Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-03
HIS BROTHERS WIFE
BY RUBY M. AYRES
CHAPTER "
Dayid'S Letter


y hand of October had begun to paint
~ the world with it's wonderful tints OF
red and orange.
Already the trees were getting bare one
could see the road quite plainly now from
the windows of Dolly Brethertons flat
through the shivering line of lime trees that
bordered the path outside.
Dolly stood at the window, and 1ooke
out at the gray, misty line of sky above the
houses; she always seemed to be looking
out of the window now. She had Gu
rious feeling that she was waiting for some
thing - something important - something
that would come along and change the
whole of her life-something, she did not
know what.
Nearly seven weeks since Nigel went
away.
Twice she had had an official post card
from him, with the meager news that he
was well; onceFa letter hastily scrawled on
scraps of paper
He full of enthusiasm, full of cour-
age but 1t was the sort of letter he might
nave written to ordinary acquaintance
Dolly gave it to Mary to read.
l. mere are no Secrets" she said drvlv.
Inc letter began, Dearest Dolly" and
ended Yours affectionately"
=, hat was fortnight ago now, and since
then there had been no news
she swung round from the window sr5
denly to where Mary sat at ths table wri+-
ing. '"'ie "rlt-
David Bretherton doesn't seem IN no oo
ing to acknowledge me, does hep" sbo
asked. lie! she
Mary looked up.
'David!'' she echoed
Dolly made little impatient gesture
myers brother, I mean Nigel wrote tc
MIN before he went to France and told hin,
an ABOUT our marriage. He thougbt-in
to know" ousnt
made
suppose II anything happens I shall he
qulte dependent on his-charitv no111
SAID again, bitterly Dolly
ter" ""u myers let
Il don't suppose he'd answer r. II sbo
mad; ne doesn't believe in marriage Nigel
was always saying what a peculiar SORT ~
man ne was. Did you ever know him
Nary" A'1o" "ln
mo"
Dolly wandered back again to the win
dow.
Hes rich as Croesus." she said
They have lovely house in the country
the Red Grange"
81 know"
You know! Have you ever been
Mary flushed little
Nigel took me down one dav-oh q
long time ago, before he ever knew of you,"
she added quickly, seeing a spark of anger
in her friends eyes
He would never take me-he made ex-
cuses When l asked him. Is 1t very beauti-
ful?" she asked
have never seen such a lovely place ,"
The gate clicked suddenly Dolly turned
her head again. '"' A00
It's the postman," she said. There was
something frightened in her voice. "You
go, Mary"
Mary went out into the hall; she came
PACK after moment with one letter.
+. Its for Nigel" she said
: Dolly took it, and eagerly scanned the en-
velope The stamp was foreign one.
lts from David she said. AT last!"
Her hands shook with excitement as she
opened the flap. Mary turned away; she was
beginning to wonder if she had really cared
anything for Nigel's wife-if it had NOT
Just been for his sake that she had been a
friend to her.
exclamation; she laughed shortly.
knew what he would say. I always
told Nigel" She pushed the letter across
the table. Read it, Very well, then" as
mary shook her head, I'll read it to YOU.
Dear Nlsel-Many thanks for your letter
~ "hlch you tell pe you are going to the
front and that you have been married eight.
cen months. Neither piece of news came 90
surprise to me- 40
am coming home almost immediately
10 see If the War Office can be persuaded to
make some use of an old crock like myself
ana snail hope to see you before you leave
hhSIand, when we can discuss the future
With regard to your marriage. 7 only
nope you nave made a wise choice and are
nappy' though the tone of your letter makes
me dubious"
Dolly screwed the letter into the palm of
her hand and threw it across the room.
Her eyes were flashing angriy
Did hear Such thinuo How,
dare he! Nigel must have said something
He would not show me the letter he wrote
ought to have made him"
She burst into a storm of angry tears
"Dolly-Dolly!"
Dolly wrenched herself free when Mary
would have put arm around her
She ran from the roOms
race downwards on the bed she sobbed
hefSelt INTO serenity again; she rose present
~ ana Dathed her face and brushed her hair
she put on her hat and went out; she
passed the room where Mary was sitting
but did not go in, or call good-by to her.
TN HE September afternoon was drawing
to a close; there was no breath of
wind and the red and yellow leaves
hung listlessly from the trees that bordered
the path.
Dolly walked on with downbent eyes; she
did not know why she had come out
had nowhere particular to go; but the house
seemed to stfe her; the presence of Mary
a reproach.
She thought of Robert Durham-his kind
grave face, his worshipful smile; and a man
coming along the street bumped against her.
He drew back with muttered apology, then
stopped.
Dolly"
Dolly caught her breath with almost cry.
She looked up at his face and thouoht her-