Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-20
CHAPTER XNII
Husband and Wife

EToR long moment Nick held hcr
there against his breast, and ther
| nS he tipped her head back agains
his shoulder the lamplight fell on he,
iacs. and he saw the expression on It
IL was pale and cold and lfcless, hei
hiue eyes were wide open but the starr!
expression was gone. they were fright
cned. and there was aversion in thell
depths.
Instantly he released her. and stood
away. His dark face had fallen into
heavy lines, his eyes wcrc dark aut
irscrutable.
Carol shivcred in spite of herself
nnd drew her cloak up around her
shoulders.
Why did you marry ,ne?" hr asked
abruptly.
1t WAS the first time Carol had heard
that, note in his voice. and she realized
at that n5p,ent the completeness of hcr
failure to make good. Her lips trembled
childishly.
Nick" she began. don't speak to
You don't love me- % YOU n never hive
loved me. he went on tonelesslr. com =
pletcly ignoring her appeal. Then
why did you marry me?'
Because | couldn't bear to give you
M; don't you understand. Nick"
Carol was talking fcyerishly now. She
wanted to make him understand. II she
could, exactly how she felt about IL.
II had everything else to give you,
everything but that one thing, and I
hoped you could teach me thnt. I was
sure that everything would be all right
once We were married" She stopped
suddenly. aware of the fact that she
was making matters worse.
And evidently have failed. whv.
it's a crime to touch you. No self
respecting man could mako love to a
woman knowing Sho shrsnk away from
his very touch. I'm man, not q
tiute. want your love. | don't want
sufferance and endurance. Don't you
suppose I've realized the truth for Il
long time? Did you think you could
hide il from me?
She quivered under tho lash of his
words. and thu face that she raised
tc his was very white.
But yoU wanted me to marry You.
Nick; YOU said you would take me on
my terms.
II was n fool" he said bitterly. Il
didn't realize what marriage to you
could mean And besides. you pre-
tended to rare; you deceived me. !
was certain that YOU loved inc the day
we wore married"
I've wanted to care. I've never
wanted anything - much in my life"
Carol twisted her fingers together nerv-
ously. 1--WE tried. Oh, you don
know how hard I've tried. and I never
tacant you to know. I meant t. keel
II from YOU always.
"Iou've tried and you find IL impos-
sible. is that it, lie asked hnrShly.
And you thought you could keep it
from nc. Why. ] can feel you shrink
tho minute I touch you. | con see the
look Of fear in vour oycs when I whis-
ICr your name CnrCsein"iv. ] lave vcu
Gon't YOU understand that. don't y0u?"
lie caught her slim wrist in his fingers
thnt were like steel. and she did not
shrink. She met his gnzc bravcly. bur
after moment he threw her arm away
from lHm So roughly that she staggered.
But. Of course. you don't. wiz
should ! expect such thinGf" he wcrr
on. How could you understand NY.
feeling for YOU, when you have ahso-
mtCly no feeling In your inakn.up.
You're sold, it isn't in vow to love nmS
one
And whil. he stood there railing MT
her, absolutely beside himself. Carol
thought Iumbly. rs it true; ain like
that: Is it possible that | am diff
fcrPnt from 0tner women. that 7 shall
revcr know what !ovc is?''
TomOrrow-Daisy Again