Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-21
HIS BROTHERS WIFE
BY RUBY IA. AYRES
CHAPTER XLIN
Mary Is Afraid

GST never thought or Such a thIng, said
Mary. 81 told you before that | can
not bear staying with strange people"
Did you feel like that when you came
here?"
mo, of course not! At least" She
tried to take back the eager, emphatic de
NAL, but realized that it was too late. "YOu
were different" she added helpessly, you
and Miss Narney.'
Thank you," saidJDayid softly.
Mary bit her lip. She had tried 80 hard
not to remember that this was the last time
she would ever drive like this with David;
she had tried to forget that this was the
last chapter of her stolen happiness, but
something in his voice, in his manner,
brought it home TO her with suffOcating
force
She loved him. She loved his voice, his
laugh his gray eyes; she loved everything
about him; and yet-yet she had wllfuly
deceived him, willfuIly lied to him.
If she only dared to tell him! In aching
ina gination she could see herself turning to
him, hear herself speaking the sobbing con-
fesson; but in reality she sat there, her
hands casped conyulsyely together beneath
the warm rug, grudging each flying moment,
each last word
When they neared the Red Grange she
spoke:
Need we so home just yet? 1t is such a
lovely night, l don't want to go home just
yet"
ut is quite early. We will go round the
other way"
His voice was quite even; she did not see
the sharp look he cast at her as he bent
towards the wheel.
She leaned back beside him with little
sigh of happiness.
David spoke suddenly.
what are you thinking about?" She
started.
Nothing. At least, I don't know"
He turned the car round into narrow
side road.
Il will tell you my thoughts if you will
tell me yours he said.
She tried to laugh.
II don't know what they were; they were
not worth hearing, anyway
Tell me, and let me judge"
But she would not.
"Then [ will return good for evil, and
tell you mine," he said humOrOusly. Il
was thinking that I should like to go on
driving like this forever-with you"
Silence Mary wondered if he could hear
how her heart was beating; it seemed an
eternity before she could find her voice.
II am afraid the petrol would give out
she said flippanty.
She hated herself for the tone to which
she had forced her voice, but she was afraid
of the trend the conversation was taking.
She shivered little. David looked down
at her.
you are cold. Shall we go homer"
She wanted to say NO" but she said
eyes"
Out here in the moonlight it was hard,
very hard to remember everything she had
got to remember, everything she had got to
force herself to do during the next little
while.
David turned the car about without an
other word.
When they reached the Red Grange, he
held out his hand to help her to alight.
He gave a concerned exclamation.
your fingers are like ice! Why didn't
you tell me?"
81 am not cold. I-oh!" David had
lifted her hand to his lips.
There was something passionate in their
gentle touch, although he released her
instantly. She stood in the, darkness,
trembling and afraid.
David took a step towards her.
Are you afraid of me?" he asked.
"No. no, of course not. Why should
7 be?" But her voice was shaking as
she spoke.
You need not be-" he said again; "you
need never be--whatever happens"
He stood back, and Mary went on into
the house.
But he does not know-he does not
know" the bitter cry of her heart.
"Oh, David, DAVID