Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-14
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
author OF Richard Chafterfon,' Etc.
Copyright. 1889. bv ". J. watt Co.

Hft0ne uuN
- sDI Soor Of the house was open when
lne ne,;cab stopped, and a woman stood
nntrance looking out into the
eht. . ,or +;m;dlv.
sIs Mr.. bakers in, please ,.,i.o
trbe woman's eyes scanned nei "u''e
IL interestedly.., -, un. ro,,
En- think he is, she said. 10 Hoq
ow which are his rooms OF shaii l
ke you up! ," shc had
been in the house before, 'put she
et teS I'd a great deal about his rooms
ne G,ris and she went up the STAR
pm no darkness, her heart shaken
y q IL wild sort Of happiness, and
cbed the landing above. .. -.
~ door Of Feathers sitting room
l5o non uv and he was standing at the
u EP IN his old tweed jacket, packing
noners away in box. =,
s w. thaI NOT heard Marie's step, anu
Ala NOT move or glance up tn Shc
nctnaIly in the room and had whls-
kred his name. -.
'Mr. bakers t., h,o.a
Ia
,,s hg SO fron, the dead. He had been
;nkinr of her a moment ago. ana ms
"a was white as be stared ut hsr
ross the table. Then he took s"tit
EeMps Y Ips " Lawless! Good heavens! Is
ything the matteri' .,,.o,
H. drew her into the room and closed
door. ,.,, u,,o,
i've told him ] can't live with him
,,ore--r She broke down into
Al sobbing. "I'vc done my best
know I have-and now it's fin
ed. We had a dreadful scene last
IN and ] cant so back to
n again-I can't"
.iFeathers tried to speak. Twice he
ISistened his lips and tried to speak,
no words would come. The room
IN rocking before him. The night was
Of tempting voices whispering that
had come to him because she loved
n, and because she knew he loved
with a desperate effort he found his
Ice.
'You don't mean what you are say
I know, Mrs. Lawless: you are
Ied and unset. Let me sec Chris, and
there is any little trouble that can
mt right he will listen to me- lie
ld out bis hand to her. Let INC take
|u home" -,
"It can never be all right again.
! said. her voice broken with Sob
he, "He never cared for me, you
ow be never did e.
Feathers interrupted gently.
"But you love him. My dear. know
at YOU have always loved him.
Marie looked up, the tears wet oa
Ir cheeks, hcr sobbing suddenly quiet.
bo you know what | told him." she
ked, and then, as he did not answer,
added in a whisper: 81 told him
kt loved yo.r'
liz seemed to Feathers as il all the
brld stood still in that moment-aF
he and Marie were alone in a great
ence. looking into one anothcr's eyes.
His heart was humping up in his
toat, almost choking him, and his
> |nds were clcnched in the pockets OF
shabby tweed jacket.
THE light in the center Of the room
i full on his ugly face, cruelty re-
kling oil its grimncss and pallor. and
trembling tenderness of his mouth.
made no attempt to ignore her
aning. 1t was too great moment
pretense.
she was so small. such child, that
passionate love died down iato
hething infinitely gentle as he spoke.
u N,,In
rie? Do you realize that YOU Will
ak Miss Ohester's heart and ruin
pr husbands life? DO you know
at every one will say 81 You and
Bhe broke in fevcrishly.
I don't mind what they say. I've
pr had any happiness, and ] could
happy with you'll am always happy
you Oh, I thought you loved
she added, with o broken little
seemed 4 iorg time before he an
Bred, and then he rlid in n voice that
slow and labored with emotion:
II ,ove you as the sweetest and dear
woman I have ever met. | love you
your kind friendship to me-, ard he
se you did not shrink from my ugly
~. | love YOU because you're us far
we Inc in goodness and purity as
stars o. FIc stopped with Il
I'd breath before he went on again.
ou'Ve been my ideal OF everything
old sacred, and you are asking me to
npie It all underfoot and drag it III
mud.
lie broke off iasgcdly, and Marie sail
a whisper:
lt-if you love NE like that, don
know--can't you sec-how happy
could be togethor?"
pd he know Hc had dreamed ~
Pen OF an impossible future in which
might be his, of long days spent
n her. Gad hours Of contentmcCt, of
N touch Of her lips on his, and the
md OF her footsteps pacing beside
"a for the rest Of his life and hers;
they had only been dreams. dreams
could never come true.
ie sought deSper a,cly in his mind
Y words with which to answer her
EReai, but what poor things We're
Ee words in comparison with his
slng to take her in his arms and kiss
smlleS back to her trcmulous lips.
And she SAID again desperately,
tlng gor her ground inch by inch:
ohrs never loved me. It was only
money he wanted oh, YOU
w 1t was!"
was hard to find reply tc such
Nnanswcrable argument.
iears ago, before ! knew YOU,
me, Feathers said presently, "Chri,
veg me from what might have been
Xelong disgrace. He was the best
feha q man ever udd. What would
N mink Of ne if I paid my debt to
oy taking his wife? Oh, my dear.
fHS what 1t would mean a.
Sne thought she hcUrd a note Of
s'qing in his voice, and she reached
trembling hand and put it into
~ you 60 away shall have nobody
Oh' can't bear you to go away -
ne Ecpt the little hand in his very
lie went on talking to her o.
sne bad betn child. lie tried t.
W her thc tragic impoSsibilty of it
Tue bopclcSsncsS. lie spoke 10 hcr