Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-26
A Wall Between Them.
CHAPTER XII

Martins tactics with Nan were
wrong.
No man had ever forbidden her to
do anything, and she resented it. She
had not resented his lovemaking. That
was his by right. But she couldn't
| respond to it. and it amazed her to
see that he could expect response-so
| soon.
| A hard defiance against him devel-
oped in her. She no longer felt guilty
because she could not love him. She
| felt that she no longer cared. He had
| no right to speak to her that way.
| She began to go back to the past.
| and, of course. it was bad for her.
much worse than it would have been
for a woman of another type. Nan
| had married Martin beca use of Muriel
not because she herself craved wealth.
| How happy she and Tom had been on
| so very little-pooling their money,
! going over bills together. everything
had been done together. Tom had
always told her everything, too. And
yet when she had asked Martin who
| the mysterious Mrs. Westbrook was
he had refused to tell her.
They went to an affair given by
| one of Martins associates in bust
| ness another lawyer. Mr.. and Mrs.
Eldredge were stodgy people. although
| they meant we'll and plainly thought
| Nan charming,
| Nan flirted because there was
! nothing else to do. The men gathered
| around her, and because she felt Mar
| tins eye on Ter from across the room,
she deliberately encouraged them.
That night when they returned
| home Martin helped Nan into the car
| in silence. He did not speak until
| they had reached the apartment. Then
| he said evenly.
Are you tired? Would you mind
coming into the living room for a
moment"
Nan followed him. the blood fairly
rushing through her veins. And yet
she felt cold and hard and full 'of
| resistance.
She flung off her haWl careleSsly
| and. going to the silver box on the
table. took a cigarette and lighted it.
She did it with an air of bravado that
she knew would infuriate Martin. He
always liked to light her cigarette for
her. because it was the thing to do.
Then she faced him. He had never
before seen her in this mood.
| "Welo"
| He hesitated. What he had been
going to say to her seemed suddenly
absurd. And yet he had to say it.
why did you act as you did
tonight"
II don't know what you mean.
ooh. yes. l think you do.
She laughed suddenly. heartiessiy
almost cruelty.
Another cross-examination? You
must give me the privilege OF hearing
you perform on the WITNESS sldiiu
| some time soon.'
! At that moment he wanted to shake
! her until he awoke fear in those wide
ewes under the sweep of black hair,
| hut he carefully controlled himself.
IF YOU are persistent in trying 10
evade me I'll be more explicit. You
behaved in a way / could never believe
nossibie. You encouraged every man
| in the room to make love to you.
| She stared at him for long
moment. Then she spoke.
"Do you really mean that
| II do"
Her laugh rang out again. Once
/ more it was mocking-cruel.
II assure you 1 have no defense II
| YOU call it flirting, but there was pity
in my impulse, and l was terrlDly
| bored. That awful Mrs. Eldredge with
| the ruby boar pinned on her dress.
| Fancy, Martin, a ruby boar. How
could any woman wear such thing!
And most of the other women were as
bad. They all eat too much. and think
| they can cover up the fact with eX-
| nensive clothes. Why should you care
| if the men wanted to pay me little
| attention? / felt sorry for them.
| as that all you have to say"
| Eyes, unless you want me to lie to
YOU. Where is your sense Of humor?
| Can't you see how funny it isl
"On the contrary. I thought you
made yourself ridiculous. Not only
that, but you probably made enemies
among the women.
I'm sorry. Martin, but | can only
repeat that I was bored. If you re-
member, after YOU men all got to-