Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-16
~ Can't Tell YOu!"

oVOJ persist in refusing to tell me
i where you have been?'
IL can't tell you. Dear, won't you
! trust mc?" Anne's voice was pleading.
at isn't question Of trust; it's n
question of my right to know
! Then waive that right. Surely you
don't believe that / have done anything
wrong"
Steele was silent. He was In an
agony of doubt and suspicion. Anne
stood before him in the library. She
( had been waiting for him when he
returned home. and at sight Of her his
fr.t impulse had been TO sweep her
into his arms. but he had crushed it
back.
He would not touch her. not until
',r Encw everything: but his questioning
81 hor had been futile; she would not
speak. She could not. she had said it
otcr and over. and still he stood ther"
hcaping her with Scorn, his love for her
warning with his anger.
"lohn. you don't believe that. do
YOU"
"IIow can | tell? Your attitude is
very strange. to say the least. and YOU
are asking the impossible of me. Here
nrc the facts. You go away and stay
over night and when you return YOU
refuse to tell me where you have been.
II You have done nothing TO be ashamed
OF. then | cannot understand why yoy
won't tell me the truth
Il can't. The words came in u
whisper.
Then you force me to believe the
worst. He flung the words nt her.
Lis dark eyes blazing. but instead Of
ringing before him, she drew herself
..p to her slim height and lifted her
head proudly.
"lou must believe whatever you will
! cannot prevent that. have done
nothing wrong. nothing TO be ashamed
T. have told YOU that over and over
and if you cannot telieve me, then
SUPPOSE this is the end -
Sho spoke slowly as though weighing
every word. and the import of what she
said struck Steele like a sudden blow.
i.oukiug AZ her as she stood there be.
fore him. he knew that she would not
y!c,d. She meant exactly what she
said. The material advantages he had
o:ferrd her meant nothing in the face
Of this thing that mnna"sa their love.
Sh" would go nut Of his lifr aS suddenly
as >h" had come into it. and he would
t" powcr.">s 70 do anything about it.
unless he re pcrtcd her wishes and asked
10 further questions.
Suddenly he east his pride to the
winds and instead Of demanding things
as his right he pleaded with her.
"Ann". don't you sec that this thing.
whatever il is. coming between us:
Can't you SEQ that: | can't get away
frIm il; it's nCvc" out of my thoughts" ."
Yes. | know" she said very slowly.
"Thats why | didn't want to love
y"u. and il I had known when l mar.
rcd you that | would grow TO care.
I never would have come back
Her words struck new thought In
his mind.
But you did marry me. WHY"
She shrank away from him as IL be
had struck her, and into her white face
there swcpt 4 burning wave Of color.
"Whv did you marry me. Anne"
"Be"ausc had TO have money, But
cont you see" she went on wildly.
THAT l didn't love you then? We
mnd" bargain. and you s1id you
wanted n" on any terms. II I had
loved yOu. couldn't have married you.
] would have gone away out of your
life. forever. iust rs ] inI"rd to d.
now. don't blame. YOU, please don't
think that. ! realize your right to
know everything, and because can
not tell you. il would be better for me
to 90 away Things can't go on like
thiI. we both know that. But I am
sorry. sorry for coming into your life
and maxine, YOU unhappy. Will you
believe that