by Marjorie C. Lundstom
Michigan, 1924
Chapter 1
The night was dark and deserted. The thick fog swept down in a suffocating mass. The small car picking its way through the haze was the only living thing in the whole world.
The one sound in the car was the, click, click, click, as the windshield wipers swished an arc across the glass. The small hands gripping the steering wheel were white at the knuckles with tenseness. Had anyone been with her they would have noticed that occasionally she would wipe one hand, palm down, across her knee, then would quickly grasp the wheel again; and go through the same procedure with the other hand.
Ruth Thorne's face was white, her mouth set in a straight line, - but the eyes peering ahead were bright with tears. The first time that she spoke aloud, she jumped a the sound of her own voice.
"This can't be true!" Then she cautioned herself: I mustn't think, I must just drive. Well, I'll try: Let's see. I'm making twenty miles and hour, that should be slow enough. Terrible fog. I never drop in anything like it. Doug always does, Doug, Doug, where are you? Who is she? Millicent, I never heard of her, anywhere. Certainly is beautiful, who can she be? Where did she come from? who is she? Who? Who? Who? oh, stop thinking bout it! When you don't know, you don't know, and that's that! So stop it, I tell you. Think of your driving, and nothing else: It's quite a drive from Anne's, never noticed before.
White clouds rose against the windshield and ran down like rain. The car was just creeping new. Ruth leaned forward, straining her eyes. She thought, no wonder it was so warm dancing, this air, it's awful. I wonder if Anne noticed that I left alone? No, she wouldn't, there are too many people. I wonder when he'll come home? He said not to wait up. That he wouldn't be home, will be stay at Anne's? No, he wouldn't stay there at Millicent's. Oh God, who is she? What does she mean to him? Where does she live? Oh stop it, stop thinking , I tell you! but good heavens, how can I? This is my life, my marriage, going to pieces. No! It can't be! I won't havit it so! I've got to do something, but what? I'll kill her before I'll let her come between us! Oh, what a kind of crazy talk is this? Get a hold of yourself! Yes, but "Love, honor and cherist", certainly meant longer than six months!! We've been so happy, how could you do such a thing, Doug! How could you change so, just when you met her? But you knew her before though? Didn't you? When? How did you know her? oh God, if I only knew, Knew what , she asked herself, Well what is all means, what ia ll means, waht it means. What should I do? Oh, I dont know, I love him and want him always, that's all I know. Oh heavens!
She stepped on the brake, stopped, then backup up a few feet and drove into the circling driveway.
A smile whic did nothing but life her lips upwards move over her face, and she tought: I'm glad June left the lights on when she weht home. Leaving the car in the driveway, she walked slowly into the house. She dropped her gloves on the hall talbe and glanced at hte mirror's reflection. Silently she said: "You look like the same person. But the eyes staring back at her said, No six hours ago, you had different eyes, eyes blue with laughter: gay, happy eyes, but now,...she turned wearly away.
Ruth sat before her dressing table, and methodically removed her make-up. She told the white face in the glass: "maybe I can think more clearly in the morning. Sunlight is better than fog. I will find a way to hold our lives together, the way it was, it's got to be the way it was. " And she walked to the bathroom, took a sleeping tablet, and crawled into her bed.
The next morning when the maid brought two glasses of orange juice to the table, Ruth said, "Only one breakfast, June. Mr. Thorne was called away on business last night." She hoped she sounded convincing.
"Will he be back for dinner, Mrs. Thorne?"
"He didn't know, I'll probably hear today. In either case, we'll eat out this evening. So, when you have finished your work this afternoon, you may go." This was certainly embarrassing, making excuses to one's own servant!
Ruth found that she was glas that she had an appointment at the beauty parlor this morning. Driving into the city she decided that the only sane thing to do was to see Doug and talk to him. She knew that he was at the office, Otherwise Miss Sterns would have phoned the house for instructions.
As she came out of the beauty salon she stopped before a long mirror. Her auburn hair curled tightly around her small face. She pushed her hat farther back on her head and went to her car. Through her mind flashed a picture of the girl, Millicent, and she thought: She was so beautiful!
She purposely drove pas the tall building where Doug's offices were located. And she questioned: Should she go up? It's so strange to be afraid to go there! But he might be out. What if he should refuse to see me? After last night, I can't tell how he'll be. But he was drinking then, he'll be different now. How do I know that he will? Because of our six months! One night and that woman just can't wip out those months!
Don't be afraid, she told herself. Everything's going to be alreigh. It has to be, I know, I'll phone, ask him to come to lunch with me! After all, I'm his wife. Certainly should have some explanation why I should be sent home alone, so that he cout take her home!
She left the car in a parking lot and walked determinedly to a drugstore telephone. After dropping the coins into the box, her hands shook so much that she could hardly dial the number. The secretary answered and upon Ruth's request to speak to Mr. Thorne, replied: "he is out to lunch with a customer. Is there any message?"
"Thanks, I'll call later." Going out of the booth she thought: Good thing I seldom call, Miss Sterns didn't recognize me. But I will Call later, ask him to meet me for dinner. I've go to know what all this means!
Just as she was entering the Gaey Tearoom, she met Anne. Her sister-in-low smiled and exclaimed:
"Rue, I've been trying all morning to get you. June said you'd gone out. Are you meeting Doug or anyone for lunch?"
Ruth replied that she was alone, and Anne continued: "then come in and eat with me. I want to talk to you."
As they went from the lobby into the cool dining room beyond soft strains of music greeted them.
When they were seated at a secluded table, and their order taken, Anne took out her cigarette case and offered one to Ruth. She smoked for a few minutes in silence, glancing over the room. They she looked across at Ruth, took a deep breath, and began:
"Now, don't think I'm meddling, my dear, but I know something went wrong at my party last night, something between you and Doug. You've been my friend for too many years, for me not to be concerned. All through college we shared our problems, and that was long before you met Doug, and now that you're my sister-in-law, please don't stop, just because it happens to be about Doug."
Ruth's face had taken on a guarded look, but Anne kept on: "He's my brother, yes, but has has his faults, plenty of them, some of them I may know better than you do. Now tell me, just what did happened last night? There were so many people, I didn't get a chance to talke to you. It wasn't until Doug was leaving that I learned that you had gone on alone. When I saw him taking to Millicent Turner home, I didn't know what to think. An couldn't find out, with her with him. I couldn't sleep, worrying. Tell me, Rue, is anything wrong?"
... to be continued
