Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-17
"a BACHELOR HUSBAND
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
Author OF "Riehurd Chatterton," Etc.
Copyright. 1880. by W. J. Watt a Co.

LOW could Chris possibly love heri
ri uow could he possibly wish to take
| a.. bome after all that had happened
r. r. would hate and despise her when
| he knew. .,,, IIor hands warn
r,s snt ice, and yet her head was burning
hot. .. -, ,o,L;no to ber a,d
- tried to listen, tried to Keep her
..ho,shts concentrated, but they would
..nder away; then presently--after n
NE while II seemed-he lifted her to
~ ,vre feet, and she heard him say that
T,,s could not be coming now after
IN that it was too late-that 1t was
/ mast 0 o'clock: ,
p'ssh she laughed because he seemed so
0stressed.
III knew he wouldn't come. she said,
mt It did not seem to matter;
enc let him help her into the car
| .hs same car in which she had ridden
s,th him happily so many times before.
Shs wished she could feel that happi-
rsss now, but her heart felt all dead
and cold. ;,
| aid again sturidly. Now that 1t
matters at ALL" she added. with an
empty little laugh: -,
NcthinC mattered! This second bid
n, happiness had failed as the first had
Sonc and she wished she could die.
HWhcrc are You taking meT' she
| asked, az he folded the rug round her,
s,d he answered Home.
He looked up and down the road with
hsegard eyes, his ears strained for the
eo,lnd of n car that might be bringing
Chris. He could not understand why
bs had not come. He had counted on
him with such passionate certainty that
n never occurred to him for moment
that his note could have miscarried. His
mind was racked with torturing doubts.
And all the time Marie's words were
hammcvIng against his brain, adding to
| bis torture.
at isn't that I don't love you--tha,
I didn't mean 1t when l said l loved
Was that the truth? And, IL so, was
Ne doing the right thing by sending her
hack In her husbandp
Until tonight he had only tried to
cheat hmse'f with the belief that she
loved him. but now everything seemed
changed. distorted.
III WIS NnuSuHny buTh, anu lHlCh
mist from the river made IL difficult
to scr more than yard ahead, in spite
OF tho bright hcadlamps of the car.
Feathers had been tinkering with
The engine in order to gain time, but
be clOrPd down the bonnet now, and
came to the side Of the car where Marie
sat.
"Arc you ready?" he asked hoarscly.
"Ycs----'' He had turned to move
away. when she caught his arm.
Elf it's good by" she said,
| IN such faint whisper that he could
hardly hear the words, II should
oh, should like to kiss you once
more.
For IN instant he stood like a man
turned to stone, then he turned de-
iberate'y. and crushed her in his arms.
For Il long moment their lips clung
together. and 1t seemed to Marie tina,
In that kiss Feathers gave her his heart
and himself and all that he had--for-
ever. When he released her and she
sank back, trembling and faint, she
heard his hoarse God bless you, - as
beside her, driving slowly back through
the mist and darkness.
She only spoke to him once to say
"Supposing-supposing they won't
have me at home any more"'
The blood rushed to his face.
I'VE won't suppose anything so i'm
possible" he said, but fierce cxulta-
ton passed through him; for If such 4
thing were to happen, he knew that
she would be his in very truth.