The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-27
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if their aloof gravity had q magic
power over him, the man suddenly
raised his hands and tore apart the
locked fingers Of the woman who
was no longer his wife.
stop, Iris!" his hoarse voice COM
manded Sternly. Il can't have you
humiliate yourself and me like this.
I've told you the truth. I'm sorry
YOU had to learn the truth in this
way. If you had written before re-
turning I could have spared YOU
all this"
so I should have written, should
u" Iris painted, stepping back from
him and rubbing the delicate wrists
which his repudiating hands had
bruised. las your wife I had right
to return without warning if l
pleased. And I am your wife! Do
you think for a minute that III let
you cast me off like this"
1T was not I who cast you off,
Iris" he reminded her sternly. You
dissolved our marriage by desert
ing me. I merely made the divorce
legal"
"Lcgal?" IRIS shrilled. When l
had no chance to contest it? I
wasn't lawyers wife eight years
for nothing, Jack Morgan! And
I'm a, lawyers wife still! III fight
you through every court in the
land
Iris. pleased" Morgan interrupted
sternly. but with a bctraying tone
of pity in his voice. I'm more sorry
than I can say that YOU could not
he reached before the suit was filed,
but I give you my word that it is
perfectly legal and that Nan is my
lawful wife"
Nan! Mani" Iris cried, her voice
rising on hysterical laughter. Nan!
Oh. OH What started as laughter
rose and rose until it was a nerve
Shattering scream.
Then. abruptly. when Nan felt
that human ears could no longer
endure the agony of that dreadful
assault. the sound broke off. Iris
clenched hands, which had been
flung above her head. dropped sud
denly, Wavered. Then, before either
! Nan or her husband could move to
give her help the tall, fragile body
crumpled. fell in a heap at John
Curtis Morgan's feet.
Nan! She's faintcdl" Morgan
called hoarSely. as he dropped to
his knees. Granddaughter The
sideboard! I'll carry her into the
living room
Nar was too sick and dazcd TO
obey quickly, but somehow she man
aged to find the brandy bottle,
spilled some into a glass, caught
up from the breakfast table her
own untouched glass of water, ran
with them jerkily, on icy feet. But
just on the threshold of the living
room she waited inyoluntarily.
Her husband had laid the u1con-
scious body of his former wife upon
the big couch and was kneeling be-
side her, his head, bowed upon her
breast, his hands locked above his
head in a gesture of such pro-
found despair that Mans heart
cried out in a passionate prayer
for Inconsistencies for herself.
A S if that prayer had reached
L n him, instead of the God to
which it had been directed, John
Curtis Morgan suddenly raised his
head and turned it toward the door
where Nan stood In his eyes was
no recognition of the girl as his
wife. only wild urgency.
For Gods sake, hurry! I'm afraid
she's dead"
Nan stood beside him, watching
with that queer grave aloofneSS
which had come upon her, as his
shaking hands held the tiny glass
of brandy to Iris pale, parted lips.
She did not speak. What could
she possibly say that would help
him now?
But when Iris bronze laShes be-
gan to f1utter against her almost
transparent white checks, Nan quiz
city moved out of range of Iris re-
turning vision, took her place at the
eno of the couch. her grave eyes
fixed in an unWinking stare upon
her husbands ravaged face.
a white hand rose feebly, way
cred, then fluttered to rest upon
a - IL Gil
Such a horrid dream. Jack" a
thread of a voice whispered. 81
knew all the time 1 was dreaming,
but couldn't wake myself up. Dear,
silly jack" The long white fingers
rumpled his hair feebly.
With a groan Of sheer agony the
man dropped his head to her breast
again. Nan knew he did not even
remember that she was there. The
thread-like voice went on:
so tired, Jack-So tiredi Poor
Iris has been awfully sick. Did you
know? So sick! Tried to-commit
suicide. So sick, Jack! :. Wanted
you. Jack. So lonely. Ashamed to
come home - but I did Il came
hcme-" The thread spun itself
gossamer- fine and broke; the eye
lids f1uttered down over the blue
green eyes.
oh, my Cod" The words were
Vrung from the man on sob that
shook him.
ITO BE Continued