Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-28
What Marcia Said
IOHN STEELE stood facing hi.

! phN SlEELE stO0u racing his
- mother.
Marcia was dressing to go ont 10 din.
n"r. She dis!ikcd very much being in
terruptad at such time as this. but
John had been So insistent that she had
slipped into II n"gligce and admitted
him 70 her sanctum sanctOrum.
Marcin'S hair was meticulOusly mar.
rallcd and fastened at the side Of he"
head with glittcying comb. Iseneat Ii
the formalitv Of her headdrcss. her
wnll.preserved face shono evenly pink
and white. but just at this time little
frown Of annoyance had spread across
1t, bringing into view the wrinkles shat
her masscusc fought 50 hard each day
to eradicate.
She was irritated at being interrupted
~ such q time. Dressing was to her n
tarrrd procedure. but the minute she
lookc'! into Johns face she knew that
something had happened, and she dis.
missed Clara. the maid. with Il few
crisp words.
''.!ohn what is it. what has happen.
II" told her briefly. omitting nothing.
and Marcia heard him to the end. Then
she spoke one sentence.
'Wh"r" Is she now
II don't know"
Has she left you:'
! He shrugged his shoulders. II didn't
stop 70 ascertain that. But why do
you ak: What difference does (
make
She looked at him for long moment
n curious expression in her eyes. II
( thought You loved her." she remarked
! after time.
II did love her. he burst out pas.
! sionat"ly. II loved her so much thar I
! was blind and deaf to everything. !
had 10 hnv" her.
YES. and yuu we're willing TO MARI,
her. KNOWN. that she had n secret in
lI"r lifo.' Marcia interrupted. "Well,
nothing i really changed. she is OK.
actly tn" sam" girl today as she was
before YOU discovered all this. Ii yuu
really '"v"d her, il you really cared
rs much as you pretended to, nothing
would matter bat that"
John Steele tared at his mother and
she met his gaz" frankly. Then she
went on speaking quickly.
"YOu'Sp married her. God knows
ut one time ] would have given any.
thing in the world 10 have prevented II .
but that's all in til" pnst. The tact
remains that you can't have a scandal,
about all this. You can't have it noi.od
about that Anne has loft you. II YOU
he"ld" eventually TO separate. you must
manage 1t quietly, tor naturally yuI
won't want 10 20 on living with her
knowing what manner Of woman she
IS"
Marcia's tone WAS lofty. Sire spoke
as though her life were remote from
alI such sOrdid things, and at his moth :
rr's tone, tn" doubt that had leapcd into
Steele's mind when he had first accused
Anne and she had shown no hint OF
| wrongdOlng, returned with disturbing
suddenness. 1t was one thing to ncr,ls,
her himself and quite another to hcar
another person drnouncc her.
Marcia had said that he woul,n'
wnnt to go on living with Anne know
ing what manner Of woman she wns
I,ut what manner OF woman was she
In his heart of hearts, did he rcnli,
believe these horripl" things about her,
As he thought about it, his brain clcnrc,
,iddcnly ana Il" began 10 think r0
tiOnallv. After all, h" had condemncc
Anne without II hearing lie hn,
Judged her entirely On circllmstantiu
evidence. lie should have given hcr =,
chance TO speak. he shouId hnyc ,I,.
tcrminoL the entire truth M his righr
hut instead hn had denounced her. l.,
had said horrible things To her. without
giving her n, chance 10 tell her own sid,
NJ the story.
ITO Be Continusd)