Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-03
a BACHELOR HUSBAND
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
Author Of "Riehard Chafterton," Etc.
Copyright, 1880, by W. >. watt a CO.

Feathers took no interest in the con-
versation. He had had one cup OF
tea, refusing anything to eat, and sat
back in his chair, bis hat tilted over
MS eyes, smoking hard.
=. Marie hardly glanced In his direc-
ZION, but she was painfully conscious
or his every movement. Her thoughts
an the time were picking out little in
cidents OF their friendship, translsting
mem anew, hugging their meaning to
her heart
She did not know that Chris wes
watching her closely-would not have
cared IL she had known. For once she
had been lifted above the level OF pain
and disappointment to which marriage
with him had relegated her.
PRESENTLY another man strolled nm
and Joined them. He knew both Chris
and Mrs. Heriot, il seemed. He asked
II there was any chance of a foursome.
Chris indicated Feathers.
My friend here is going to play.
Sorry"
Feathers looked up.
I'm not keen-I'm quite happy
where l am. Mrs. Lawless and will
keep one another company. Shall WEI"
lie asked, glancing at her.
Marie nodded. Her heart was rae.
! ing, and she was afraid that every one
would see her agitation.
Chris laughed
Il dare say you'll be able to amuse
one another. he said, and presently
| Marie was left with Feathers.
He sat up then with some show OF
energy.
Nice place here, isn't it?"
''Scs-very."
| Il wish YOU would play golf Mrs
Lawless."
Who do you suppose would teach
me! l don't know the first thing about
II shall be delighted to offer myself
for the post, if Chris has no objec-
| ton
Her brown eyes shone. "Why should
| hef He would not care to teach me
| himself"
1t seemed as If she saw Feathers now
for the first time. He was no longer
Chris friend, the man she had hated
tor having brought her castle tottering
earthward. He was no longer even the
kind friend he had been to her-.he was
the man who loved her.
Her thoughts seemed to travel so fast |
ahead, weaving all sorts of impossible |
day dreams for the future.
III speak to him about it," Feath-
ers said briefly.
His kind eyes dwet on her face.
II thought you said you were tired"
he said, suddenly. II don't think l |
have ever seen you look better in your
life
She laughed and flushed.
Haven't you?' She looked away |
from him across tha green slope up |
which Chris and the others were dis
appearing.
.'You ought to have played" she
said irrelevantly. why didn't you?
| am sure you would have enjoyed il
better than sitting here"
She asked the question Intentionally,
hoping with almost childish eagerness
that he would say he preferred to be
where he was. She knew it would be
only the polite thing to say, although
In her heart she would understand that |
in this instance he was sincere
but Feathers did not say it, He was
filling his pipe with tobacco, ramming
1t down into the bowl with careful pre-
cision.
II don't care for mixed games" he
said. Mrs. Heriot always loses her
temper so shockingly."
her hand and looked at him with rather
wistful eyes. She wondered what he
would say II she told him about that |
little dead flower.
He broke into her thoughts.
Has Chris told you that I am leav-
Ing England?"
The words gave her a terrible shock |
the color drained away from her face. |
leaving her eyes very piteous against |
its, pnllor.
"Leavng-England" she echoed the
words in whisper.
Yes" he went on. ramming tobacco
into his pipe, hardly conscious Of what
he was doing.
"You remember that l told you al
ways went with the tide. Well, three
weeks ago it washed me up in London,
and now it's washing me of again. I'm
going to Italy"
"Oh-what for % she asked the ques-
ton without expression.
He shrugged his shoulders.
II don't know; nothing in particular.
I've been before, Of course. I'm just
going to take a stick and knapsack,
and walk around the country, sleep
anywhere-eat anything-and enjoy |
myself. y
II wish could come with you" The
words broke from her with little cry,
and Feathers raised his eyes at last.
lie saw the pallor of her face and the
distress in her eyes, and his heart be-
gan to race, but he only said very
quietly: "YOu'd soon get tired of Ev-
ing my Bohemian life. When you go !
to Italy Chris will take you. and you
must do the thing PROPERLY
She seemed hardly 10 hear. She went
on pnssionately: at seems as If I
must lose all my friends. 1t isn't fair
First there was Mr.. Atkins, and now
atkins" said Feathers sharply.
"Yes." She laughed recklessly. He
went away because oh, ! sup
pose I ought not to tell you, really, but
I know you think that nobody cares
for me-because I'm 30 uninteresting'
but he did--he was only boy, but he
was really fond OF me-and so
so I sent him away! And now you are
going. too. wish | could die"
said Marie Celeste, in tragic whisper:
There was long silence. Feathers
big hands hung Imply between his knees
his fingers still ciutching at his pipe
then he said slowly, az If he were care
fully choosing his Words
IF young Atkins could be man
enough to-go-what would you think
Of me-if l stayed?'
His voice was quite quiet, though a
littlc hoarse, but its very steadiness
seemed both to conceal and reveal more
than an Outburst of passion would have
done, and Marie gave little suned
cry,
And Feathers went on, speaking IN
the same quiet voice:
"You see, Mrs. LawleSs. l know theI
world and you do not I know what
n mountain Of regrets one lays up for
IL f,,t,,ro If-if one forvets other things