Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-29
girls simplicity and desperate unhap.

outcome of all abe had suffered since
her marriage.
She had looked for love and bapp,.
ness, and had found neither. She lad
been tung back on herself and his
friendship, and In her gratitude for the
little he had done to try TO cheer her
bhe mad magnlficd her affection for him,
lie did some swift thinking as he
stood there, his face resolutely turned
IRON her as she sat crying desolately.
Every instinct Of his manhood was
Dut he knew that such Happiness was
not for him-could never be for him,
After moment he went hack to thc
deserted lunch. His face was white.
tut ne made desperate effort to speak
cheerily.
And this Is the day we were going
to enjoy 30 much You will never come
out with me any more now / have been
such brute. Mrs. I,awless, won't yon
have some Of this jam sandwich before
the Wasps consume IL allf'
Marie dried her tears, and laughed
and cried again.
I'm SO sorry; don't know why l
was such a baby. No; don't look n.
me I'm so ashamed"
She leaned over the side Of the punt
and bathed her eyes in the cool water.
Crying them on Feathers silk hand.
kerchief, which he put within her reach.
lie went on calmly serving out the
lunch and talking about anything that
came into his head.
Last time l was here IL came on TO
pour cats and dogs just ns we'd started
iunch There was lobster mayonnaise.
! remember, and fine mess It was in.
tAln
cloud. Do you like cream? Yes. |
remember you said you did when wc
lunched at Mrs. Costin's inn"
He gave Marie plenty of time TO re.
cover herself. A great sigh Of relief
escaped him when ut last she looked un
and smiled. N'
..An. "All right now'"
And I'm quite forgiven2''
lt wasn't your fault! You know It
We'll, We won't argue! Mrs. Law
less, II you don't drink that cham.
pagn,e l shall have to come and make
Marie drank some of it, and It did her
good, The color stole slowly back to
her cheeks.
They talked trivialities for the re-
mainder OF the meal, and then Feathers
gravely washed up and slowed the re-
mans or the feast away In the hamper.
Well 60 on to Henley for tea"
he said, "and you'll see the house.
boats. ! came down to one three years
ago with house party. Chris and
Atkins were there as well. BY the
night"
Did you?' Marie flushed. IT
should like to sec him again." he said.
well. why not? Now Chris is home
we must make up some dinner parties
and theatre parties.'
She looked away. Hes not home
yet"
No; but he will be. You'll find him
looking for you when we get back, and
eady to break my head for having taken
you out
"Do you think so?" Her voice was
coldly contemptuous, and Feathers hur-
riedly tried another subject.
The thing to do in punt Is to 60
to sleep. Have you ever slept in a
punt in n backwater like this? No?
Then you We missed half the joys Of life.
Come out on the bank a minute and let
me arrange those cushions
He held his hand to her, but she
| avoided it, and stood watching silently
as he made a great business Of plumping
up the cushions and spreading his coat
for her to lie on.
There you are! Isn't that great? {?
Mind, you'll upset the whole show -
He frightened the moorings a little and
looked down at her with strained
smile.
Marie had gone back to the punt and
dragged cushion beneath her dark
head.
Feathers sat down on the grass, his
back to n tree, and produced a pipe,
which he gravely lit.
I've had this pipe four years. he
said. Chris says it's disgrace TO
civilization, but | like it, You don't
mind If l smoke?''
mo, please do"
She closed her eyes, not from any
wish to sleep, but to avoid talking.
There was n little fear at the back OF
her mind which she could not capture or
recognize.
Why had she cried2 Why was It
now that when Chris was on his way
home-perhaps was already In Lon
don-there was no JOY in her heart,
only dread?
1t was very still there IN the back.
water. Now and then b rd darted
down from the trees overhead and
SKINNED the clear water with flash
of brown wings; or some little creature
stirred in the rushes, splashing the water
and sending out ever widening circles
to the opposite bank.
Feathers sat motiOnless, his arms
folded, putting at his pipe. his eyes fixed
on Marie's face. w
Such a child! Such a child! That
was always his compassionate thought
of her; and yet-those tears she had
shed Just now had not been Il child $
tears, but n woman's.
He was afraid to question himself,
afraid to read the answer which he
knew was there in his heart, but his
ewes searched the soft corners of her
face with passionate longing.
Was she asleep? Somehow he did not
think she was. And yet he was glad of
these moments in which he might look
at her without having to hold the mask
before his face--for this little time In
which she seemed to be his own.
He had long known that he loved her
and had accepted the fact as philosoph
ically as he had accepted the many
other ironies and disappointments of
his life.
have helped or prevented 1t, even had
he wished. She was his friends wite,S
and there was not one disloyal thought
in Feathers heart as he sat there. and
as his pipe grew cold, and dreamed with
his ewes on little Marie Celeste.
There was gramophone playing
somewhere in the distance, and the
yater between lent it softness ana
melody that was undeserved' It grew
clearer and clearer as the boat carrying
it came up stream, and presently
Feathers could distinguish the words of