Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-02
The
Marriage TrHler
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
COPYRIGHT. 1870. bv pubHc Ledger Co.

Copvrfohf. 1870, by Public Ledger CO.
barbara Knight. phen she married
Keith Grant. did not look on ntdrrto0e
as q JOB so much as q neto state cre-
dfed for the fnrthering OF her soctety
ambitions, she loved Keith. out inc
deeper eide Of her had neuer been
dtodkoned and II ,oas not nntM she
heard about his friendship toifh kdth-
erine NeYbery that she BECAME
troubled. After shc had met KAT
crime she soD pidiniy thot hdthermee
,eas an exceptional poman aud that
" Keith admired her there toas every
reason for 80. 10 tpds Just about this
tine that Eleanor Knight almost made
q fearful mistake due to tDron0 stdnd-
ards and the tepcrish desire for pedhh
and position, and IN ,oorrvin1 about
her. Barbara almost forgot herseU,
but only for a time.
TT WAS after dinner that night when
= Keith was summoned to the teie-
phone. They had had gay little
meal. the three of them, Barbara. biea-
nor and Keith. but the telephone mes
sage dimmed Barbara's radiance some
how. She had been more than usually
gay and they had laughed a great deal
with everything there was In her she
had sought to intrigue and interest her
husband and she had succeeded but the
telephone message recalled her to earth
and other matters.
They had been sitting over their coffee
In the soft light of the exquisite little
dining room. Eleanor wore soft blue
frock and Barbara wore yellow. For
wonder they were not hurrying to go
anywhere, and Keith had suggested that
he take both girls to one Of the summer
musical comedies.
Eleanor did not seem like the same
girl of last night She was softer more
girlish, more freshly enthusiastic. her
laughter was the real laughter OF youth.
and she seemed fonder of Barbara than
she had ever been In her life before.
She remembered with shame her atti-
tude toward Barbara the day she had
told her about Keiths luncheon with
his secretary She had felt even then
that there was nothing in 1t. She did
not know what had possessed her to let
Barbara think there was. How could
she have ever thought and acted as she
did. and how. unhappy she had been for
so long!
Keith came back from the telephone,
and Barbara raised her wide brown eyes
with a question In them.
ut was mother he said briefly
There was tired note in his voice. II
hadn't the enthusiasm and gay boyish-
ness that had been in It a few minutes
ago.
What did she want?" Barbara asked
leaning across the table
"She wanted to know about the Chal-
loner house. I told her we'd take it."
That's fine" said Eleanor gleefully
And Ill come and stay with you" :
Barbara's slim fingers were clenched
In her lap as she leaned toward Keith
Did she want the Challoner house? II
SO, everything was settled for her
taken out of her hands and arranged
without any trouble on her part. The
Challoner house stood for more than 9
entertain ones guests. 1t stood for Bar.
bara's idea of a marriage II stood fol
pomp and ceremony and shallow show
II. did not stand for home and com
panionship and love.
II they took the Challoner place Il
meant that she would have the hand
soonest home, the most elaborate men
age of any one in her set. She would
be the envy of even Leslie Benham. and
It had all been arranged for her. There
WdSH II tHlllB LOT neT 10 no DTOteB
tations to make, only just an acceptance
of the inevitable.
And then finally, Barbara spoke.
Keith, we don't want the Chalionei
house"
Keith started. Don't want It? VIII,
of course we do You and mother have
been talking about it since earl,
spring"
Il know. but I've been thinking abou
1t and I've changed my mind" Bar
bara's words came In rush. TITS too
large for US. Keith. we don't need 1
| place like that"
Keith smiled and Barbara fancied tn,
smile was a little forced. You hav,
| a surprise up your sleeve, somethin,
better than the Challoner house?"
There couldn't be anything bette
than that" Eleanor put in. IT'S per
fectly stunning place. I'm quite wild {,
visit you there. What other place wer,
! you thinking OF, Barbara?"
No other place. | haven't an idei
where Wen go. But l don't want tn
Challoner, place and l know Keitl
doesn't. do. you?" turning to her hus
band
It's as good as any other place o
| its kind" Keith returned. You ma
bel sorry you didn't take II. it's rathe
late in the season. You must have som
idea of where you want to CO."
Barbara shook her head. Let's thin
II over for "A few days" She had sud
| denly realized that what she reall
wanted to do was to go away alon
with Keith. and yet she could not te
him so. How could she be sure that h
would want to go away alone with her
now?