Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-07

lie could understand so we'll what q
shock 1t had been to her to see Chris
the worse for drink--realze just how
she would shrink from him.
The clock struck twelve, and Chris
rose reluctantly.
We'll, III be off, He hesitated,
4, then added, with a touch of embar-
rassment: Thanks awfully for what
you We said. I'll remember; I'll speak
to her in the morning, and see if we
can't patch things up. HI went to
the door and came back. "You-er,
don't tell her l said anything about
1t to you"
''Of course not
Chris went home full of good reso-
lutions. He lay awake half the night,
plotting and planning what he could
do in the future to make amends.
seemed dreadful thing to him that
they were in such mortal danger Of
drifting finally apart. He fell asleep,
meaning to have good, long talk with
her in the morning and try, to
straightcn out the tangie.
But Marie did not appear at break
fast, and in reply to his inquiries the
maid told him that Mrs. Lawless had
bad headache and was going to stay in
her room.
%To avoid mo. I'll be bound" Chris
told himself savagely, and his good reso-
Iutions began to waver.
What was the use of trying to turn
over a new leaf when she refused to
help him? What was the use Of throw
ing an insufficient bridge across the gap
between them which would only COL
lapse and let him down again sooner
or later?
1t was lovely morning. and he
thought longingly of the golf links.
Twice he went to. the phone to ring
up friend to join him, but each time
he wavcred. and at last in desperation
he went upstairs to his wife's room.
She was lying by the window on a
couch. her dark hair falling childishly
over her dressing gown. and she started
up in confusion when she saw Chris.
II did not think 1t was you; !
thought you Lad gone out.
"No." He saw the marks of tears
on her face, and his heart gave a little
throb of remorse. She was only a
child. after all, AS Feathers had said.
Il am sorry your head is so bad,'
he said gently.
She turned her face away.
ITS better; | am coming down to
well lately"
Chris sat down beside her. There
we're so many things he wanted to say,
but he had never been eloquent, and
this morning his tongue seemed more
stupid than usual.
1t was only after some minutes 81
lcncc that he blurted out "Look here.
Marie! Can't we start again? I'm most
awfully sorry things have gone wrong
like this, and | know it's my fault.
Last night | thought it would be the
best thing If I cleared off and left
you for year or SO. | thought perhaps
1t might be all right later on If | came
back, but I've changed my mind. and
look here-will you forgive me
and let us start again?'
He laid his hand clumsily on hers,
the hand that wore his ring.
There's no earthly reason why we
cant be happy and get along splen-
didly.' he urged. II know I'm self
same. But I'll try--I'll try all know
If you'll give me sporting chance"
He waited, but she did not speak,
and he went on: "Wc'vc seen so little
of each other latGly-my fault. too, ]
know wish I'd taken you to Scotland
with me.
II wish you had, too" The words
broke from her lips bitterly. So much
might have been averted, she knew, if
only Chris had taken her with him.
The color mounted to his cheeks. Even
her voice had changed lately, he
thought There was something hard in
its soft tone that vaguely reminded him
of Mrs. Heriot.
''It's not too late now" he upged.
"Thcre'S lots of places you've never
seen that I'll take you to. Heaps of
shows in London that you'd thoroughly |
enjoy =" lie waited eagerly. |
"What do you say. Marie Ccestc?''
She did not know how to answer. If |
he had made this offer a month ago she |
would have accepted 1t gladly. but now
1t did not seem so very attractive.
We might give few little parties,"
Chris went on vaguely. AUNT Madge
won't mind, or if she does--we'll set up
a show for ourselves. You'd like that.
wouldn't you? You'd like pottering
about in Il house Of your own.''
She nodded. She could not trust her
voice.
rs that a bargain, them" he asked
happily. lie had 50 often got his own
way with her that it never entered his
head that he might not be going to get
il this time. lis fingers frightened over
her hand. "Say it's a bargain. Marie
Celeste, and b. friends with me again"
She turned her head slowly and looked
At him.
His eyes were very eager and anxious,
but for the first time in her life Marie's
lcart was not at his feet and she was
not conscious of any desperate longing
% drive away his anxiety and agree to
what he wanted.
"Whut are you thinking about!" he
asked sharply.
lie was beginning to realize that it
vas not only her voice that had changed
and the expression of her eyes when She
oOked at him, but the girl herself that
he could no longer be coaXed and bullicd
ly him-that she was IA woman with a
will of her own in her soft frame.
Il was thinking" she said SLOWLY.
that | will agree to try what YOU
suggest. on one condition y"
His face frightened.
Anything, of course. Anything you
ike" He was sure that she could not
Jc going to impose anything very hard.
1t came. therefore. as something of
shock when she said: Il will do us you
fiat the end Of IA month W"
ind We can t get on any better, and
md be happy YOU will let
me go.
He echoed her words bankly.
LET you go! What do you mean"
The sensitive color flew to her face,
but she answered quite quietly and
steadily:
1--WE could get divorce -- | don't
could get divorce-I--I've found out
MI about it"
Chris sat staring down ut the floor.
rhprp uav 81 6rpadful fprliuV SompwhOrn |