Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-26
a BACHELOR HUSBAND
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
Author of "Richnrd Chaftcrton," Etc.
Copyright, 1880. bD W. ). won q Co.

!, Oh, but how unkind 20 she said. A
lttie mischievous sparkle lit her brown
| eyes. And we're not really going to
! sec any friends at Wcndover, are we?"
.,u No, he laughed with her. "I'd
tel that woman anything" ho said,
Win a sort of savagery.
| lhcy stopped again for tea ut a cot
| tage, ana the woman who owned it
gave Marie a big bunch OF flowers to
carry away.
Now I really look as II I've been
for a day in the country" shc said
aughingly to Feathers "People always
don't they?"
Il suppose they do" He touched the
bun bunch g, lying in her lap. "Mny have
..'of course!' She picked them up
quickly. (Which onc?"
re indicated blue flower.
Don't you think that would rather
SUIT my style Of bcauty?" he asked
She drew it from the bunch
| III called 'love-in n mist, she
sag; o., shall put 1t in your coat?"
He had been starting the engine. and
he came to the door OF the chr and
stopped for her to fastcn the flower in
| his buttonholc.
viii that do?" she asked
lhahk ,you.' He got in beside her
and they drove on.
asked. We ~ io'''' n'
Any way---I don't mind. I don't
Know the roads. but I should like to
pass those hnytields again."
you?" u' "''
'Oh, no.
If you arc. there IS my coat"
IL was getting dusk rapidly, the moon
stood out like golden sickle against
the darkening sky, and there was faint
Orcrnth OF autumn in the mir.
Marie drew the rug more closely about
her. She felt gloriously sleepy, and the
scent OF the big bunch of flowers on her
zap was almost like an anesthctic with
It's intoxicating mixture of perfume.
| When they came to the hayfiClds
which they had passed early In the
morning Feathers stopped the car and
Are YOU asleep? You are so quiet. -
e,No; was just thinking"
She sat up and looked at the view.
more beautiful now in the subdued light
ana shadow OF evening,
| The world seemed filled with tho scopt
ot the warm hay, and once aenin. with
swift pang, her thoughts flew TO Chris,
=, Where was he? Oh, where was he
her heart seemed to stretch out to him
!h With great cry of longing, but her
| niue race was quiet enough when pres l..
entity She looked up at Feathers,
| Shall we go on now?"
lie drove on silently.
it 8 been such a lovely day." Marie
said. y have enjoyed it. Thank YOU
50 much for bringing me-"
Ihat = like u little girl coming home
from party Feathers said I've car
nave another run out any time YOU
ITS been perfectly lovely. wa,
10 tired when VIC started. but it's beer
more" ""'
But, all the same. when next h,
spoke to her she did not answer. and
looking quickly down at her, he saw
that she was asleep.
her head had dropped forward IN
comfortably, and he could see the darL
lashcs down pointed on her check.
lie slowed down n little, and. slip.
ping. an arm behind her. drew her
gently back until her head rested against
his shoulder.
Mrs. Heriot had said that Mari,
looked years older, and In his hear
Feathers knew she was right but tho
kindly hand of sleep seemed TO hay,
wiped the lines and shadows from he,
face, and II was just child who
rested there against his shoulder.
! What was to become Of her. he asked
himself wretchedly. and what was &c
be the end Of this mistaken marriage?
lie could almost find it in his heart tc
hate Chris as he drove grimly on through
the gathering night. with the sligh,
pressure of Marie's head on his shoul-
der.
Only nineteen! Only a child still
And q passionate longing to shield her
and secure her happiness rose in his
heart. He had led queer life, a
selfish life, he supposed. pleasing him.
self and going his own way in very
much the same fashion as Chris Law
less had always done, and was still
doing. but then he had had no woman
to love him or to lovc--until now.
and now Feathers looked down
n the d"icnte little face that lay
like white flower against his rough
| cont in the moonlight. and he knew
with grim pain that yet was almost
welcome to his queer nature that he
would give everything in the world il
only her happiness could be assured.