Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-07


"solecf Uarie. She hears his
.loc and proposes that they try his
Kan Of a ncW relationship for
month.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
mT's abnormal weather for Septem-
| ber." Feathers agreed.
There was little silence, then
Feathers knocked the ashes from his
pIpe and stood up.
"wen, out with it! What's the
natter?"
"What do you mean?'
"Thot I know you've come here with
something on your mind. Get it of and
you'll feel better"
He half.cxpccted an outburst of rage
from his friend, but none came, and
there was n painful note in Chris voice
rs he said:
"Its--my wife,
"Yes." 1t gave Feathers little
shock TO hear Chris speak of Marie in
those words. He could not remember
,vpr having heard him use them before.
IN
Iestp " II brought home to him with
harp reality how far removed she was
from him. how much she belonged to
The man whose name she bore.
Chris looked up, his eyes hot and
family suspicious.
Damn it, You know as well as |
40 that things are all wrong between
us," he said roughly. And now the
climax has come aud she wants to be
free of mc--separation. divorce
whatever it is you can get when your
wife hates you like poison.
Feathers did not move. His ugly face
was a little pale, but his eyes betrayed
nothing. Chris started up and began
pacing the room.
"Im to blame, | suppose he said
hoarsely. II ought not to have mar
ried her. but it seemed the best thing
| 10 do at the time"
A little contemptuous fash crossed
bis friend eyes, but lie made no conf
nent.
Chris swung round with startling
| nddennGss.
"What would you do if you were
me-" he demanded.
BE question to answer! | know moth
Ing about women-you know that. You
should be the best judge as to how to
settle your own affairs.
Chris crumpled his hair agitatedly.
"I'm hanged if | am. never was
% up against it in my life. Perhaps
II cleared off abroad somewhere for
yeaf'--''
Feathers interrupted quietly:
Don't you think you've been away
long enough already"
"You mean Scotland Pooh That
was nothing. She wouldn't have cared
shout that" But his voice was un-
certain, and after moment he asked
suspiciOusly:' "What are you driv-
Ing at?"
Nothing. But think. as | thought
at the time, that it would have saved
a lot Of trouble il YOU had taken her
with you. You were newly married.
i would have been Il most natural thing
10 do"
Chris colorcd, but he did not feel at
al reSeutful. He was grateful to
Feathers for his interest. 1t was II
relief to be able to tell his troubles to
somebody.
Il don't think it made any differ
ehce, he said after moment. Its
not as il ours was an ordinary sort of
marriage. mcan--" lie broke off .
In confusion, to blunder OH again:
=, Marie doesn't care for me. and !
,,,hn | fhnuUht
d1ld once upon time. 1t shows my
0arned conccit, I suppose
Feathers said nothing, and. struck
his silence, Chris Snid with slow
ueh6eratIon: Sometimes, now and
again, I've wondered if there isn't some
Oler fellow she cares for-some chap
way"
4, He was looking hard at Feathers all
the time he spoke, and his friends
Ugly face was at the moment mcrcilcssy
exposed to the glare Of the electric
agAt' but there w0S no change in its
gulet Indifference, and Chris gave u
sAarp sigh of relief.
I'm not much of a judge of that
sson Of thing, but | should not think
y at all likely. Mrs. Lawless does
not Epow many people, does shc?"
~. II YOU mean mcn--aS far as know
"gEe Is only Atkins and--you."
E.nr nreatl'crS looked up. There was
h'tte Wry smile in his eyes.
,,s.u LOU are hardly flattering to your
ht' he said quietly, "if you think
s Sot either Atkins or myself could make
vi c I'M rrN'ton where You have failed"
1..I4rIS laughed uwkwardly.
be 60, iH"'"r was suspicious chap"
H. SalI. u hate suspicious people, but
t,uge rr1s | cam" home, wcll----'' lie
tGa tGSo"rl and looked Feathers suuarely in
ouaor @ r'IS rye thought all sorts of
nat thlngS-thingS | would even hes
@ ,rato,, 70 tell you," he added dclib.
tHTTath"rS laughed casually.
sn }, Ioh | want yuur condolences, nv
we're" ne SAID. "GOu started this con-
nv '"Ioh' aJ,i You know, and didn't offer
,sct ITP''re' but as we're on the sub
tbet n should Just like to remind YOU
more ,L> |tS, lhwirsS is very young, little
attenti" i",ah child, and-children like
Cb%t Cbnt and amusement"
S,3rlS coIorcG.
BON Vu ~. mean that she hasn't had either
tigbtt 'i", L, ne said. Il know you're
As WON Mn"t the deuce can | do?'
pulptt" ;, 2I9 ~ insist on my mounting the
'FH'r rorl Feathers said, rather wcarily,
proyOrL' L'P'at an old chestnut of
late 'o ~ which says thae>lt's never too
Or worJ W. y" what one might have been,
Scotch" TO that effect. Have
mo. tba.,
and bri Lhhanks. ] went home too merry
Mari fright the night before last, and
ayolded" "sS as waiting up for me-" Chris
thins ms friends eyes. TITS not a
often indulge in. you know