Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-16
" She : \
HUSBAND
: HAT c 2, :
BY AAzSL DEYO SA7CHEZ0R
<92/ g 1J0I/o IE2GE7 60
CHAPTER XIX
AN INTERRUPTION

EAN went her way SuDIlmely
unconscious that all around her
u there were banked fires threat
ening to break into flame and
smoke at any moment. It was
strange that she did not notice the
difference in Dicks attitude toward
her, but the fact remained that she
didn't, and their friendship contin-
ued to prosper.
But If Jean noticed nothing Mark
was not so unobservant. He had
caught Dick looking at Jean several
times when he had thought no one
was looking, and Dicks manner to-
ward Mark, his gay frankness, has
subtly changed. 1t was as though
both men were taking each others
measure.
Mark knew that Jean hated him.
but he was big enough to wonder if
this boy could give her happiness
That was one reason why he watch
ed Dick SO closely. He wondered
too if Jean were learning to care
for Dick, but nothing in her manner
gave any indication of such a thing
and he was sure that she would play
her cards fairly and in the open.
Mark liked the new arrangement of
the ranch. The fluttering curtains
gave the aspect Of home, and there
were I1dHy 1CIIllllll0 tOuCIlGS III
the rooms that gave evidence of a
woman's presence, once when Jean
was not there he stopped for a mo-
ment on the threshold Of the room
that had once been his. He hest
tated second and then went in
White curtains with rose draperies
were at the windows and low wick
er chair was pushed into the light
A little work basket sat on the arm
l.. o1,o -, To- ell t1ot ere
were spread over the dresser. Over
the foot of the bed soft negligee
was thrown and Mark strobe over an6
buried his face for a moment in its
folds. That faint scent that always
hung about Jean, softly perfumed the
intimate garment and Marks face
was quite white when he finally lift
ed his head and left the room. He
was quite confident now that he hat
been wrong to marry Jean, to force
her into a marriage that was so ut
terly distastetul to her. Perhaps il
his methods had not been quite Sc
high handed and he had taken time
to WOO her, there might have beer
chance to win her love.
Into Marks room Jean had never
ventured. Mana did whatever clean
ing there was done, and Jean never
felt in1pelled to do any of the little
homely things that women delight ir
doing for the men they love. She hat
horror of touching anything that
belonged to him and even one day
when she saw him sewing on a re.
ca1citrant button with clumsy fin
gers, she did not offer to help him
Her heart was not soft; it was filled
with bitterness. for this man who
had taken such liberties with her life
Dicks work on the railroad was
progressing rapidly, and he knew that
his part of it would soon be finished
He mentioned the fact to Jean one
afternoon when they were sitting to-
gether on the wide veranda, ant
Jean looked up at him with sudden,
ly startled eyes. If she had known
how his heart leaped at her express
sion she would have been astounded
for her only thought had been the
gap that Dicks departure woult
leave in her life; there had been nc
vestige of a personal feeling for Dick
himself.
"You see a job like this doesn't
last forever" he said, trying to make
his tone sound casual.
mo, of course not" she agreed
quickly, "but somehow I never looked
forward to your leaving and so il
came as a surprise"
Dicks eyes suddenly famed.
"Jean," he said impulsively, ant
then as quickly stopped. Jean.
eyes were fixed on something beyonc
him, and as he turned he saw Mark
approaching the house.