Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-10
CHAPTER VI
Norman, STAYS in To,vn

IT WOULD have been content to live
very quietly in the pretty little
| suburb where we had all settled. We
| were fifty minutes from the city, and
we had one Of the prettiest country
clubs In the county. The country
round about was beautiful, and it seem :
ed that my days were filled to the brim
with just being Marie |.
II was enough for me to wake in the
morning. dress quickly and run down.
stairs to see IL Norman had just what
he liked for breakfast. Afterward
there was marketing to do. and Mt the
stores / always met other women and
we stopped 70 chat and gossip. At
night I was always dressed and ready
for Norman when he returned from town
on the evening train, and after dinner
we visited back and forth among our
neighbOrs, or we went driving in our
own roadster or in some one of the
larger cars.
Then came night when Norman
did not return for dinner.
He telephoncd me from the city about
four o'clock in the afternoon and for
IL IlOIll'Il ! lVlStl Uls I'SVlullOIS an
was tempted to ask questions, but |
stopped myself just in time.
Joan, I'll be late tonight. Don t
wait dinner; I'll be out on the eleven
thirty"
"Not till the eleven thirty" The
words were out before ! was aware
that l had intended TO speak them.
~ may be able to make the nine
fifty. three, but don't count on it." His
voice was crisp. and l seemed to de-
tect note of impatiencc in 1t, so
FASTENED to respond cheerfully.
"All right. dear. III go to the
movies. Good-by." But as I hung
up the receiver my hand was trembling.
Instantly all my suspicious were
aroused. Why was Norman staying
IN town tonight? This was not the
time of year when business would hold
him in town. and come to think of 1t,
he had not said word about business.
ate solitary dinner, prOlongine
ii as much as possible. and aftcrward
with long evening stretching drearily
ahead of me. | went to the telephone
and rang up Alice Wilson.
Mrs. Wilson answered the telephone
80. Mrs. Wilson. this is Joan
Wayne" ! said forcing a bright note
into my voice. "Is Alice there?'
"Alice is in the city came in Mrs.
Wilson'S we'll bred sclf-contained
tones. "She went in carly this morning
to do some shopping and she tclephOned
that she wouldn't be back to dinner. y
Thank YOU" | returned quickly.
"No. it isn't important. I'll ring her
up tomorrow some time
The receiver at the other end clinked
and slowly I replaced my own receiver
on the hook. For long moment l did
not move, but my brain was racing
with thoughts and l held my body so
rigidly that my muscles fairly ached
when finally relaxed.
had little doubt that Norman and
Alice were together. They had met in
the city. either purposcly or by chance,
and were dining together. Of cOurs>
it Signiiied nothing. Alice was M!
friend. and there was no reason why
Norman should not take her out tc
dinner. But why did he prefer Alice
TO inc? Not once since our marriage
had he asked me to meet him in town,
| Whenever had gone in to shop or to
visit mother. | had always returned or
nn earlier train.
My cheeks burned and my hands
clenched as l thought of the GOSSIP
that would cnsue If any one shoult
happen to see them together, and ye'
] must laugh and pretend not to care
no matter what happened.