Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-14


know why I went out with her. I hate
the woman" He really thought he
did at the moment. But you had aono
OH with Feathers, and IL was rottenly
dull alone"
She interrupted very gently.
IL thought you would prefer to be
you chosen
Il know, but oh. dash IL nil.
there ism t any excuse for me, l know,
ana you behaved like brick Just now,
Marie-letting her think that you didn't {
There was an eloquent silence; then
Marie said: II only let her think what
was the truth | don't care at ali !
You are quite free to do as you like.
We agreed that, didn't We ? But think.
for your own sake, IL would be better
to tell me next time anything like that
happens. | hate Mrs. Hcrlot to think
that you have secret with her and
from met looks bad, Chris"
He gave an angry exclamation.
Secret! 1t was no secret! You ex-
aggerate when you say that"
DO /? Well. I'm sorry" She
turned to move away, but he followed
II hope you'll forgive me?" he asked
WIN numIty new to him.
Poor little Marie Celeste. The tears
swan traitorously into her eyes, and
she bit her lip.
There isn't anything TO forgive,
she said: II think, perhaps. we have
both rather exaggerated things"
Thcy walked along the sea front to.
gether, Chris silent md morose, with n
little frOwn between his eyes.
Only once before had Marie made him
feel ashamed, and that was years and
years ago, when he had pushed her out
Of the loft, and sho had taken the blame
and had declared that she had fallen
through her own carelessness.
Chris hated to feel ashamed. and
after moment he broke out again vlo-
lently.
Il should have told you myself, only
Mrs. Heriot did not wish il. She said
that people in the hotel would talk, and
that she could not face the scandal. So
what could l do?"
Marie looked at him in utter amaze
mcnt. Was he as ignorant Of women
as all this? But she did not say what
was in her mind-that she believed Mrs.
lleriot would welcome notoriety Of any
sort.
1--WE won't talk about Il any more, :"
she said, hopelessly. After all, you've
got perfect right to choose your own
friends"
Mrs. Heriot is not friend. play
golf with her and bridge-that Is all.
| never mako friends Of women"
She did not contradict him, and they
walked on n little way without speak
ing; then Marie said suddenly:
Chris, don't you think we could
go home at the end OF the week?"
"Go home?" he echoed sharply.
''You mcan--to Aunt Madge?"
"Iesi 1 think I'm rather tired Of
the sea-
"We'll 60 tomorrow, If you like; I
shan't be sorry to leave the place my
self"
lie would have gone that morning, in
order to escape meeting Mrs. Heriot
again. He was more angry with him
self than he was with her, for it was
slowly dawning upon him that he had
allowed himself to be made a fool Of,
and the feeling was unpleasant.
II think it will do II we 60 Mt the
end Of the week" Marie said quietly.
II will write to Aunt Madge, 80 that
she will be ready for us.
Chris frowned.
1--WE cant live with Aunt Madge in :
definitely" be said at last. I'VE shall
have to get a place Of our own some
where
Il know, but for the present she
would like to have u.s." There was a
note Of anxiety in Marie's voice. Just
now there was nothing she dreaded more
than the thought Of living somewhere
alone with Chris.
Once 1t had seemed the height Of
bliss.
"Thererl be plenty Of money fortu-
natcly," Chris went on. 1--WE ought
to manage to have quite a good time be-
tween US, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think so"
"You don't sound very enthusiastic, "
he complained. II suppose you're still
about that rotten business last
night"
She did not deny It.
Surprising 1t had been me- she
said, after moment.
"Supposing I had gone out there with
with Mr.. bakers, for instance; and
the same thing had happened. What
would you have thoughtT
Chris laughed unaffectedly,
with old Feathers! Good Lord,
you'd have been safe enough with
him u
Her face quivered. Would there
never be anything she could do or say
that would move him In the slightest?
Perhaps that's how felt about
you and Mrs. Heriot, - she said sharply.
Chris laughed again.
"Well, / never thought you'd be
Jealous of her, certainly" he said.
She turned on him with flashing
eyes.
"I'm not Jealous Of her How dare
you say such thing" !"
my dear girl''-Chris was utterly
nmazed-''is that what I've just said
that I didn't think you were jealous
of her? What a little spitfire you areI"
She had never looked at him Ike that
before, and he was rather interested
to discover that she had got it In her
to flare out.
"What would you like TO do todayf"
he asked presently. 1--WE don't seem
to have gone about much, though we've
been here nearly three weeks"
"I'm quite happy as ! am, and It's
rather hot to 80 sightseeing, isn't tt?'
Her voice sounded weary.
Chris looked at her sharply.
You're not feeling as we'll as you d
like me to believe he said sus-
piciously.
Marie frowned
IF only you wouldn't persist In
making me an invalid" she com.
planned.
Chris was offended.
"Oh, very well! 1t was only for
your own good" His face changed
little. ''Here comes Feathers" he
added.
He had not seen his friend that
morning, and he was not sure what sort
of reception he was going to re-
ceive, but Feathers behaved as IL uoth-
ing had hupppned He remarked that