Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-08

70 brace her up. No; IL she Is allowed
to rest she will be all right"
said.
II am not to worry you.-I am in and
out OF your room too often" He
i9oke1 at her anxiously. "What do you
think, Marie Celeste"
She smiled family. 81 suppose the
doctor knows best"
Yes, suppose he does" Chris
agreed, but he felt slightly irritated.
II she wanted him to stay with her,
why on earth didn't she say so? IL never
occurred to him that since her accident
Marie had suffered agonics because she
reared that he was wearied by her help
lcssness and unutterably bored because
nc was more or less chained to her side.
She had vivid recollection of n day,
years ago, when, as child, she had
fallen from the stable loft, and Chris
bed.
He had stood In the doorway, red
faced and awkward, hands thrust into
MS pockets, staring at her with half
angry half-synlpathctic eyes.
She had thanked him profusely for
condeScending 70 come at all, and he
had asked gruhy by way of graceful
acknowledgement, "How long have you
got to stick In bed? When will they
let you get up and come out again?"
Tears had filled her eyes az she an
swere1 him, II don't know--weeks, I
suppose !"
Chris said ''Humph :" and stared at
his boots. Its topping out of doors :"
he said unkind'y. I'm going black
berryinJ this afternoon"
That was the one and only visit he
had paid her during the weeks Of her
illness, and nfterward he had tod her
that he hated sick rooms, and that he
supposed women were always more or
less ailing.
SO now she made every effort to get
we'll and strong. She made too much
effort, the doctor told her.
There's plenty Of time" he said.
"Why be in such hurry"
And mt last, In desperation, she told
him. doctor, it must be awful for
Chris-haying to whit about here just
because of me. 1t can't be much of
holiday for him."
He looked at her with kindly eyes.
'Well. and what about you?" he asked.
ITS worse for you, suppose?'
Marie shook her head. ,I-oh, no I!
Hes, man, you see, and he's differ
ent."
Or. Carey said: "Oh. I see," rather
dryly. He walked away from her and
came back you've been married.
how long?" he asked.
Only a week"
well, it's not long enough for that
husband Of yours to have got tired Of
dancing attendance on you, anyway he
answered. NO, you will not be al
lowed downstairs till Saturday"
"lt must be awfully dull for Chris, :"
she sighed.
! She said the same thing to Feathers
when he looked in that evening for n
! few seconds.
Feathers never brought her flowers or
sweets, or presents, for which she was
| thankful, and he never stayed more
| than about five minutes. but he always
managed TO bring cheeriness into the
room with him and leave her with a
smile in her brown eyes.
Dull Chris! !" he said, echoing her
words buntly. mot he. Don't you
| worry, Mrs. Lawless. Chris knows how
to look after himself"
He did not tell her that between his
srasmodic visits to her Chris was thor
| oughly enjoying himself.
He played bridge with Mrs. Heriot
and her little crowd when there was
nothing better to do. He played bill
liards with anybody who would take
him on, and that afternoon he had been
out golfing
"What did he do this afternoon?"
Marie asked wistfully.
This afternoon Oh, let me see !
Well. believe he played golf-yes, he
did !"
I'm glsd-Im SO glad he doesn't
stay indoors all day." said Marie.
Feathers frowned.
Don't YOU worry about him. III
look after him." he promised "You
make haste and get we'll and go and
play golf with him."
II can't play GOLF"
''Well. then. you must lcarn-Ill
teach you! Can YOU play bridge?"
NO, l have tried, but Chris says
I'm no good at cards.
Rubbish You could play all right
with practice. :" He looked away from
her out of the window where n radiant
sunset was spreading rays Of gorgeous
coloring across the sea.
Chris is the sort of man who likes
n woman to be sporting" he said, after
moment, speaking rather carefully, as
II choosing his words. II mean to say
that he is man who would like his
wife to be able to join him in his own
sports DO you underStand?"
Yes Her eyes were fixed anxious
ly on his avertcd face, and then she
asked suddenly: "And do you ever think
] could be that sort of wife, Mr.. Da-
kers"
Feathers cleared his throat loudly.
DO l OF course, l do" he said,
but his voice sounded as II he were as
anxious to convince himself as he was
to convince her. you're the sort OF
woman who could do anything II you
set YOUR mind to it,"
She did not speak for a moment. then
she said sadly, ''It's kind Of you to
say so, but in your heart you know it
isn't true"
He swung round. his face red with
distress. What do you mean, Mrs.
Lawless?"
II mean t. \ you know I couldn't
ever be that i of vita. I'm not
made that way. Dorothy used to say
that | should have been an ideal wife
for a man in early Victorian days that
was cut out to stay at home and make
jams and bread and jangle keys on my
Chatelaine, and tie up the linen in law
ender bags. and look after the babies
. I" She broke of, laughing and
flushing little
"And who is Dorothy may ! ask?"
Feathers demanded.
"She was my best friend at school,
ond she was ever such sport She
could beat all the other girls at games,
and she could ride horseback, and-oh,
lots Of things like that ="
"Shc sounds rather masculine
young lady"
"oh, no, she isn't! Not a bit! 7
think you would like her! !" A fnint
smile stole into her eyes. "She was