Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-15
CHAPTER XXI

'I fought with my friend last night.
And It was not with honest swords;
No steel sprang out to Rleam and bite,
We fought with poor. mean Words
There was a moments silence, then
Feather went forward. The riGtOuS
blood il his veins had Quietcd and he
felt a tie cold and breathless.
"Hef !" he said.
Chris hooked up.
Hello l thought I'd wait till you
you came in as they said you'd only
Just gone out"
"Yes 4" yes I went down t.
the end Of tho road, that's ALL"
He poured out two whiskies with a
hand that shook badly, and pushed one
across to Chris.
"Have a drink?'
Chris tasted it and made a wry face.
Lord That's a strong dose" he
Said. He added more soda to it, but
feathers drained his Mt gulp.
well, how goes it?" he asked. lie
sat down on the other side of the table,
80 that his face was out of the light.
Inc room TO him seemed filled with
Marle's presence. 1t was so real that
ne wondered Chris did not guess she
had been here.
Chris stood up, his shoulders against
the mantelshelf.
His handsome eyes met his friends
with haggard pain.
,lVe got something to tell you" he
'sld' I'm telling you because you've
always becn-Leen my best friend"
dhere was little silence, then:
Yes, said Feathers hoarsely. Chris
'old his story abruptly.
Mrs. llcriot went to our place two
ddays ago. You know Miss Webber and
were soting with them the day be-
YES"
Chris flushed and his eyes wavered.
damnable incident happened
Enen we We're down there-Mss Web
yer He could not go on.
fea!hsrS nodded.
j know. Don't trouble to explain.
could see it in Scotland. She thinks
sGe is in love with you-is that it? and
|.OId you so: Mrs. Heriot overheard, OF
'sw,, and told your wife Go
Chris looked relieved.
Ihat 5 1t, more or less. | swear
% you that there was nothing in it on
Ivy Side at all I've never given the
Snl thought, beyond to play golf with
neri you know that"
hnce. was ''"e
Marie won't believe me-" Chris
|sald then brokcnly. "She won't even
~ me explain. Miss W'ebbcr'2 brother
S,su unexpectedly, and | took her back
Ione' J only went because Marie and
aunt auht Madge both seemed to think
yuslt TO. l never spoke a dozen
words to the wretchcd girl the whole
way; didn't want to go with her. I
"ayed at an inn in Chester that night
1nner home is in Chester-and came
Saeh as soon as ] could the next morn
,s, ana this is what ! got =" He
E'uPped back :nto his chair despair.
hOarsely.
Feathers stared at his friend with
thaineu eyes, and after moment Chris
''aMIed MId once more.
XIII that HeriOt woman if | ever
F,o her again" he broke out passion
H, SsUiHy., i loathe women They re cruel
NAL S 10 each other. Why did. she
Tbstts 10 60 and hurt Marie Celeste like
Eosb! t' We were getting on better to-
tSSsySnter-thtng$ would have been all
nsSS., and then that hcll-ca must
"'.uS . come il: and ruin everything
Broken. ' '0''' ""S 'noNe" Ill"
,he She said she hated mc--Marie said
[6e mo- nG stumbled on She looked as if
boO,! Inv meant T. too My God, you
N Know what it was like. to have
Sent n sand there and listen, think |
tS%. mad know | hurt her, but
I'S I' ! Know what ! was doing
[porsihve shve my soul TO undo the last three
mv "tns and start again. It's all been
tst Jault JtSult = lie brought his clenched
~ aGwn on the table with crash.
neyss lhStnsate fool that ] am,
Ib,eer knew that she was more to me
ahSthing IN earth ."
S,orsn.ue closed his eyes, aud for a
ipsnt there was absolute silence. He
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