Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-19
HIS BROTHERS WIFE
BY RUBY IA. AYRES
CHAPTER XVI
A Chnncn LnCnmntnr


when one feels as if the only possible man
ner of passing the time is by drawing the
blinds against the chill, uninyiting outside
and banking up a big fire.
But Mary sat down by the window and
stared into the street.
Once she began to write letter to David,
but after the first few words she laid down
her pen and could not go on.
The paper lay on the table beside her,
with. its date and Dear Mr.. Bretherton"
staring up at her
What could she say? How could she an
swer him?
To tell him the truth of course. was the
obvious way, and yet her heart chung ach-
ingly to the memory Of that one day amid
the beauties Of Red Grange. She must go
she must!
But the miserable INDIGESTION continued
She put on her hat and coat, and went out
into the wet world. The chill, damp air
stung her pale cheeks into a faint flush,
and soothed the throbbing of her head
81 will go-I Will" she told herself, as
she retraced her steps
But when she reached the flat again she
knew that she was as undecided as ever.
What to do? What to do?
She ate her lunch without appetite The
little maid lowered anxously about her
''You haven't heard from Mrs. Bretherton
yet, I suppose, miss?" she asked hestat-
ngly.
Eyes, have. I thought I told you She
is having sea trip"
The little girl stared.
"Lor, miss. And shall you go, too?"
Mary started.
81 don't know-perhaps I hope So"
She felt confused and nervous; she was
glad when the girl was gone, but the little
conversation had shown her how difficult it
would be to keep up a subterfuge for any
length Of time, if even this girls innocent
questioning made her confused and i'll at
ease.
In the afternoon she tried to read. but
thought danced between her and the pages
She threw the book impatiently aside
Her restlessness drove her again out of
doors; she walked on aimlessly, through the
wet grayness of closing daylight.
She was surprised at her agitation; as
a rule she was so self-possessed and quiet:
this miserable restlessness frightened her
1t began to rain fast; she had brought
no umbrella, and in a few minutes she was
drenched.
She boarded crowded omnibus and
found herself wedged in between stout
woman and young clerk reading an eve
ming paper.
Mary was cold and chilled to the bone:
she found herself shiverfng and boneg -
was not going to be ill.,
VINE nthe conductor came for fares. she
remembered with frightened start that She
mad not brought her purse. She looked m
at MIN with scared eyes
7 FCr
got must get down.
Inc man looked decidedly unpleasant. be
muttered something about having heard
mat tale before. The young clerk with tba
cally 'yI"p7theI-
co frinl you allow me to pay for you? It's
so 1rlghtfully wet for you to walk"
Before she could answer he had nrodrood
a penny and taken ticket for her. Marv
thanked him stammeringly
she was really very thankful She had
dreaded turning ont again in+o ~ nau
night. "0'
He was nice-looking young fellow, TIE
lowered his paper and began to talk
lie said that the weather was too awful
for words. He asked if she had far to %
When she told him the road, he said that
his own destination was not great distance
away from it.
L m in rooms" he explained. mot bad
rooms either, considering [ only nav twenty
five shillings week"
Mary smiled; she found his frankness en-
gaging
awful thing, this boat being lost isn't
IL he said again, after a moment. in q
shocked voice. He indicated the folded No
per his knee Pc
haven't heard anything about it," said
Mary. Il haven't seen an evening paner 3"
ts the Multane-she was bound for
BuenOs Ayres-rammed by tramp steamer
in fog or something-the details are not
very certain yet, but they say hardly any
one was saved"
Mary was staring at him, white-faced, hor-
rified.
Il say, do you know anybody on it? I'm
aWfully sorry. Look for yourself"
The Multane! Oh, are you sure?"
He put the paper into her nerveless hands.
but she could not read-everything seemed
to dance before her eyes.
Read it to me-"
He obeyed in a troubled voice. One or
two passengers near them were listening
with interest Marys white face and startled
exclamation had arrested their attention.
The young man broke off suddenly.
Shall we get out and waIk?" he sup-
gested. He thought Mary was going to
faint.
She obeyed with pathetic eagerness and
haste; she could not bear the gaze of those
curious eyes about her.
When they were on the path. the Young
man drew her hand through his arm He
mad rammed the paper into an overcoat
pocket.
Il ought not to have told YOU in such 2
clumsy way" he began. "Not that 7 had
any idea you would know anybody on the
boat" w
"Of course not" Mary stood for mo-
ment, her hands over her eyes, then she
moved I m all right now-let us go on "
lie walked beside her soberIy; he had
noticed that she Wore mourning. and Won
dered if this strange coincidence had brought
about second tragedy in her life SO MANY
dreadful things were happening every dav
now; so many women wore black clothes
and went about with hopeless, grief-stricken
faces.
q should like to see the paper now
please" she told him.
They were beneath