Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-11
a BACHELOR HUSBAND
BY RUBY NJ AYRES
Author Of "Richard Chatferon" Etc
bV W. Watt q

her breath while she waited for him to
| answer.
If he agreed she would know that he
was guilty. II he refused there would
&c Just a hope that Mrs. Heriot had
But Chris turned to her.
would you like me to go, Marie?"
She hated him, because he left it for
her to settle. She could not trust her
self to look at him.
Aunt Madge thinks some one should
hastily.
"Of course, you can't; ] will 20, if
you wish it. shan't be able to got
back till tomorrow" he said. 1T viii
De too late to catch q train back to-
Marie did not answer, md he went
away. She gave him no chance to say
good by to her. lie kissed her cheek
hurrielly before he followed Dorothy to
the "aitlng car, and ho looked back
anTlously as he closed the door.
I'll be back as soon rs possible to-
rlorrow," he said.
Marie went back to Miss Chester
without answering.
That poor child" the old lady said
sadly. What a trouble for her Did
you know the brother, Maric?"
Il saw him once. He was u nice
boy" Marie said alphabetically. She
could remember Ronnie Webber well.
tie had had snub, freckled nose and
twinkly eyes.
1t seemed impossible that he could be
dead, She wished she could feel more
sorry.
The evening seemed interminablc.
A.. SIT down and read book, child"
Miss Chester said once. Don't wan
der about the house like that. know
you must be upset, but It's no use
taxing trouble too much TO heart"
marie looked ut her, hardly listening.
think III ring Mr.. bakers up, ="
she said.
Miss Chestcr's eyes grew anxious.
II should not, my dear" she said.
Chris told me that he was very busy
packing. PACK he i; going away the day
h, know, but I should like to see
She rang Feathers up, but he was out
ana not expected in till late, Fate
seemed against her at every turn.
must see him again l must :" she
told herself feverishly as she went to
oed. She sat at the open window for
long time loo king into the darkness.
Another forty eight hours and he would
be miles away. She thought of all the
pictures she had seen of Florence and
Venice, and wondered what 1t would be
IKE to visit them with the man one
loved.
, Chris had offered to take her there,
put she did not want to go with Chris
ne did not care for her He had lied
to her and deceived her. She lay awake
Tor hours, staring through the open
indoW at a single star that shone like
a diamond in the dark sky.
Where was Chris now, and what wss
he doing. She tried to believe that she
dld not care; tried to keep her thoughts
focused on Feathers, but they straycd
patk again and again TO her husband.
Little forgotten incidents of the past
danced before her eyes torturingiy-
chris in his first EtOn suit; Chris when
he was captain of the school eleven.
staggering about on the green: Chris
coming home for Christmas, a little shv
and superior; Chris bullying her, and
hnally buying his complete forgiveness
by Kiss snatched under the mistletoe.
She had loved him so much--had always
been SO ready to forgive and forget.
iears lay on her cheeks because She
knew she was no longer ready to do so ;
tears of self pity-shed in mourning |
over the days that were gone. She was |
chilu no longer; she was grown
woman looking back on her childhood
1t was getting light when she fell
asleep, and it was late when the maid
'oused her,
Il came before, but you were slccpinp
20 sweetly did not like to wake you"
me apologized. Marie got up and dressed
Sith curious feeling of iinality. Every.
hing was at an end now she would
'ear no more.
In the middle Of the morning wire
ame from Chris to say he would be at
lome to dinner that evening.
MISS Chester was dining out, and
Marie knew she would have to meet him
lone. but she did not care. She well
omed anything that hurried the end
ms toward which she was drifting. Each
moment seemed like the swapping Of
mother link In the chain Of her bond
ge.
Chris arrived earlier than he cxpccted
I was ohiy O'Clock when she heard
us key in the door and his step in the
all.
She was in her room and heard him
al! to her, but she did not answer,
nd she heard him question the maid,
ctore he came running up the stairs.
her door was open and he saw her
Z once, standing by the window, but
ne did not look round, even when he
hut the door and went over to her.
Marie Celeste" There was an
ager note in his voice, and he would
ave taken her in his arms, but She
urned, holding him away.
";No--please, we don't want to pre-
end any more"
encd?" '"P
"Nothing-except that know--about
ou and Dorothy" She nut her bands
ehind her, gripping the window sill to
teady herself as she Went on: "I'm not
olhg TO make scene. | know how
'ou nate them, and I don blame you.
don think either Of us Is to
',ame but-lve finished, and that's
he house, I will, and I don't ever want
o see YOU again"
She felt ms If she were listening to
he words of some one elsc--listening
With cool criticism, but she went on
teadlly:
We've tried, as you wished, and it's
allied. / can go away quietly, and no.
body need know much about it," She
aised her eyes to his stunned face for
he first time.
ITS no use arguing about 1t. My |
mind is made up. Oh, If only you would |
70 away and leave me ;"
For moment there was profound
silence, then Chris tall figure swayed |
little toward her, and he caught her |
lrms in grip that hurt.
"Who told you? And what do you
snow? =" She hardly recognized |
ais voice in its choked passion. ITS |
Tanned lies, whatever II is! swear
% you II | never speak again ."