Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-15
TOMORROW

only spoken the simple truth when he
said that he loved his wife. He haa
Geen slow to realize It perhaps, but now
IT had come, Feathers knew him suf-
iiCently well to know that il would be
deep and lasting.
| lie braced himself for the thing which
ne knew was yet to come, and terrible
1eeling OF enmity rose in his heart
against this friend of his, who had
never discovered that he loved Marie
| until the fact that he stood in great
danger of losing her had been driven
home to him.
half an hour ago Feathers had told
himsclt that he must give her up, but
Iow he had forgottLh that, and all his
love and strength rose in defense of her.
Shc was his-he would hold her against
all the world.
chris was pacing the room agi-
tatedIy, and after moment he broke
out again:
THAT isn't all-it isn't the worst
r--., he swung round, looking at
Feathers with haggard eyes. ''How
ly, If your own wife told you that she
cared for another mani"
There was poignant silence, and MS
81, ..a.. -, ' 'Ho'h'i IIIC icull-
Hation ialhc nome TO Feathers with
overwhelming shock, that in spite Of
everything he had heard, in spite of
what Marie herself had told him, Chris
still trusted him and believed in him.
lie tried to find his voice, but it
seemed to have deserted him, and as he
cast desperately about Tor words, Chris
turned away and flung himself down
into n chair, his face buried in his
hands.
There was a long silence, then he
SAID In a dreary, muffled voice:
It's only. what i deserve, l know
but '" He could not go on. He
was up again, pacing the room in a
frenzy OF impotence.
feathers watched him for moment
with beaten eyes, then he said jerkily
You didn't-didn't care for her
when you were married, Chris?
thought-wasn't it-just to get the
money?
Chris turned his haggard face.
TO get what money! he asked
vaguely.
Feathers tried to explain.
was told understood-thatt the
money, was left to your wife-to your
wife alone l mean, unless she consented
to marry you, and that then
then you, divided it.
Chris laughed mirthlessly.
GOOD Lord, 1t was the other way
ABOUT, ne said in hard voice. Her
iather was always a crank, and he
never torSaye her for not being a boy
that was why he adopted me. He left
every, farthing to me-and l knew how
proud she was-knew she'd never take
a shilling If she was told the truth about
the VIII, so SO l married her
to settle it! 1t seemed the best way
out at the time" he added hopelessly.
II thought | was being rather clever
l know now what a damned
1901 l was
featners got up slowly and, walking
across to Chris, put his hands heavily
on his shoulders, looking at him with
desperate eyes.
Is that the truth?' he asked
noarsely. a., VIII you swear that it's
the truth
Chris stared at him in blank amaze
ment;
What on earth do you mean? OF
course It's the truth, Ask Miss
chester II you don't believe me-she's
known about it all along. 1t was she
VINO hrst suggested keeping 1t from
Marie Here, say, what's
the natter!
Nothing ! wish I'd known
oetore, that S all. He laughed grimly.
Aston Knight told me very different
yarn, he broke out with violence after
moment: HE said that the money
mad been iett to your wife, which was
why you had married her--and i be- |
lieyed him! My God. what a fool ~
Chrls was watching him with angry |
u uOn know what yOu'rp driving |
at, he said shortly. But I'm much |
Obliged to you for the compliment. I'm
sure. Marie hadn't farthing when |
married her-but l settled half Of every |
thing on her on our wedding day"
Feathers turned his. white face.
why didn't you tell her the TRUTH"
he asked with difficulty. ''No good ever
comes Of lying and subterfuge and de-
ceit y" He laughed grimly at
his own words He was fine one to
get up in the pulpit and preach when |
in another twenty four hours he would
have broken every code of honor and
friendship.
1T was trembling on his lips to, tell
ChrlS the whole truth, to Keep back
nothing from that hrst moment in the
hotel lounge, When MS too-ready tongue
mad started an the mischlef.
-, But for him and his laundering,
Chrls ana MS wife would have been
happy enough now. lie seemed to see
1t an as pialniy as II II were picture
betore MS eyes
MARIE nat nad tuhned hn against h Cnrls from
tne ihoment Wnen Sne nau overheard