Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-23
"A LOUeLess
Marriage" g.:
takes up the problem: Should a
mother marry her daughters
spcethcartS rs a ncW and
fascinating story BY
Ruby N. Ayres
Watch for IL tomorrop on
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outbursts, silences during which Har.
den counted the seconds with his heart
beats dreading that they would never
be broken again.
He raised his head once and looked
at her. Her eyes were wide open and
turned to him, such bright. fevcred
eyes. that for moment he thought that
she knew him. Then she began to cry
again.
"Oh. John--oh, John! n I'd only
known! And now he s gone away, and
he'll never come back. John-John!' -
Harden knelt down beside the bed.
"1'm here, Molly. I'll never leave you
again. I love you'll love you!'
:. 1t almost seemed ns IL she were
listening. For moment the restless
little head lay still. In the silence Of
/ the room he couli'hear the heavy throb-
bling of his heart. He fell forward, his
face hidden.
"Oh. God. give her back to mc-just
for day--just for an hour, so that I
can tell her 1 love her.
lie did not know that he spoke the
words aloud. He was blind and deaf
to everything but the agony of his own
heart.
For moment the room seemed to
whirl giddily round him; for q moment
he felt that he must fall forward help.
lessly: lie closed his eyes, some one was
speaking to him.
asleep"
He forced his eyes open and looked
down at Molly. She was sleeping with
her. face turned toward him and
little smile on her lips.
But Molly did not die. There came
n day when the fever left her and her
eyes met her husbands clearly, and
with full consciousness.
1t was a cold morning with a touch
OF, frost in the air. The leaves were
all down. and the brown boughs of the
trees held shivering arms to the sky.
She looked so white and wan-as il
a breath of wind would blow her away
and John was conscious of n great
fear.
Was she really out of danger, or had
they lied to him!
He sat down beside her. taking her
hands-stil bandaged they were-and
though he held them ever SO gently he
could feel that she WINGED.
He tried to speak. but no words
would come. and it was Molly herself
who broke the silence.
Il thought you would not come. I
me-
Il have never been angry with you.
l was too old for you. Molly. 1t was
unfair to have ever married you.' Such
cold words; and he had meant to say,
and wanted to say, something so diff
ferent.
Big tears found their way to her
eyes and ran down her checks, her lips
quvercd.
n hat I
YOU always looked upon me as a child.
IL had been older" she stopped and
her. lips uuivcred as she said in n
whisper-"It ought to have been me
who died instead of---of Mr.. Wharton. 4"
MOLLY. for PHYS sake-"
1T ought to have bcen-it was l who
was in the way.'
He went on his knees beside her
''You and I have got to understand
one another now and for ever" he said
hoarsely. ''Sincc I married you, there
has never been another woman in my
life. lift you died. Molly, I should
never. wish to marry Mrs. Fernald. 1t
was just madness, my love for her.
that burnt itself away after I knew
you. don't suppose that you
carc-'
lie. stopped. as he thought Of that
morning when he and Molly had said
their farewell. She had been so indif-
ferent, SO ready to let him 60. How
could he hope that she would ever care
for him any more?
."John,' said Molly-such a little
quivering voice of anguish it was-"I
-l-oh, do You know that IL asked
Mr.. Wharton to take me away? /
thought you didn't care--that you only
wanted to be rid of me. I was so un-
happy ] could have killed myself. Oh.
II you really mean that you love me !"
The words were just cry.
'"There Is nothing in all the world
for me II I cannot have you," he said
But Molly was not satisfied.
THAT day when-when Lilith came
she was crying, and you said, oh, you
said that ! had punished you even bet
ter than I could possibly realize by
bringing her to the house. You cared
for her thcn--you must have done !"
Her breath came in little sObS.
"Oh: if it's only just that you are
sorry for me!''
He slipped n hand under her head
and raised her gently till she rested
against his shoulder.
II love you, and only you," he said,
"and II you cant believe me--oh, Molly,
Molly!" And suddenly his face went
down to hers and their lips met in q
long kiss.
"And now do you believe me?' he
asked presently. II can't tell you In
words, but, oh, surely you can feel it
| without my saying it over and over
agan!'
She turned her fSce to his.
. ~ never loved any one but you," she
said "And so I lqve you BEST after
lie protested that she could not do
, that, that he loved her so much that
never in all the world had a man loved
3 woman SO well.
She laughed
"I shall expect you. to tell mo so
! every day Of your life"
Twenty times q day." no answered
to make up for. Do you know that
I've never kissed you since our wed.
= ding day!'
/ Her face cloudcd.
5 "That hateful, hateful day! II only
. We We could ., g e. right back and start all
"We'ii 60 away; we'll find a new
g home and be so happy"
She looked up at him.
9 "Ned says Manor Dyke Is gone2'
t "Yes, there are just the walls stand, +,
n arms frightened about her. "But !
Q don't mind that. ! don't mind any.
Z thing now I have you.'
"May / ask you just one question, -
> he said gently, "and ben we will never
}. speak Of it again Molly, did-did
= Wharton"-.he stopped. he saw the hot
color that flooded her face. and for a
= moment a spasm of pain crossed his
| o,,,, ,IJ,ll never ask Won aupin - ka