Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-10
CHAPTER VI
What shall I be nt fifty,
should nature keep me alive
III hnd tha world no hitter
Whom 1 am hut twsnty.nveo,

ceased his visits.
You won't need me any more" he
assured Marie. Take care of your.
seif' that iss all, and no more bathing
Marie shivered. "No. nromise
that"
She was feeling quite herself again,
though she got tired easily. She had
written to Aunt Madge, making light
of her accident. and assuring her that
there was no need to worry.
And ! am ever 30 happy" she
wrote, with desolation in her heart.
And l like the hotel and there are
nice people here, and every one Is very
Kind to me: l will let you know when
we are coming home"
Chris came and stood behind her as
she was writing and caught sight Of
the first sentence
'' Is that true?' he asked. He pointed
to the words: II am ever so happy"
Marie laughed, but she was glad that
he could rot see her face.
"Of course, it's true" she said. II
have never had such good time in
my life.''
A more observant man would have
heard the fatness OF her voice. but
Chris only heard what he wanted to
hear, and 1t gave him n sense Of relief.
| If she was happy, that was all right
He thought things had arranged them
selves admirably. Marriage was not
going to be the tie he had dreaded. after
all.
Mrs. Heriot wants me to play
round of golf With her this afternoon"
he said after n moment. DO you
mind?"
"Of coarse not. Please go. shall
be all right. am going. to take my
book down on the sands"
every well-don't overtire Yourself"
He laid his hand on her shoulder for a
luc ment and then walked away.
| Marie sst staring at the finished let
ter before her. Would Aunt Madge be
as blind as Chris, she wondered. She
thrust it into an envelope and took 1t
to the post.
The weather was still holding fine.
The days were hot and sunny and the
nights moonlit.
Last night at dinner she had asked
Chris to take her for walk. 1t was
| the first time she had asked anything
of him since their marriage. but she
| had peeped at the moonlit sands and sea
| from her window as she was dressing
for dinner and sudden longing to walk
through it's silvcry radiance with Chris
| had seized upon her.
Come out with you? Why, Of
course Chris said in quick response.
II promised to play Feathers hundred
up at half-past eight. but that won't
TAKE long, and we can go afterward.
But 1t had taken over an hour, and
afterward another man who had
to another. and quite unintentionally
Chris had forgotten all about his prom.
Use to Marie, and she had crept off to
bed Mt 10 o'clock without seeing him
again.
II shall get used to IT., Of course
SHALL" she tod herself as she lay awake
with the moonlight pouring through the
open window. "Other women with
husbands like Chris get used to it, and
so shall t.
She never shed tears about him; all
her tears seemed to have been dried up.
Her only longing was that he should be
happy, and that she should never bore |
him or prove tie to his freedom.
She loYed him with complete unset
fishness-with complete foolishness, too,
perhaps, an unkind critic might have
said.
His was a nature so easily spoilt. If
anybody offered him his own way he
to go smoothly. II he was having II
good time himself he took 1t for granted
that everybody else was. too.
He went off to his golf quite happily. |
He told Mrs. Heriot that Marie had
taken book down to the sands.
"AlOne?" Mrs. IIeriot laughed.
GLOW queer. Doesn't she find it dull?"
She loves reading--she'll be quite
happy"
And Chris really believed what he was
saying.
He did not care jot for Mrs. Hcriot,
but she played golf magniticently, and
she was never tired. She could be out
the links all day and dance all night,
and still look as fresh as paint--per-
hapS because she owed most of her
freshness to paint and powder.
AS she and Chris were leaving the
ho,cl they encountered Feathers
Feathers stopped dead In front Of his
friend. blocking the way.
''Where are you gotug"' he asked
where are we going?" Chris echoed
with sarcasm. Where do you think
we are going? Hunting?"
Mrs. IIcriot laughed immoderately
She did not like Feathers, and she knew
that he did not like her or approve OF
ncr friendship with Chris, and 1t pleased
l"r 70 read the annoyance in his ugly
lace.
"Wr're going Golfng. Mr.. bakers"
she Sad. Don't you recognize the
'iuks? thought YOU were offer"
"IIc hates me, you know she cx- |
rlaincd to Chris as they went on down
he road
"IIc doesn't like any women" Chris
said easily.
You really think so?" she asked,
'aising her brows.
Il am sure of it," He seemed struck
~ her silence. and turned his head
sharply. What do You mean"'
"Only that thought he seemed
'ather friendly with your little wife,
he explained.
oh, with Marie" Chris laughed.
Yes. I'm glad to say he Is. They get
m very we'll together lie saved her
ife, you know
'Of course How stupid of met"
She pretended that she had forgotten,
lud Chris frowned.
"Why on earth cant the woman be
.atural?" he was thinking impatiently.
lc had quite missed her venomous little
haft with regard to his wife and
feathers. His was most unSuspicious
lGturp, and he cared too little for Marie
0 feel the slightest jealousy,
lie had laughed at Atkins devotion
O her. Atkins was young idiot, but
70 had been pleased that she and
Feathers had taken such a liking to
ne another. 1t argued we'll for
uturc in which Chris could see himself
wanting to knock about town with
'cathcrs rs he had done before he was