Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-26
:" She
HUSBAND
: HAT ERR
By AAzSL OEYO 5ATCHEZ0P
Chapter XVII
The Departure

The Departure
| T EAN wondered vaguely If Mark
intended to go into the plans
j for the future before she left
the ranch. She wished he
wouldn't, after all it wasn't really
necessary to talk them over just now
when all she wanted was to get
away quietly. And Mark up to the
time of her departure had said moth
| ing at all, neither did he speak of
it on the long ride into Galicia. He
| sat beside her strangely silent, his
large body erect and powerful, and
his dark face expressionless.
jeans trunk and bags were piled in
the back Of the wagon, and she felt
strangely exultant as from time to
time she stole a glance behind her
and tried to realize that she had ac-
tually started.
Back in the ranch living room he
had handed her packet of bills.
Better keep these in a safe place"
he had suggested "Pll send you
money every month and if it isn't
enough let me know"
For the first time in her life Jean
felt strangely embarrassed. Before
when he had given her money she
had felt only hurt pride at the fact
that it was necessary to take it.
NOW she IelC strangely aSndHeu DIS
though she had no right to take any
thing from him. She registered a
little oath that as soon as she was
settled in the city she would get
something to do. Already in her
imagination she was looking ahead
to the time when she could returA
Marks money with a little note of
explanation that she would no lon
ger need anything from him. 1t
0,,i1 hos 10
had that much in view, that she
did not intend to remain a parasite
any longer than was absolutely nee
essary.
They reached Galicta after what
seemed an intolerabIe time or riding,
and it was dark when they reached
the miserable little station and Mark
helped her out Of the wagon.
The big through trains did not stop
at so small a town as this one and
Mark had been forced to make reser-
vations for Jean on a local. He had
explained this to her, and she had
smiled. So small an inconvenience
meant so very little in comparison
with the fact that she was leaving,
that she could afford to smile,
II don't mind at ALL" she said
quickly, but Mark had caught the
smile and understood what it meant.
1lc Il otlAL CdIilS IlluAAoS1 4IlS III, anu
he put her aboard. He stood for a
moment beside her seat and it was
then that she looked up at him and
held out her hand.
"Good-bye," she said quietly, land
than you, Mark, I appreciate every
thing"
DO you?" he said quickly, bend
ing down to her. Jean, will you
kiss me good-bye?"
For a moment she shrank and her
sudden reVulsjon must have shown in
her eyes, for he Strengthened instant
ly.
Outside there were calls of "all
baoard," a light driZzle had set in
and the window panes were already
dull and misty. Jean felt a sud-
den throb of emotion, Of regret that
things were as they were, of sympa-
thy for the man she was leaving so
precipitately. 1t was a TRANCE little
feeling that she could not take time
to analyze, but it brought her sud-
denly to her feet. and impulsively
she held up her face, white and
lovely in the dim light.
He stood looking down at her for
moment and then stopped. But he
did not kiss her lips, he brushed her
soft cheek lightly, and his last
words: BE happy" seemed to echo
through the car, as he went swiftly
down the aisle and out Of the train.
Although Jean wiped a little clear
space on the window and looked out,
she did not see him. He was gone.