The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-19
The ReUOH
 Of Susan Hyde
CHAPTER 19A
By Carolyn Beecher


 w brought in the mail and laid it
 down by Manville's plate. noticed a thick, oblong envelope and watched him curiously as he opened it. We had been talking quite chumily. Elaine had left mothers for California the night before. Lawson Mckee had been quite obvious i'll his attentions to her toward the last She said he had been at the train to bid her goodbye, his arms laden with magazines, candy and fruit We had been discussing them when the mail came.
 I've been expecting it." Manville said. Then: Hes just the man for her They will make a fine couple" What are you talking aDout?"
 See for yourself" He handed me the enclosure It was a wedding in vitation, Ruth. Markham and Hunter Chase. I never shall be able to eX- plain my action if 1 live to be hun dred years old. I dropped my head on my arms and commenced to sob al- most hysterically. She didn't love Manville after all, she couldn't if she were going to marry Chase.
 Susan, what is it?" Manville rush ed to me. Are you in pain?'
 NO, SODDeu, duuJ lO trol myself in the least. l burst into a perfect passion of weeping.
 Susan. dear-what is it?" his voice full of distress.
 ~why-I-thought you-oh, Man vile !'
 Come, come, Susan.' He raised me from my chair and half carried, half led me into the library, where he laid me down, I sobbing convulsively, he trying to quiet me. Now, dear. tell me what you are crying so about"
 I raised myself and with an effort said once more:
 "I thought-you-loved her.
 Loved who?" He told me afterward he had entirely forgotten the wedding invitation.
 Ruth Markham! I thought that was the reason you didn't love me like l wanted you to. You couldn't, you see, if you loved her.
 But she is going to be married to Chase"
 "Yes-that is why I am crying-I am so happy Then: And you called me dear
 II what?"
 You called me dear.
 What has that got to do with it? Come, Susan, you are hysterical, first tell me I am in love with Ruth, then talking about calling you dear. Why shouldn't I?'
 But you see that was one reason I was so unhappy. Even lately l thought you-loved her. And you never called me dear like Alfred does June, and, oh, I wanted you to so much!' You really mean that you thought l was in love with Ruth Markham had been all the time?''
 ''Yes, every one said you were be- fore you married me. And you went to see her and wouldn't take me and was so unhappy about other things and that made me unhappier. and, oh-and everything" I knew I was talking incoherently and that I was acting in a terribly childish manner. but I could not control myself once had let go.
 You poor child" He sat down be- side me. Taking my hand in a close clasp, he added more to himself than to me You have been thinking that I was in love with another woman all these years. No wonder you were un- happy. Why didn't you tell me this before?" His voice was stern, but he looked at me with half smile.
 II couldn't! I wanted you to love me better than any one. but 1 didn' t want to try to compel you to notice me. I wanted you to do it well-just because you wanted to. I hated her most of the time.
 Ruth Markham and have been friends all our lives practically. l never once thought of marrying her, nor did she ever think of me in that way, I am sure. You were younger than our set our club was an old one. I never dreamed that I was giv- ing you the impression 1 was in love with Ruth or any one else because 1 kept on going. guess l have been a pretty bad husband. 1 haven't meant to be"
 "Oh. you haven't-not lately! You have been wonderful in lots of ways, more wonderful than really expect cd"
 "when you wrote that letter." he interrupted.
 "Yes-than I thought you could be to me-
 Dear, don't you realize that I would not have asked you to be my wife if had not loved you?'
 Perhaps. But I wanted so to he told you loved me, and-you never did hardly ever. And, oh, Manville, I love you so when you call me dear. Susan is so horrid and cold"
 "That is easy to do. l had not thought" He stopped, pained look on his face. I knew he was blaming himself
 "Come, let's go to see Anna. I want her to know how happy I am. She always knows when 1 am either happy or unhappy and has comforted me many, many times when 1 thought my heart was breaking
 "All right, dear, but hurry, l must get down town
 (To Be Continued)