Show w f 7 J t I tl v THREE HOURS AFTER J CLAIRE are you crying asked the man who had been her lord and master for exactly three hours I x Not a a-a a a bit and the petite girl in the tailor-made tailor gown I winked very fast The train had started but they still stood on the platform she with her eyes tearfully directed toward the town rapidly u fading into the distance he with his eyes on her face Say little girl are you sorry he persisted They were both too well well bred bred to make a scene even though the o only ly audience was the tall tails cat-tails that lined the marsh at the side of the road rail-road track But it t was a long time before the two entered the car Claire was relieved to find so few passengers in the coach a couple of school girls absorbed in magazines seemed to have it to 2 themselves and these she knew would get off at the little town college-town of Essex She saw them exchange glances as she made her entrance Paul saw the glances too and blushed as consciously as Claire who cooled her hot cheeks in her mammoth boquet They looked a ridiculously ridiculously ridiculously ridi ridi- young couple Paul sat with his back to the interested school-girls school and smiled into his wife's eyes Claire sat facing the curious glances and dared not smile back Very tired but very happy she half reclined in the broad seat glad of f this first moment of repose that had come to her herN heri N i during the exciting day It was just a year ago this very day that she had been graduated That day like Jike this had been crowded with happiness She had been overwhelmed with congratulations a chorus of good wishes had followed her flowers had strewn her p way path and andi i someone in this same local train had sat opposite her and smiled into her eyes But that time it was not Paul Well neither she nor Paul could claim to be the others other's first love It was at this point in her meditations that she perceived Madge Westerlo at the other end of the car She had not noticed her before Claire shot a swift glance at Paul He was looking out of the window now but she knew he had seen her It was wretched taste in her to be there she must have known they would take that train Madge Westerlo was always a daring girl Some of her daring was displayed now for rising rising rising ris ris- ing she approached the couple and offered her congratulations in a half amused way that was simply maddening to Claire Miss Mis Westerlo had been engaged to Paul up to si six months b before fore and people hinted that it was not tot Pauls Paul's fault that affairs had not terminated terminated terminated ter ter- happily Claire disliked her Paul carried off the situation 3 4 very gracefully hut but Claire was conscious that her own conduct conduct was not a success for the smile on Miss Westerlo's handsome face had only been aggravated by the stiffness with which her glibly spoken phrases had been received The pause pause paus that ensued between the couple after the brown silk i had rustled back to the other end of the car was a trifle awkward Claire nibbled nibble at her carnations Paul drummed on the window Then Claire had a protracted struggle with a yawn Paul aul had an inspiration Youre tired arent aren't you he asked suddenly I dont don't wonder at it receptions are the death of me You have have time to take a nap before we change cars Let me make you comfortable here with some wraps and things and Ill I'll go out and have a cigar Paul was always so considerate Claire protested at first it was most unromantic to feel so sleepy But finally when Paul had improvised a cushion out of wraps and a rest for her feet she sank back too sleepy to do anything anything any any- thin thing but faintly murmur her thanks and when the school girls were not looking press his hand She watched her husband admiringly 1 from under her long lashes as he went through the car He was very handsome She tried to nod her head to him when he reached the thedoor thedoor thedoor door but in spite of her sleep we weighed her lids eye-lids down She forced them open a moment later and was surprised to see Paul still in the car She had distinctly heard the door slam after him yet here he was was talking talking to Madge Westerlo It seemed hardly necessary for him to shake hands with her again Claire wondered what the two could b be talking about so confidentially Wonder gave way to resentment when Paul with a contented look sank down into the vacant seat by his erstwhile fiancee He had evidently evidently evidently evi evi- dently made his hi wife's weariness an excuse for enjoying the more eter- eter society of this girl Mrs Paul Lincoln resolved not to mind it Jealousy thank goodness goodness goodness good good- ness was not one of her failings She would not play the spy so resolutely shut her ey eyes eyes and s-anc s and kept them closed nearly a minute Her dark lashes veiled her eyes she could see and still seem to be asleep But there was no necessity for concealment the absorbed couple did not once glance in her direction Pauls Paul's head was very near to Miss Westerlo's now they seemed to be speaking very earnestly Miss Westerlo was holding him as if enchanted with her brilliant blue eyes Her low clear laugh the laugh that every girl in college had tried to imitate came to Claires Claire's ears even above the din of the train Paul had thrown one arm alon along the top of the seat eat back of his companion and his unhappy bride watched this arm with a sort of nervous apprehension for it was slipping slipping slipping slip slip- ping gradually nearer a brown silk shoulder They remained in this position seemingly oblivious to their sur sur- Claire was convinced that Paul had forgotten the exis existence ence 4 of the wife whom he had claimed so proudly a few hours before She was glad the school girls had their backs turned to the couple they might have found the situation interesting Claire looked sadly at her flowers they had already begun to wither She twisted the heavy wedding-ring wedding around it seemed to burn I i her slender finger Then she glanced again to the other end of the j car Miss Westerlo was leaning back her blonde head resting on Pauls Paul's arm Claire saw and trembled with indignation tion Hot tears scalded the lids that would not let them escape She fought them fiercely Paul was not worth wOIth her tears She would scorn to be a witness witness witness wit wit- ness of his baseness And she kept on looking Pauls Paul's hand had stolen slowly gently to Madge Westerlo's shoulder and rested there He drew the willing form nearer nearer- Claires Claire's eyes shut now she lay stiff and still scarcely daring to move lest she be shaken by the fierce sobs that rose in her throat The tears of self-pity self flowed unrestrained the sweet girlish mouth was drawn with the bitterest suffering her brief experience had known She felt crushed by the humiliation of her position A sudden fierceness came over her she would bear this no longer She tried to rise a painful oppression around her heart caused her to sink back faintly She he attempted to grasp the arm of the seat to draw herself up by but her weak fingers refused to close around it She drew a long shuddering breathA breath breath- t j A voice close to her ear exclaimed laughingly Better wake up little bride we change cars here and then more tenderly Why your eyes are full of tears What is the matter And in a choked tone from behind her screen of carnations came her answer Wedding cake Marjorie Calhoun |