Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-28


Really, David, 1 don't think it's quite
nice of you to make jokes like that-if you
meant it for joke she added with gentle
rebuke. ESPECIALLY at such a time, when
we are all so worried and unhappy"
David raised his eyes There some
thing in their expression that would have
told her without words that what he had
said had been spoken in deadly earnest.
Il did not mean it for Joke" he said
quietly MARY was never NigeIs wife! It's
all been a-mistake." He seemed to be
choosing his words carefully; his grave face
had paled a little.
Miss Varney looked at Fisher helplessly.
She wandered for a moment if David's head
were turned; she pHshed her chair back a
little with nervous gesture.
David dear'
Its quite true, Miss Varney," Monty
Fisher interposed. David is quite right in
what he says. The lady who has been stay
ing here with you is not and never was,
Nigel's wife"
There was a tragic silence.
81 don't understand. You look as II you
are speaking the truth, both Of you. But
OH it can't be true. She would never have
deceived us So Why, she told me herself
how dearly she loved Nigel; how all her
happiness died when he died"
'That is true enough" said David. 81
believe she did love Nigel, but she Vas new
err his wife" He smiled a little, meeting
Miss Varney's puzzled eyes II cant eX-
plain things any better to you, DEAR he
went on because I don't know the true
explanation myself. But when We find
Mary
I'VE may never find her. said Miss Var
ney, chokingly. ooh, poor child-poor
child David, is this why she ran away"
"T think it must be. You see, she recog-
nized Monty when he came yesterday; he
had known her years ago. l. suppose she
thought that he would tell me-"
He broke off with a feeling of bitter an
ger against himself.
WHY had he not let Mary know that he
already knew her secret? Why had he al
lowed her to suffer the torture of fear and
discovery?
He had hoped that she would tell him
Of her own free will. Apparently 1t had been
a vain hope.
He was restless. and miserable He told
Monty that he should go back to London
with him. BY early evening both men were
at the Fishers house.
"You will stay with us, of course" Mon
tv had said. And David had agreed. He
was in no mood for loneliness; he was glad
of the offer. ~
Dora was amazed to them. She was
vexed that she had not taken more troupe
with her appearance that evening; she need
not have minded David never notlced
woman,s clothes, and just now his thoughts
were too occupied with Mary to care for
anything else.
"And what has brought you to town.
Dora demanded smiling into MS eyes across
tho dinner table "Anything to do with the
mysterious telegram?
For moment DaVld looked puHAieu' th0h
he smiled ,,., ,.o+
who it is from"
But he did not answer her question: ana
che did not like to refer to it again. In
manage any man she chose, she was niue
afraid of David. He was too 1ndlHerent TO
her beauty too needless of her fasclnatons.
1t was only much later, when Monty was
going to his room for the night, that she
called softly to him across the LANDING
He went to her at once.
what is all this mystery? Why has DAVID
come to town."
MARY is missing-she left the house this
morning"
Missing! What do you mean? Have they
nuarreled?" There touch of eagerness
in her voice
Monty shook his head.
"No am sure they have not. But she mas
gone Her bed was not slept in last night
But she will come back! How absurd! AS
If she would run away from home like that!
She knew too we'll which side her bread was
buttered on
"David does not think she will ever come
back"
Her eyes were incredulous.
''Monty. How perfectly ridiculous! OF course
she will" She stared at him with froWn
between her brows. What has she DONE?
she demanded truculently. Has she-perhaps
she has tolen something's
Dora"
We'll YOU always said she was an adj
venturess ! should not be surprised II she
has done something like that, and David has
turned her out OF the house.
"He has not turned her out; he has come
to London to try and find her
The hot color dyed her cheeks; her eyes
grew angry.
you are not telling me the whole truth:
you are keeping something back. This woman
seems to have bewitched you all. Monty, you
are unkind, when you know how interested |
am in David. | believe you are helping this
woman to take him away from me-"
You don't believe anything Of the sort and
il you speak so loudly David will hear"
81 don't care if he does But she lowered
her voice.
She looked very beautiful. standing there in
the uncertain light. Her long, golden hair
was unbound and falling below her waist. She
wore loose white wrapper, heavily trimmed
with dainty lace, that suited her to perfection.
For a moment there was silence, then she
burst out with a sort Of chagrined triumph.
There is one thing-she can't marry him;
she is his brothers wife, There would be an
awful scandal
Monty frowned. Sometimes, much as he
loved and admired his sister, she Jared his
nerves.
"A man may marry his brothers wife il he
chooses" he said.
She answered quickly: