Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-14
The Second Honeymoon
Christine laughed.
BY RUBY M. AYRES

She looked up at him with dancing
oyes she had quite forgotten her sorrow
presence always cheered her and took
her out of herself. She poured tea for
him, and laughed and chatted away mer.
rlly.
Afterward they sat before the fire and
Christine said sho could see faces In
the red Goals she pointed them out to
Kettering.
He had to stoop forward to see what
she indicated; for a moment their heads
were very close together !. It was Chris
tine who drew back sharply.
"Oughtn't we to be going homer" she
asked with sudden nervousness.
She rose to her feet and went over to
the window the sunshine had gone, and
the country road was gray and shadowy
lGettering's big car stood at the curb
After moment no followed her to the
window; he was little pale, his eyes
seemed to avoid hera.
II am quite ready when you are he
She was fastening her we'll over her
hat; her fingers shook little ,es she
tied the bow.
s so6a onns osS soss sss to gss g sT Ss ia
Ing apprehension in her eyes,
He was q fine, enough man; there was
something about him that gave one such
feeling Of safety--of security Shu
tOuiu UUt tTnHRlIlt tTtJ He WVulu tNtT ut-
liberately' set himself TO hurt woman.
as---as Jimmy had. She went out to the
car and stood waiting for him.
''All that tea for one and threepence"
he said. laughing. when he Joined her.
She laughed. too. She got in beside
him and tucked the rug round her
warmly.
How lcng will It take to get homer"
sho asked. She seemed all at once con-
aIa he H,,uly ppnaSiota
too, of anxiety to get back to Gladys.
She was a little afraid Of this man.
though she would not admit 1t even TO
herself.
I'VE ought To be home in an hour"
he said. He started the engine.
The car ran smoothly for a mile or
two Christine began to feel sleepy. Ket.
tering did not talk much. and the fresh
evening air on her face was soothing ana
pleasant. She closed her eyes.
Presently when Kettering spoke to hec
he got no answer he turned little In
his seat and looked down ut her. but her
head was dropping forward and he could
not see her face,
Christine" He spoke her name sharp-
ly then suddenly he smiled; she was
asleep.
/ He moved SO that her head rested
against his arm; he slowed the car
down a little. &C.,
Kettering was not a young man. his
y
thing of the past. but all his life ar
| terward he looked back on that drive
home to Upton House as the happlest
rhour he had ever known. with Christines 8
gray twilight ali. about them. When
| they were half mile from home he
reused her gently. She sat up with
start, rubbing sleepy eyes.
"Oh where are we?" He laid his
hand on hers for a moment. b..
| you've been asleep. We're nearly
home"
He turned in at the drive OF Upton
House, He let her get out of the car
| unassisted' ..-.
Gladys was at the door; her eyes were
"i thought you must have had an
accident" she said. She caught Chris
tines hand You're .,an fssofully cSris,,r. late;
said. She ran into the house.
Kettering looked at the elder girl.
you would not come" he said.
Don't you care for motoring" -.
mo" She came down the steps and
I say something?"
He looked faintly surprised.
May you! Why. OF COURSE
You will be angLy=..yau will be very
angry, am afraid, she said. But
but I can't help lit. .'' e,
Angry" What do you mean?"
There was a moments silence. then !:
| We'll" said EetterIng rather curtly.
She flushed. but her eyes did not fall
man. and know you are, you will new
er come here again" she said urgently
A little wave OF crimson surged un-
der Kettering's brown skin. but his
eyes did not fall; there was a short
silence, then he laushed-rather mirth-
lessly.
"And IL am not the gentleman you
so very kindly seem to believe me-" he
said constrainedly. -.
Gladys Leighton came little closer to
him she laid her hand on his arm.
you don't mean that; you're only
saying 1t because--because-" She
broke of with an impatient gesture.
| "Oh !" she said. exasperatedly. whats
want them to be happy--if you cannot
sacrifice q little for them"
| Kettering looked at her curiously. He
had never taken much notice OF her be-
fore he had thought her very ordinary
type he was struck by the sudden en-
ergy and passion in her voice.
'she is not happy now, at all events" "
he said grimly.
He turned away, and hdseted with
the wheel Of the car.
happy than she Is now" he said again
"She would be more unhappy IL she
knew she had done something to be
hide"
He raised his eyes: o., Are Ar you, you holding
She frowned a little.
! you know I am not; / never thought
he was good enough for her. Even'years
but Christine loved him then; she
thought there was nobody In all the
world like him; she adored him"
He WINGED. "And now" he asked
shortly.
She did not answer for moment she
stood looking away from him.
| There was a letter this morning" she
said tonelessly. Jimmy is III, and they
asked ls,l.,,s her g., to go to him."
she would not go She told me she
was going to Heston with you inste ad. I"
The silence fell again. Kettering's
eyes were shining; there was a sort Of
shamed triumph about his big person,
Gladys turned to him impatlentiy..
Are you looking glad? Oh, I think
I should kill you II ! saw you looking
glad !" she said quickly. II only told
you that so that you might see how
herself. She's So SO little umI ana
weak--and now that she is unhappy, It's
Just the time when she might do some
Ting sms Touid sSs BE sorry for all her
What are you two talking about ?"
Christine demanded from the doorway.
She came down the steps and stood be-
tween them she looked at Kettering.
Il thought you had gone" she said, sur
prised.
mo; miss Leighton and I have
be en- discussing the higher ethics" he
said dryly. He held his hand to Gladys
We'll, good-by." he said; there was a
little emphasis on the last word.
She just touched his fingers.
"Good-by." She put her arm around
Christine there was something defen-
slye In her whole attitude,