down and looked at her
searchinglY.
"Tvy why Barbara sentiment from you?"
Keith, ! want to talk to you," she
said, burylng still more OF her pride.
About life," she went on tremblingly
I've made such a mess OF things, and
I've been failure as wife"
That brought Keith to her in an In
stant, and he knelt at her side, his arms
about her. That's not true"
Yes II Is" and Barbara's voice trem-
bled. II can remember when you asked
me, to marry you, from the very first
| thought only of myself never Of you,
and It's been that way ever since. I
never troubled TO see II you liked the
same things 7 did; just expected you
70 70 I've anyway; you know it's true,
TITS true that I've never had enough
or you he said passionately. That's
true, It's true that we've never had q
real friendship since our marriage, and
even our love has been sandwiched in
between social events"
And so you made a friend of Kath-
'rino n Newbc,rry," Barbara said quickly.
Dear, I don't blame you. think
she is splendid. At frat when I heard
of 1t I hated her, and then I went down
TO your office and met her and liked her
It was then that began. to realize how
things were going, ! lInew that she
her enough to go to her home. to be
friends with her. I saw that had no
ono to hlame but myself, and when I
| looked about me and saw Leslie's mar
I'felt sick"
Keith's arms drew her closer.
II thought perhaps you didn't care at
all any more, but I was determined to
turn over a new leaf, so, refused to
take the Challoner house"
"The Challoner house! !" Keith drew
! away to stare at her.
Yes. I knew that II we went up
there things would go on just as, they
into the whirl without being able to help
| ourselves"
Barbara sweetheart, listen 10 me a
minute and believe me. I like Rather
inc Newbery, she Is 2 splendid girl. but
love you This afternoon Katherine
| told me OF her engagement to a news
paperman and ! shall miss her friend
| ship. that's all"
But you needn't miss her friendship -
| Barbara interrupted quickly. She was
silent a moment and then she said shy-
| lY, why can't | be invited TO the
| Thursday nights?"
Barbara Grant, what do you know
about the Thursday niRhts?"
II know all about them, and was
| hoping that perhaps In the fall when we
come back, Katherine Newbery might
| like another member"
And she buried her head on Keith's
shoulder.
L Mnuda,r- A EIa.u-.aAI