Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-29
HIS BROTHERS WIFE
BY RUBY M. AYRES
CHAPTER NXXU
~ Didn't Mean 1t"

TX on don't want me to 90 to the sta
ton with Miss Fisher?"
David Bretherton echoed the
words slowly, as if, as yet, they conveyed
nothing to him. Then suddenly the nox
color famed into his face he half held out
his hand, but drew it back irresolutely.
Mary had recovered herself by this time
she was trying to laugh, but it was not very
successful.
81 didn't mean that of course. How
silly! | don't know what made me say it!
OF course you must go to the station with
her; please forget that l ever said anything
SO foolish
She tried to move past him to the door,
but Bretherton barred her way
you did mean it," he said; there was
quiet determination in his voice. you are
not in the least the sort of woman to say
thing unless you had some very good reason
for it; especially a thing like that. Don't
you like Miss Fisher? Why don't you want
me to go with herr"
Mary was covered with confusion; her
eyes were distressed.
Indeed, [ meant nothing" she declared.
please forget all about it; look, the car is
at the door"
She escaped past him now, and went into
the hail. where Miss Varney and Dora Fisher
stood together. Mary thought that the lat
ter looked at her rather curiously as she
joined them she conscious Of her hot
to the front door, and stood looking out into
the darkening garden.
The headlights of the big car pierced the
gloom like vicious eyes, throwing everything
beyond into acute shadow.
Bretherton passed her and climbed into
the front seat; he did not look at her
After a moment or two Dora followed
him; she was laughing and talking all the
time; she shook hands with Mary effusively.
II am SO pleased to have met you she
said. Il hope We shall be great friends.
You must come and stay with us in town,
will you?"
Mary's troubled eyes turned towards
David, but he was sitting at the wheel star.
ing straight in front of him. She began a
stumbling reply.
"Thank you-thank you very much But
I shall not be here much longer; / am only
on visit, you know. Thank you very much,
all the same"
little flash of interest crept into Dora's
face, but it gone instantly.
"Is that so? I didn't know; but perhaps
you will be able to spare us a weekend some
time. Good-by."
She got into the car beside David He
drew the rug round her punctiliously; Mary
watched them with an absurd little heart
ache.
She resented Dora being there in her
place; she stood in the cool darkness for
some moments after the car had turned out
of the drive.
Miss Varney called to her from the hall
Come in, my dear-come in! You will
catch your death of cold!'
Mary obeyed reluctantly; she was surprised
to find that she was quite chilled. She walk
ed back to the drawing room and knelt down
by the fire; Mary Varney followed.
TIN glad she didn't stay she said, with
little comfortable laugh. 81 do try to like
her, for Davids sake, but in my heart
don't really like her at ALL
Mary did not look round; she was holding
her hands to the blaze.
'Why-why for David's sake?" she asked
rather constranedy
well, for one reason, her brother is his
greatest friend, and for another-well, they
have known each other all their lives
81 see! Do you think he wilk-marry
herr"
Miss Varney said Good heavenss" in a
voice of horror.
She stared down at Mary's black-robed
figure with, eyes that were almost fright
ened.
"My dear child! What put such an idea
into your head?"
Mary laughed.
"Oh, I don't know. Why should 1t be
anything so very strange, after all? You
say they are old friends, and she "a very
pretty"
"Humph! Well, every one to their taste"
said Miss Varney. But, personally, prefer
a woman to be less like an expensive dress
ed-up doll. And If David ever marrles,
hope he'll be sensible and choose wife like
you, my dear, if l may say So"
con-" The little exclamation escaped
Mary voluntarily. She colored sensitive1y
''WeI, l mean what I say" Miss Varney
asserted. women Of your type those
who make men happy; the women who make
a real home in it's best sense-not a doll,
without a thought in her head beyond new
frocks and jewery. But apart from that,
I'm quite sure that David has never given
her serious thought"
Mary did not answer; her thoughts were
away along the dark road with the two In
that speeding car.
She despised herself because she felt an
cry and jealous, and yet she could not crush
the feeling. When Miss Varney left her, she
rose to her feet and went over to the win
dow, drawing aside the blind.
1t was not nearly time for David to come
back yet, but all the same she found herself
straining her ears for a sound Of the return
ing car. CLEAN Of its powerful head
lights through the darkness.
Continued Thursday. Renew your subs
scription now to avoid missing n chapter.
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