Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-14
CHAPTER XVII
Her Wedding EUe
THE night before her wedding Ca,

THE night before her wedding Carol
= sat before her glass and looked
herself squarely in the eyes.
why am I going through with this
thing? Why, why?" she ASKED herself.
She wanted to be entirely truthful with
herself, but involuntarily she edged
away from what was III her heart.
I'm not marrying Nick to save him
from that other woman, I'm not she
admitted. I'm marrying him because
! cant bear to see another woman win
truth ~
At that moment, IL Nick had been
there, she would have told him the
truth. She would have thrown herself
on his mercy. She would have said
wildly, stormily:
Il don't love. you: cant bear you
to touch me; haven't changed, not
the least bit. but If you want to marry
Inc on those terms, take me, but be kind
TO me try TO understand" "
But Nick wasn't there. Carol was
clone, facing the future. Size had to
fight her own battle, and she WASH t
brave enough to turn back. In the big
cedar chest was her wedding gown and
all the accessories that went with It,
white satin slippers, gossamer stock
ings. the filmiest Of lingerie, ond her
wedding veil of lace and orange blos-
SONS.
Tomorrow was her wedding day
She pictured the crowded church, the
expectant guests, and the gossip. the
spreading scandal IL she did not appear.
No, 1t was too late to turn back now.
but why hadn't she been brave enough
to tell Nick the truth? Why had she
been foolish enough to pretend that she
loved him? AS It was she was starting
her marriage with lie between them :;
she was planning to live lie: there
could be no happiness for her, nor for
Nick. How much better for both Of
them II she hadn't planned to ruin his
life. Suppose this other woman loved
him. IL she cared the slightest bit for
Nick, no matter what she was. nor what
she sprang from, she had better chance
Of making him happy than n woman
who shrank away from his touch. Carol
shuddered.
Tomorrow night she would he alone
with Nick, they would have started on
their wedding journey.
The thought occurred TO her that she
might tell him the truth as soon as they
were alone, and in that way they could
start at least with Il clean slate, and
an understanding between them.
But how unfair to Nick! TO marry
him. and then tell him when it was toe
late for him to do anything about it that
she did not love him. She had told him
on the first day he had come to her
that she did not love him. but that she
wanted to. Well. that was quite true.
Eut since then she had pretended to be-
n woman; she had let him think that
he had awakened her; she had responded
to his kisses. and because it had made
him so radiantly happy she hadn't the
heart to tell him that she didn't care
that 1t had all been pretcnse.
And why had she first pretended? The
answer to that question popped into her
mind with amazing promptress. Be-
cause of Daisy Castleton. Because
Carol had coniured up in her imaGina
tion the thought Of Nick with Daisy in
his arms: because she had feared that
Nick's thoughts might go back to Daisy
If she. Carol, did not play the game.
Daisy was an actress. She would
know how TO simulate love, even if she
did not feel it.
Carols face dropped into her hands
and the hot tears began to triCklC
through her slim fingers.
What an unspeakab'e creature
am" she sobbed aloud. "and how car
I expect any happiness in this world?'