Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-12
a BACHELOR HUSBAND
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
Author OF "Richard Chatterfon" Etc.
Copyright,

| t..s.f2p she 0lu nOt hhs"Oi' ""v -,
Nook her in his rage and desnslr' one
answered ,TSv him then, breathlesay'
"WSo NE, then?' He waited. "Mrs.
u.,,otP" he demanded.
beisV' sss looked at him scornfully.
Syos IL you must know,
~ almost flung her from him.
Ill 1ou believe what that woman
Sbe's liar, and always has
e!si; she tried the same low down
nsn' an me--oply yesterday. She told
rameh 81 there was something between
me 'uS 'nS bakers. and I threatened to
you aru ~ neck IL she ever dared to re =.
wripg he, H. ooain " Marie raised
psat .nd and bcr cheeks were fiery red.
her ps her a fierce delight to feel that
~ gt she had the power TO hurt him
I" Ut "t' isn't a l!e." she said' clearly
II love him
1 ..rc, shaft of light fell through the
80 a GU on the dcathly whiteness OF
TinuyVt tocc as he stood help.essly star
Coflo. HE wife. Marie had never seen
ing S' In mans face before, but she
hsu"I; Il now, and she aVerted her eyes
rith a little shiver. ,.,, , A.,
WY" "1ts better you ehould know the
truth" she said at last IN whisper.
~ wanted to tell you before ou' l was
'trmaihunJ--Dokers?" She hardly. rccog.
- H bor husband voice as he asked the
.n heSu ~ question. and it hurt her to near
,bS. nVa.S hc no longer spoke of his friend
~ the well.known nickname
Sbo shook her head. .,,,
"Sg SIgo Joesn't know: he's never Sald
ann word 20 me that you, or any on, one
ohc @ corld not hear e." She
eessncd esS, her hands together passionateiy
rf1'r "f r,,jsh ho had - she said chokihgiS
- ,ricd 70 make him, but 1t was no
~ ~" She looked at Chris with
ss.,sh sse ovcs at sounds dreadful.
tts.,'T Soo,n, 49, she said piteously. y
.SevId think II did IL heard any one
W. sov Il, But it's the truth. !
@ Tou,d 20 10 Italy with him tomorro"
u he would take me. !.
chris stood like a man turned to 60
stone, Then suddenly he fell on m his
Knees beside her, clasping her III HIS
shaking arms. $500, door, yor
aor', know what you are saying. II
drrc, JUm e. nj, and take you away. You re
IWye Marie Celeste. I've been brute
~ ron know, but ! don't deserve
tSIs lie took her hands, such cold
Iitilc hands they were, and pressed them
~ bis face, II love you, too, he SAID
Sroterly. ~ think ! must have al
ways loved you. only I'm such a seliisr
Svine Mnrie Celeste, for God
sSkn .ay YOU didn't mean it? | love
Ton ilI give my life to make y,o'
iSnnv. Say It isn't truc--that you N'
just done it to torture mc-to puniSN
me-" ,,J,
fsom his, but he held them fast. h'
went on pleading, prayingH begging her
but abe listened alphabetically, her eye,
,ycrted from his bowed head.
Sho did not believe word h" wa,
,oyirr. The wall of her pride dcafcnN'
her to the sincerity of his broken words
Hcr one emotion was the fierce, trl
mmnhant cladncss that at last she coul'
make him suffer as once lac had mad'
her,
Perhans somewhere in a corner o
that room the ghost of the child Marie
Celeste stood weeping for the TRACED!
Of It all-weepins because the woman
Marie Celeste could So harden her hear
10 the grief Of the man who had ono
been her idol.
Then suddenly Chris released her ant
stood up. His face was like gray mar
bic as he took hers between his hand
and looked down into her brown eyes
rs 1.-THE truth. Marie ColcSt"t,.
be asked hoarsely. TEL nc the trut'
that's all"
And Marie gave little choking soun'
like sob. and the lids fell over he
eyes as she whispered:
"I have--told you
II That was all. Chris let her 60. I'll
i fell back step, his arms hanging limp
A ly at his sides. He was beaten and b
knew It,. No explanation he coul'
make would be Of any avail. She ha'
shut him out Of her heart forever
Rnd-for such is the tragedy Of life
twas only when it was too late that h
knew how much he loved her.
u 1t seemed n long time before h
1 asked:
| "Wcll-whut 40 you want me 4
dof'
Il She shook her head.
i II don't know" she said in a fright
tned whisper.
4 She had burned her boats. and he
whole being was shaken by the irreV
ocable act.
She kept the thought Of Feathers be
fore her eyes. She clung to the though
n the happiness ho could give her. Sh
never heard tho warning voice tina
whispered to her Of It's impossible mad
ness
II "DocS--Aunt Madgc know Chri
asked again, aud she shook her head
tears yelling TO her eyes for the hrs
nmo.
II "No---how could I toll her."
lie turned 10 the door. lie was lilt
man walking in his 0lcep as b
II reached It, and for moment stood fin
gcring the handle aimlcsRly, then all Il
once the passionate blood came surgin
Lack to his white face. He $trodc baC
I" Mari" as sh" stood by the window
and caught her in his arms.
"Ill never give you up he sal
III !oarsell. "Therc's no law in ElGlan
III that can make me give you up. kis
mn, Marie Celeste. and say you didr
iinnan it '' His voice was broken
he hardly knew what he was saying
You're my wife, and I'll keep yor
Feathers doesn't want you-he has u
A Gse for women. You're my wife, an
Il ! love you. love you with all 10
scart and soul, Marie Celeste. "
eeen blind fool, but I'm awake no
wv He kissed her again and agni
ocspaIrmgly.
r., Marie struggled against his arm
u Su' Jung her hend TAR DnCK 70 eScal
MS lips but h9 was stronger than sh
tnd 1t was only when he felt her Il
III moSt fainting in his arms that he rC
II leased her.
You're my wife" he said agai,
meeting her eyes. ~ haven't forgo'
Ten It II you bave.'
Her lips were shaking SO that 81
!ou!d hardly speak but she manage
u 10 form n few words.
In NDon.t You eYer-tonch me- again-