Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-01
By RUBY NJ. AYRES


1t wns not exactly pleasant to remem-
Der the years that were gone. through
which she had so faithfully adored him,
and contrast them with the gteely feel
Ing OF her lips beneath his and the
resistance Of her slim body in his arms.
Who was responsible for the change?
He sought for II In every one but him
self. He was the most suspicious of
young Atkins~-hc was near Marie's age,
and had from the first shown a ri.
diculous interest in her.
It was odd that he never seriously
considered Feathers. Feathers was his
friend and disliked all women any at
tention he had shown to Marie had been
out OF ordinary courtesy, nothing more.
Well, IL this was the attitude she
meant to adopt, he would soon let her
see that he was quite Indifferent. He
would 20 his own way and leave her
severely alone. Hang It all, he had
brought her home a bracelet, and writ.
ten whenever there had been anything
to write about. He would not have be-
lieved It possible for her to be SO un-
He comforted himself with the refIec.
tion that in a few days she would come
to her senses. All their lives there had
been little ups and downs of this kind,
and m she had never failed in the end to
say she was sorry.
She needed a firm hand-he supposed
that all women did.
Having argued himself back into n
more complacent state of mind. Chris
bed. "'u "ent up 10
his room was next to Marie's. and as
foo. noVeu ABOUT 1t In his stockinged
boord oHte ~ or twice he was sure that he
thor, hvo,a tne sound Of stifed sobbing,
tnough whenever he stood still TO listen
all was quiet again. ''''A
ohce ne even softly tried the handle
or tne communicating door, but IN was
away. 10 he turned
she had been SO different that sun.
day afternoon when he astcd ~ -
marry MIN. 1t gave him an unpleasant
t ttwihge TO remember the shy radiance of
lie was very sure that she would NOT
nave repulsed him then had he taken
"ei IN MS arms and kissed her.
Anu ana ms mind went back again to
yoms y3uns atkins with angry persistence.
LEU quo II he had been making
neck for him. O''"A A'0
with singular blindness ho believed
that the surest way to put things riRht
between himself and Marie was TO ie-
HoTG the fact that anything was wrong.
Nhen they met he was always smiI.
ing and cheerful. but he never asked
ner 70 go out with him, never showed
the slightest interest in what she did
or now she spent her time.
MISS Chester looked on In troubled
Perplexity. She loved them both, and
aid not know with which Of them the
She was afraid to ask questions, 40
matters were just allowed to drift, and
W,nateyer battles Marie had to fight, she
alone knew Of them.
She spent great deal of her time
with Miss Chester; she drove with her
and walked with her, and patiently
wound wool for the knitting of that
interminable shawl.
nhe had not seen Feathers since the
day on the river. though she knew that
lie was often with Chris, and her heart
was sore at the loss of her friend,
She missed him terribly, though their
compnnionship had only lasted a little
more than week, and it hurt her in
expressibly to hear the casual way In
which Chris spoke Of him-Feathers had
been on the ran-dan! Feathers had
lost sixty pounds at poker. Feathers
mad had to be taken home from his club
in taxi.
Miss Chester looked I'D from her work
Chris, what is the ran DAM" she
Chris laughed, and it was Marie who
explained.
It's a slang word for dissipation,
Aunt Madge."
Miss Chester said "Oh!" in a rather
shocked voice. adding slowly, II should |
not have thought Mr.. bakers a dissi-
pated man."
Nor l." said Marie.
You don't know him as well as I
do Chris said. "And, by the way,
I'm golfing with him on Sunday"
Marie looked up.
ITO lunch at the Load of Hay?" she
asked quietly.
Chris raised amazed eyebrows.
''How ever did you know"
II went there with him once. We
motorcd out, and Mrs. Costin gave US
lunch"
"You never told me-
there"
Yes; so Feathers said. We're 60
ing TO fix up a foursome with her."
Why don't you go. too, Mariei"
Miss Chester said. "The drive would
do you good. You haven't been out in
the car since that day Mr.. bakers took
you on the river
Yes; why not come along, Marie
CeIestef' Chris said.
II don't think / care about it,"
Marie answered.
Later on Chris tried again to per-
Suade her.
He had followed her into the dining
room where she was arranQinQ flowers