Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-13
CHAPTER IX
Confession

WAS lying in bed, wide eyed and
i nervous when at last heard Nor
man come in. This was the first night
he had been away from me since our
marriage. Would he speak to me. even
though my light was out? Wouldn'
he feel any stirring of remorse due to
the fact that he and Alice had plotted
against me that evening?
I could hear him stirring around
downstairs, and then finally his foot
steps on the stairs. cautious and slow.
He thought Of course that was, as'eep
and he was being careful. When I heard
him go into his room and close the
door I knew that he had no intention
Of speaking to me. On top Of my mis-
cry this fact gave me queer little
feeling Of loneliness, and 1t seemed
hours before dropped asleep.
At breakfast the next morning Nor
man was taciturn and quiet. I was
glad Of this because It enabled me to be
cheerful and gay. carefully avoided
any thing that might lead to the ques-
ton Of where he had been last night,
and I had the satisfaction Of knowing
that my attitude puzzled him. Evil
IDENTIFY he had expected me to ask dues-
tions, to exhibit jealousy, and mas
much as I was doing nothing Of the
kind he was vaguely troubled.
When he finally rose from the table
! 7 followed him into the hall as usual.
and In n minute he had swept me into
his arms. There was fierce posses,
siveness in the way he held me, ana
for few brief moments the aching IN
INV heart was relieved ms II my magic.
He put his hand beneath my chlh
and raised my face to his. his eyes
searched mine, and for n minute l was
tempted TO throw my pride to the winds
and make an effort to clear up THIS
mystery between us. but | refratned.
~ love you, little Jonn,' he said.
finally, "alwnys remember that And
moment later he was gone.
suppose that most women would
consider that remark Of Norman's n
poor consolation for what had hap.
pened. but it comfortcd me. Our mar.
rlage was not an average union. and
was sure that irh~his way Norman loved
me. | realized that even now, in spite
of the fact that | was facing n rather
perilous future, I was not sorry that
had chosen him in preference to Her.
bert Livingston. The short moments
on the heights with Norman would be
worth lifetime of peaceful content
with n man I was sure would never do
the slightest thing to make ME un-
happy.
That night when my husband re-
turned from the city he was alp dcvo-
ton. 1t was rs though he was max.
ing an effort to atone for what he had
done. and we were very gay. He WASH t
! &illing to have me out OF his sight II
moment, and after dinner he drew me
out to the porch and we sat In silence,
his arms around me, and my head on
his shou der.
+ Finally he spoke.
Joan. had dinner with Alice
Wilson last night
My heart gave great leap. At last
1t had come. I had been willing to
wait and now I was about to reap my
reward.
did you?' I said, quietly.
His arm frightened. Didn't you
know"
eyes, ! returned.
"Then why didn't you say something
about IT,"
"Why should IT,
because most women would have
said something
I laughed aloud. 1t wouldn't do TO
make 1t easy for him. he must never
know that I had suffered.
Don't you care h" persisted
why. no, Norman, | want you to
be free"
Joan. you're wonderful. I'm not
worthy Of you. I'm sorry that I tried
to deceive you about it. ] told Alice
it was absurd. but she said that for the
sake of Hilton gossip we oughtn't to
return on the same train
Again that leap Of my heart So it
had been Alice's idea to deceive me.
I was glad to know that. What would
she say II she knew that Of his own
free will Norman had told me the truth
1t struck me as rather a good omen
for the future.
TomorrOw-(;etting Even