Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-18

anger. He had refused to shake hands
with him--he would have given five
years Of his life now to live that mo-
, ment again.
The innkeeper's wife came tiptoeing
to him across the little landing as he
STOOD looking out of the window on to
the road. She had been up with Marie
mll night. and whispered to him now
that she had fallen asleep.
Such lovely sleep, bless her :" she
said, with pride. "And if you was to
be very quiet 80
No more words were needed. Chris
went past her and into the room where
Marie lay.
She was fast asleep. her hair spread
out over the pillow like dark wing,
ana Chris went down OH his knees be-
side her and hid his face. She had
NOBODY now in the world but him-Nfiss
Shester had gone, and Feathers
oh, he would make it up to her. He
would spend his whole life trying to
make up to her all she had suffered.
love you, / love you,". he said
aloud, as if she could hear, but she
did not move or stir, and presently he
went away again.
lie had not kissed her-not even her
hands. Something seemed to hold him
Inck from doing so, until she herself
should say that he might.
., Inc news of the accident had spread
IKE wldlhre. and all the morning reopc
we're walking out from the villages
round about to stare with morbid inter
est at the spot on the river bank where
the car had plunged into the water. or
TO crowd outside the inn in the hope of
catching a glimpse of Chris.
Ihe doctor came again, and was very
pieaSed with Marie's progress.
i think she could be taken home to-.
day. he told Chris. "It will be Just
as well to get her from this place"
Cnrls said he would make all ar
rangements.
-. I can see her. Of coursef' lie asked.
yes But the doctor looked away
from his anxious eyes. "I should not
worry her or question her at all" he
said diflidently, and then he added I'm.
comfortably: "She seems % somehow
afraid at the thought Of seeing you"
Chris face. w
Yes. Perhaps it is only my fancy,
Dut she seemed nervous, I thought.
when | mentioned you" He looked at
the young man kindly. "Be gentle with
her., he said, Il think she has SUI
tered verv much"
Chris did not answer, and the doctor
went away. 'N'''
Afraid! Afraid Of him. when hc
loved her so! 1t was another hard blow
10 Chris 20 feel that Marie did NOT wish
to see him. "''1
>, lie tried to make allowances for her.
ne knew what she had suffered. With
sudden impulse he ran downstairs. over
taxing the doctor in the hall below.
My wife-does she know-that ).
that Feathers was drowned?" he asked
"Feathers?" the other man echoed,
that poor fellow. Yes-I told herw" ""
''What-what did she say?''
"Nothing-she just turned her face
away"
II see. Thank you" Chris went
upstairs slowly. He stood for a long
time at his wife's door, not daring TO |
knock, but at last he summoned his |
courage.
He heard her say Come in" in a
little quiet voice, and he opened the |
She was dressed and sitting up In a
big chair. She did not look so |
Ill ms he had expected, was his first |
relieved thought, and yet in some |
strange. way she seemed to have
changed. Was It that she looked older? |
He could not determine, but her eyes
met his steadily, almost as if she did |
not recognize him, and her voice was
quite even as she answered his broken
question.
II am-much better, thank you,"
and then: THE doctor saws T NAV
go home"
noon"
She twisted her fingers together rest.
lessly, her eyes downcast, then quite
she raised them to his face.
II wish you had let me drown" she
said with passionate intensity.
'Marie-Marie," said Chris, In
anguish.
She seemed needless of his pain and
went on talking as if to herself "I'm
no use to anybody. bring nothing but
trouble with me! That fortune teller
was right, you see, when she told me
that she could see water in my life again
that would bring trouble and
tears" Her voice fell almost to a
whisper.
Chris stood looking at her helplessly.
She seemed in some strange way to be
a great distance from him, and yet by
putting out his hand he could have
touched her.
Feathers gave his life for me-" she
went on, in that curious sing song
tone. He could have saved himself,
but he would not leave me-and we
were oh, the hours in that
dreadful darkness" ~
Don't think of it. Marie! Oh, my
dear try to forget it all"
She raised her haunted brown eyes
to his face.
Il can't! I can't hear anything any
more but the sound Of that dreadful
river! 1t was like a voice mocking us.
And lie was so brave She caught her
breath with a long, shuddering sob, but
no tears came.
II am glad that he loved me-" she
said again presently. 1T is something
to be proud of-always-that Feathers
loved me-"
Chris could not bear to look at her
tragic face. She had no thought for
him, he knew, but she had never been
so ineXpressibly dear to him as she was
now.
He was at his wits end to know what
to do with Miss Chester lying dead in
the house, and there seemed nobody to
whom he could turn for help.
Presently, he said gently:
Il shall have to run up to town this
afternOon-only for an hour or two. |
shall come back as soon as possible.
You don't mind, Marie?"
"Oh, no." She seemed surprised at
the question. Il shall be quite. all
right"