Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-18
An Interrupted Elopement

A s RAND bounded up the steps he
"A could see light under the door of
Carl's studio, and he knocked and
stantly the sound Of voices from within
ceased. and there was dead silence.
"Who is it," came an instant later
in Carl's voice.
Its Rand, old man."
Another silence. and then the sound
of Carl crossing the room. lie flung
the door open and Rand entered.
A strange sight confronted him.
On the low couch were two travelling
bags and standing in the center of the
room was Marcia Davis. She wore
simple dark suit. and small hat with
veil draped over it. Her blue eyes
were wide and frightened.
For q moment there was n con.
strained silence, and then Carl spoke.
Give us your blessing, Rand, we're
going away tonight
Rand stood as If rooted to the spot. 4.
He could not believe what he had heard,
1t wasn't possible that Carl was ac.
tually in earnest.
1t was Marcia who spoke first.
She came over to Rand and looked
up into his face half pleadingly.
Don't look like that: don't make
me feel that | am doing wrong. We
want so little, Carl and I. just to be
together
'You'rc leaving Lucy" Rand said
slowly, like this?' He turned from
Marcia to Carl, and Carl nodded
quickly. his face suddenly ablaze with
feeling.
"Ycs, I'm leaving E IL Lucy u ! never never
bitterly. You. who know so much,
should be the last one to censurc me
I didn't expect disapproval from you
II don't disapprOve, Rand inter
ruptcd hotly. God knows l ought to
know what it means to crave happi-
ness, but to go like this. to run away
from responsibilities. Marcia. do yor
realize what you are doing?"
Marcia had begun to cry. She sObbet
like tired child. and Carl with q
dark look at Rand. went to her anc
took her in his arms.
"See here. Rand" he burst out. II
you re going to interfere and try t
make trouble. you'd better get out
Marcia Is not n child. I'm not trying
to persuade her to do anything sh,
doesn't want to do. We love eacf
other, we want to be together; it.,
quite simple.
There was moments silence ant
in that moment, Marcia broke ava,
suddenly from the circle of Carl's arms
There was something girlishly pa.
thctic and sweet about her as she stood
there facing the two men, and yet hel
face wore the expression of u woman
who has suffered.
Rand is right" she said slowly
with little catch in her voice. "l'v'
felt all along that we ought to wait
1t isn't that I'm afraid. Carl, bu
there's all of life for us to be happ!
in, and so lttle--for her."
Carl was silent. His face was Sc
In heavy lines. Like Rand. he hat
reached point where he could no
reason, and he had persuaded Marci,
TO think MS he did. Now their plan,
were tumbling all around them in ruins
and he had Rand to thank for every
thing. \ scene with Lucy that yer,
evening had prccipitatcd matters. Sh
had produced the note that she hat
stolen from his pocket, and even nov
Carl shrank from the sordidncss of he
accusations. lie had found it impos
eible to try to reason with her, for sh,
Ind been beside herself, and the fac
that her threats made no impression
at all on him had only served to in
crease her fury until she abandone,
herself utterly to anger and fairl.
|, shrieked aloud
omorrow-Husband and Wife.