Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-18
:" She :
HUSBAND,
= HAT =
CHAPTER XLVuI
The MISUNDERSTANDING
By HAzSL OEYO SATCHEZOR
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ed for any formal affair with
y the excitement that she dress.
ed for the supper a deux that
Mana was getting ready. With a light
excuse to Mark she had rushed into
her room, and was now preparing
to dazzle him with her appearance
She had opened her trunk and was
fllnglng things about reckleSSly. FL
nal!y on the spur Of the moment she
decided to wear the silver gown she
had worn on the evening in New
York when she had met Dick Mason
She piled up her hair thrusting the
comb of brilliants into the dark
waves, and with icy fingers managed
to fasten the dress in the back.
Finally she was ready, and with
her heart beating fast she opened the
door and went into the living room
A huge fire had been built and was
leaping on the health, for there was
chill in the air that night. Mark
turned from the fireplace, where he
mad been in the act of putting a huge
log on the burning wood, and saw be-
fore him an apparition.
She advanced to the low couch, and
standing before him turned about
slowly. He said nothing and nerv-
BUSINESS arose in Jean that she tried
to cover with light conversation.
Its to be a party, you see, so l
it?"
If she had been hoping that the
sight of her would break up the re-
serve in which he had wrapped him
self, II she had hoped for some word
or deed that would show admiration
I 10 N aer, she was mistaken, for Mark
maze no lmpulsive step toward her.
For a second flame leaped into his
eyes, but 1t was gone in an instant,
Tor ne was responding to her mood
as easily as if she had never meant
anything to him.
They sat on the couch and talked
ana laughed, while Jean told some of
said nothing at all that really mat
tered. she was concentrating on
the TACT that what she wanted most
was to fascinate Mark so that her
own pride need not be sacrificed.
ohe had come to the point where she
wanted wa to surrender to him, where
she wanted him to make love to her,
Put ne made no attempt to do any
thing of the kind He did not even
act as though he wanted to.
They had merry meal, Mana NOV
ing about, loath to leave the scene
OF festivities, her eyes fastened on
Jean, her imperturbability stirred at
last to something like interest.
ana when they had finished, Jean
snpped out and stood for a moment
on the porch drinking in the deep
solitude of the plains. It was cold
ana the wind stung her bare arms
ana neck, but she stood there until
WAX came out with an Indian shawl
and wrapped it about her.
They stood there together for a
moment, miles apart, and yet closer
Sogetner than they had ever been be-
tore II they had but known it. Then
Ma5k spoke and his voice struck
inf0
How funny yei iifs Y is heart be mused
Lhls shawl that have wrapped
aroung your silver dress is typical
OF the Influence my life has had on
yours. Strange that I couldn't see
That until I had brought you here,
oeterm1ned to make you happy, and
been thinking a lot about it since you
left, and I can see things from your
standpoint at last. When YOU came
out tonight in your silver dress, 1
could have laughed at my own con-
celt. You were not meant for rough
ing 1t on ranch. You are made for
left tried to see the place through
your eyes, and made few
changes that would make 1t mere
c1vomfortable for you when you come
pack. You see, I knew you would
come come back when you had decided
that I've grown sensible and &C
knowledge the mistake I made in
coming into your life, we can arrive
at some, kind Of an understanding.
Jean heard the words and her
neart sank. Mark had purposciy mis-
understood hol motive in wearing the
SILVER gown She had wanted oniv
20 appear beautiful and 'esirable to
hlE2 and hA1 action had served TO
i r,i,. the gIlt between them stin
tT Worse still. he probably
NJ she had done it rurposely!
CHAPTER Xxx
more Observation-Disclosures
E Aaar felt suddenly utterly
weary. So that was what
y MARK thought Of her. He had
peleved her capable Of com
ing and dressing up to preen her
sell IKE a peacock before him. r.
s Mas as though she had put on the
SiI yer gown meaning it to say:
gu see the difference between
ed that I could be happy buried bara
On a ranch? The very idea is all
lean had no impulse to put herse1f
rlght with Mark; she was too SIRE
Oh c the way he felt to take a chance,
to one smiled little bitterly, and
her lace In the white light Of the
child. u urea
II guess, you're right" she said
slowly. I'm nothing but a butter
oh. no." he said quickly, ST didn't
anything. How could 1 EXPECT Won
to settle down in this Godforsaken
place an be happy even if you hadn't
loathed me so much. I'm simn1v
sorry for everything, but that does
not help much, does it? What I
want to do is to make up to you for
what has happened. I am willing to
accede to anything you suggest. I
suppose you have plans"
~ jeans whole soul rose in revolt.
How could he talk to her like that
out here In the moonlight? A year
ago he would have asserted his
rights and she would have shuddered
away from him, shocked and horri-
fled at his crudity. Now, she want
ed nothing so much as to be taken
into his arms, and he had become
as polite and considerate as one of
the men she once thought so much
above him in culture and breeding.
He had made her love him. only to
fling her love back in her face once
she had realized it.
Suddenly a temptation came to
Jean, one that she could not re-
sist. He thought her a butterfly,
well she would be one.
She put out white hand and
touched his arm.
after ALL" she said lightly, 1--WE
needn't discuss any plans tonight"
The light ROUGH was unmistakable
and he stiffened under it. But what
ever lure there was in it, whatever
desire there was to crush the slim
fingers in his, he did not show. In
stead he took the sand gently and
put it away from him.
"I'm not good at that kind Of
thing" he said evenly. "I never
learned to flirt, although I imagine
it must be a rather interesting past
time"
to"Oh" she gasped. ''Oh, you're
unspeakableH She pulled the shawl
about her and flew past him into
the house. But once in her room