A Bachelor Husband

will come to

can his lov

greatly an

comes but on

almost as soon as his wife and young Atkins

f Marie's face at breakfast time, and the something strained in her determi

n being a sportsman. He had no intention of allowing people to say that he neglected his wife,

in his own way. There was no earthly reason that he cou

round with a slight frown, and his gaze f

ent up

e's M

th Atkins. I heard them s

ooked a

me," he said shortly. "Atkin

se and threw d

" he said. "We can catch

te, he said, and no doubt Marie would be back before long. He

Atkins had gone, and he saunter

. The hot sun beat down on his uncovered head and dark f

them realized the strength and character in his face,

a roving life, and always declared that he was not going to put on a clean

to interest herself either in my ha

hich partly accounted for Feathers' disgust

tter which Chris had carefully des

merely a pretty face? No, I will not be your best man-I won't even come to your beastly wedding. If you choose to get into a tangle like this yo

how could anybody dislike such a child? And his sentiments veered right round 40 the other way, until he decided tha

e sore at the manner of her refusal as he strolled along now in the sunshine thr

d for a moment, one foot on the low railing that divi

in the water, and he watched them with a sort of amused contempt. Why did they bathe if they found i

emed to turn to panic and fear. People left their seats on the parade and crowded down to t

d. He vaulted the low railing and ran across

dashed into the sea, wading until the depths t

bathing suit, white as a ghost and shivering with fright, was bending low over its bow, searching

ied to get to her . . . I was too late, and she went down . . . It must ha

to his friend's side bu

fool! Can't you see

ately swimming under water in a

at. He sat there in the hot sunshine, his

to face Chris again. Over and over in his mind rang the tragic wo

ven his life for hers. He felt that he

hope, and there in the sea, only a few yards from the boat, the rough dark head of Feathers appeared abov

though eager men waded out to his help, and a dozen pairs of arms were stret

red as the tall, ugly man waded ashore

int, grim smile crossed his dark face

d about her, chafing her limbs, working her arms up and down,

breathing hard, the w

s fixed on Mari

r child!" For Marie Celeste looked only a child as

omeone else said, hopelessly,

e was, and worked like a giant to save her, and all the time he was wondering what Chri

ept back to the marble whiteness of Marie's face-the doctor gave a

ed him a har

e save

k so-ye

, choking breaths and little gasping cries, Marie s

l go on and tell her husband. Y

smiled, w

t the crowd would not have this. They surged round him, slapping him on the back and cheering him to the echo. They were only

is dripping clothes leaving little wet marks all the way. He met one

ir! Has there be

's all right 43 now. Can you find her husband for me?

, sir, b

'm all right-don't make a fuss. They're

d not at all upset, for the porter had been afraid to tell him t

plained in

omething, but she's all right. She had a nasty scare,

his friend's arm. "You're not lying to

right. She got a bit of a ducking. She's probably back in t

speaking, and Feathers crept away up to

e minutes when he dived again and again into that still green water.

ll, and to-morrow would probably be none the worse for her accident. Feat

ild! poo

got into a dry suit, tried to reduce some sort

n the visitors in the lounge insisted on giving him a cheer as he went through. The news 44 of what had occur

, insisted on shaking hands, and gushed that she was 8

ed on her alm

ned to be the nearest, that was all! For

which he knew would be upon him all the time. He sat up in his own roo

leasantly, and the boy went across t

artfelt tones. "If she'd gone I should have ju

s said dryly. "For heaven's sake, chuck it, young

e kept harping on the same subject until in desperation

eace, for almost directl

have guessed! It's the kind of thing you would do. I can't-can't

ok he was reading acros

o, for the love of Mike, shut up!" He walked over to the

he'll be quite herself in a day or two." Chri

distracted hand

"Well, I refuse! I absolutely refus

ink she'll be hurt if you do

a little

resignedly to the door. "Do I g

es

e room together and

blue woolly gown. Her dark hair was spread over the

hand to Feathers,

ank you. They tell me "-her brown eyes went past him to whe

managed

appened to be lucky enough to pull you out-that

lding her hand, and, suddenly rea

h the doctor, and for a moment

" she said h

es

e raised to his ug

ow! It was-hateful of me! But there was

. "Oh, don't worry, Mrs.

ay that- that if you would still like me to look upon you

y that his eyes almost vanish

led you out of two feet

am into

it was! And-and-it isn't anything to do with that at all! It's

ilence, then Feather