Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-28
Showdown!

Just looking at him. and when after his
elaborate pretcxt of putting out his
cigarette he turned toward me his eyes
narrowed suddenly.
Why do YOU look Mt me that way.
Joan? Don't You believe me?"
Again brcathless silence, and then
] spoke a single, cold word.
"No.'
lie got to his feet with clustering
anger that I had never seen hin. use
before. VERY well. then. there's moth.
Ing more to be snid. I'm sorry you
think it necessary to take this attitude.
Perhaps YOU won't mind telling Inc why
you refuse to believe my word"
a blessed calm had come to me, for.
now that I was about to do battle, I
felt a certain amount Of relief. I was
glad that I could speak without anger,
and l answered him quite simply.
Norman. don't you know that every
one in Hilton is talking about you and
Alice Wilson? Did you think that l
would be the only person not to know
about it?'
lie rose to his feet. His face wa.
blazing: "Who is talking about it?
What do you mean?'
"Just what I say. Every one knows
| that you are meeting her in town.
/ iHu' tIit pcIlullS lOT IlNlIlE III II
| town where every one knows your bust =
ness" he fumed. "Of course, people
are only too willing to make trouble.
! Suppose / have seen her occasionally
whose business is it?'
Then you no longer deny that you
were with her tonight?"
NO: ] don't deny it, The words
we're blurtcd out almost before he knew
What he was saving.
"Dh. Norman 80 The words rose to
my lips in n swelling cry OF agony, and
| turned my face to the chair cushion
to hide the scaldng tears that were
trickIng suddenly down my face.
He crossed the room to me in q single
stride and sank to his knees at my
feet. burying his face IN my lap.
"Listen. Joan. / swear to you that
have done nothing wrong. Look ut me,
sweetheart. I love you. l love only
you. Alice Wilson means nothing ia
me. If you say the word, I'll never see
her again. Joan. dear, why are you
crying like this? Don't you know
that would rather die than hur,
you!'
Then why did you lie to me?" ]
moaned 'Why didn't you tell me the
truth when l asked you a direct qucs-
tion?"
Because I was n fool" he said saw
ngcly. I'm through with Alice Will
son, ! swear to you. ] wish I'd never
seen her. wish neither Of us had
ever known her"
There was so much concentrated
wrath in his words, so much Of grave
import behind them, that involuntarily
my sobs were checked.
"Norman, why do you speak like
that? You liked her up until now
Has anything happened to chonge your
opinion of her: l don't understand
why you should speak as you do unless
she has done something to disappoin int
you
II can't explain 1t to YOU becaus,
YOU wouldn't understand" he jerket
out, "Thcre's a Questing streak in me
Joan. It's n weakness, know, bu,
for you. Alice Is attractive, and sht
knows how to make the game interest
ing. ! admit that she attracted me
but it's all over now, and I'm ASHAMED
of ny part in It, All ] ask is thu,
you believe in me again, for ! love you
little Joan: more than any one else il
the wOrld'
! His arms reached up and encircle,
: me, and in spite of myself my owl
nrms went around him and held hin
close. But even at that moment
knew that his confession to me had beer
, weak. lie had told me nothing, and
) had no guarantee for the future.
could not even be sure TINT he woul(
not lie to me again. And all tn,
while my brain was taunting me will
} questions. What had happened between
Norman and Alice and why should h,
, expect mo to forgive him when he hnt
no excuse but his own weakness to of
fer?
Tomorrow-Tho Lun Before tn
Storm