Evening star., 1927-09-08
CHAPTER LII.
The Next Morning.

Martin did not reach home until
early morning.
He went directly to his room, bathed
and changed and went Immediately to
the Office. Somehow he did not want
to see Nan that morning. Having
come to this decision, he could not
bear to sit opposite her at the table.
He was shaky from lack of sleep, and
somehow his emotions lay very near
the surface. He was afraid of what
he might do or say.
Nan, who slept fitfully at best, had
heard him come in. She had fallen
into that heavy sleep that sometimes
comes with dawn, but for all that he
had aroused her. She lay for long
time listenin.; to him move around In
the next room.
1t was morning, which meant, OF
course. that he had been out all night
1t was singularly unlike him to do
such a thing. OF course, what Mar
| tin did was none of her affair. but
| Just the same she could not dismiss II
| from her mind. She could not helr
wondering where he had been, and the
very knowledge that it troubled hei
was puzzling and surprising.
For the first time since her mar
| riaGe she began to analyze some OF
her own feelings and emotions. Ever
thoug', she hadn't slept very well, her
brain was very clear, and it seemed a
good time to think things out.
Deliberately she went back in hel
thoughts to the time before she had
married Tom She hadn't felt TOWARD
Martin Lee then as she did now.
She remembered those shining day:
on the beach at Vineyard Haven, too
That was just after she had discov
cred that Muriel was coming. He haC
treated her with such tenderness, such
| understanding.
Together they had laughed at the
youthful antics of Betty Marsh and
Jack Stillman, and Martin had teased
| her, telling her that she was little
more than q fiapper herself.
They had lounged on the sand,
warmed by the sun. How radiant the
sun had been and how very blue the
sea, and she had not been unconscious
of Martins eyes upon her.
She had worn blue hat. with a
foolish-looking white feather on the
side and blue rubber shoes.
And there had been a ship on the
horizon She remembered studying il
dreamily and wondering if she would
ever take a trip on one.
She and Tom in a darling stateroon
with little berths! And now Tom
but she mustn't think back; she must
think ahead,
she closed her eyes. Why had she
started to dream back over the old
days? Oh, yes, she had been analyz-
ing her feelings toward Martin. She
had been trying to determine when
she had developed this fear of him.
A terrible night rose uhbidden in
her memory.
For days her life had been reduced
to the simplest things. Filling an ice
bag. running cold water into vases
for the flowers people sent and insert
ing a Thermometer in Toms feverish
mouth.
The bell had lung and Nan had
opened the door to find Martin Lee
standing on the threshold. His arms
were full of offerings. Tall American
Beauties anu pink and white sweet
peas.
And thep-and then-somehow she
had found herself in his arms. Over
and over he kissed her lips, and -
without a word he had staggered al
most drunkenly down the stairs. 1t
hadn't been her fault, but for all that
she had felt so ashamed. And Tom
had died that night
Oh, but she mustn't think back; she
must think ahead!
But how could she think ahead?