Evening star., 1927-09-06
CHAPTER l..
Alicia Speaks.

Allcla SPEAKS.
Several days later Martin left the
Office early 10 take Alicia driving.
While they were going through the
city Alicia Chatted impersonally;
about the weather, about the shop
ping she had accomplished, and once
in a while she would inteTsperse her
remarks with some reference TO the
past.
When they reached tn" less settled
districts, however. and began finally
TO reach actual country, Alicia fell
silent. she had seen Martin on sew
eral occasions now and no mention
save the most casual had been made
of Nan. She had been bld.ng her
time.
Now as she sat nestled at Martins
side in the loW.slung roadster. as She
watched ms firm, steady hands on the
Steering wheel and occasionally stole
a glance al his dark profile, she felt
that the time had come to say some
thing definite.
She flattered herself that her friend
ship of the past had been recstablish-
ed. Martin had made it very clear
that he liked TO be with her OF
course. there had been nothing at all
personal about their engagements
nothing had been said or done that
exceeded the bounds OF friendship.
She would have given a great deal 10
know what Martins real feelings
were. Did he regret having married
the pretty little model? If not, why
did his face constantly Wear that raw
aged look?
He slowed the car to light a cigar.
ette, proffering her his case first; and
after they had settled back and were
smoking comfortably. Alicia with sud
den determination, made the plunge.
will YOU forgive me if l make
very personal remark?"
mott"
Woman-like, Alicia quickly hedged,
1T isn't exactly a remark, it's a
question"
"All right, I'll answer"
Alicia waited a moment. Now that
che was actually about 10 speak to
Martin she realized that she must
choose her words carefully. She was
so long in speaking that he turned
10 her with smile. They were driv-
ing slowly through Westchester
County.
"Wen?"
Alicia turned toward him impulsive,
". oh, Martin, it's just this, l know
/ nave no right to mention it. but
after all we are friends-good friends,
Aren't we?"
AS he turned to look at her she
noticed for the first time what
strange, enigmatic eyes he had. They
were OF no particular color and vet
they seemed TO possess several eoIors
strange that in the past she hadn't
noticed his eyes. and she had known
hIm so well. Now they held her-she
could not look away.
A curious feeling stirred in her
Heaft' UP TO this minute she hadn't
tiousht very much about Martin as
lover. she had thought only of tha
fact that ne had made an imnractiaaI
marriage, and that she wolIld he
much better suited to him than Nan
Ahcla was 20, and she was cool ana
olspassionate. She was not the tyno
oi woman 10 be swept off her feet
Hne would always decide things from
.he practical viewpoint, or at least she
hdu up 10 the present time
Maftin laughed suddenly, q little
Sharply. Il thought you had some.
thlhg to tell me. OF course. were
friends-the best OF friends. You
know that without asking"
She decided suddenly to be uttar,v
frank with him, and her next remark
was from the shoulder.
Martin, l can't help seeing that
you re not happy"
She watched his face for a change
but she could see none. Ii was cutie
q Whlle before he answered her and
then he said deliberately.
On m happy enough. AS happy
as most OF us, | guess.
But his voice was bitter. she knew
ne wasn't telling the truth. and If
nerved her to be even more frank.
Please forgive me If | 20 too rar
martin. but / know you're not lappv.
you re uhhappily married"
lie whiried on her then, his eyes
narrowed, and that yellow hare show.
Ing along the lashes.
What do you mean?"
Just what | say" she returned
steadily You're not happy, and your
poor little wife is miserable She
doesn't belong in the atmosphere
you've created for her and she's strain.
Ing against it"
You've talked with Nan"'
Certainly not! How could you think
that! Alicia s tone was indignant.
But know it just the same, and you
know II, too, Martin, only your pride
80 ~ sbu dA4ilAk II. but II YOU III
search your heart for the truth, you'Il
see I'm right"
She was watching him out of the
corner OF her eyes, those Corn-doWer-
blue eyes that We're apparently 50 IT.
less. His tace had drawn mto hard
bitter lines, and she fancied, although
she couldn be sure, that his strong
hands trembled on the steering wheel.
She wondered if she ought to say
anything more and decided against it.
If only he would say something, now
something definite.
They had reached the entrance TO
the inn, where they were stopping for
tea, and with practiced hands, Mar tin
turned the ear into the driveway. Tea
was the last thing Alicia wanted at
that moment, and she said so quickly,
empnatically.
Tets not stop, Martin. I'd much
rather drive"
1t was Martins mood, too, to drive
but he wanted to jam down his foot
on the accelerator until TIE car was
racing. lie wanted to get away from
his own thoughts. above all now that
Alicia had spoken.
He wanted to hate Alicia for what
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