New Britain herald., 1929-07-15
you still loved Iris" she said stead

He answered, T thought l did | too, until l wanted to take my real wife in my arms and founC the door locked against me-"
 "Oh." The word was a little wal of pain. She forced herself to con, fess: 'I-that night-when you't gone to see Nina Blackhull-" You made me go," he reminded her. "I didn't care a damn about a murder case that night. but you'd held yourself aloof all day, and al dinner poor, funny little Curtis had said terrible things unconsciously but go on. darling"
 You hadn't kissed me-" Nan ac- cused him. You hadn't even said you loved me. and No, let me finish, John, When you had gone, went into the library and there among your law books, l found a book of poems. l read the one you'd been reading a few days before. for you'd left a marker in it"
 "A poem ?" he frowned, in ap- parently genuine bewilderment.
 Nan quoted that last dreadful stanZa:
 "'And I shall find some girl,
 perhaps,
 And a better one than you, With eyes as wise, but kindlier,
 And lips as soft, but true,
 And l daresay she will do.'
 Her husbands puzzled frown did not clear. ''I never read any such poem. darling Man.
 No? You don't remember these lines, either?" she challenged, and gave him the first stanza;
 Your hands, my dear, adorable.
 Your lips Of tenderness Oh, I've loved you faithfully
 and well,
 Three years, or a bit less"
 But Morgan interrupted, giving the last line himself: "'It wasn't a success Poor Nan. l read no fur thcr than that first verse and the beginning of the next: Thank God, that's done.' l echoed those words, Nan, with all my heart - Thank God. that's done""
 "You mean-?" Nan quivered "Oh. John, don't lie 10 me now. can bear the truth, if you love me as we'll as Iris
 I'm trying to tell you the truth Nan" he interrupted gravely. He held her away from hm for mo- ment, then stopped and lifted her into his arms, carried her 10 the one big armchair that the room Of l fercd. But one was enough. Sh' lay, child -smiIl, m his lap, her head 1 against his breast, so that she coul ] as well as to his words. You must | know" he began haltingly, "hoW it was with me. You saw-us to. gether for three years. Would yoL have sad that was a-happy man | Nan?"
 No" she whispered. Her fingers i took fierce hold on the lapel oi his coat. II was still necessary tc convince herself every now and | then that it wasn't all a dream. "I was slave in bondage. Nan i Lord. I don't mean 10 sound pa ! thetic, but it's so necessary that try to make you understand now ! so that We can forget the past and be happy. You know, Nan, l uscG to get a dim sort of feeling that it made you angry to see us to. gethcr-'
 "It did," she agreed. vehementls holding her shining brown heat against his breast She didn love you, and saw you small. made you small when she was with you I loved you, and saw you big
 And made me big" Morgan in. terrupted. laughing eXultantly Don't you think I realize that Nan has made me what I am to- day whether she's satisfied or not? But-did you really love mt then 2"
 Wont you leave me a shred o1 my pride?' Nan protested, blood rushing into her cheeks. "Bu oh, what does pride matter now 1 loved you from the first day worked for you. I tried to be de. cent enough to resign, when I founc out what was the matter witt me-
 "Wher Has thato" he demanded eagerly as boy with his first sweet heart.
 Oh.-when Willis Todd wanted to marry me and was jealous 0 you, and tried 10 make me say loved him and didn't love you, she answered.
 And for three months I've beer tormented by the suspicion that yo, loved Willis Todd and married m, only because I needed you nor than he did" Morgan confcsse But - about Iris. It had better b. said - all of it, and then we cal talk about us. 1 did love her. Nan with the most painful, shameful degrading, enslaving love that man ever felt for a woman wh' could not love him. She didn't tr, to pretend that she loved me. A I said while ago, 1 don't blam her. But I used 10 pray to Goo in my agony. to wake up the nex morning and find myself free 0 my love.
 T knew Iris would be relieved even if her vanity would have suf fered. I must have bored her an, annoyed her unbearably with m. passion. It made her despise m . z nd hurt lr, tiaoIls:a 1 cf littl