, 1901-10-19
The Problem Of Life.
BY ETHEL. NJ. COI.SON.

BY ETHEL NJ. COLSON.
Copyright, 1891. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
II there was one particular charac-
teristic or quality for which the Rev.
Charles Billings was especially distin-
guished it Vas that of truthfulness.
He was truthful. moreover. for rea-
IONS quite apart and side from his
calling. As a slim and pallid youth
at boarding school he had been famous
and popular because of his exceed
Ing candour. Later, as the devoted
and conscientious rector OF the An
gelican Catholic Church OF the Atone
ment. he was popular and beloved III
spite or 1t. And II ever the meek n
lowly-minded clergyman knew a sus-
picion of spiritual pride it was because
OF the absolutely spotless and I'M
stained condition of his life-record in
the matter of truth-telling.
70 have expected the Rev. Charles
Billings, therefore. to have deliberate
ly-albeit neutrality-suspicious. to the
temptation to give ]utterance to an I'M
equivocal lie would nave been mani
iesliy outi dseous- Anu YET
The door of the church study opened,
one evening, to admit a woman-a
m tall, slender, OF good figure,
and expressive face. mirroring just
then numerous unpleasant emotions.
The Rev. Charles Billings knew her
for n OF his Pensioners. the wife OF
solid John Brewster, merchant of the
old-time Chicago. and a man who was
popularity suspected of being a better
business man than husband. Certain
1t is, the fine eyes of his wife had long
since acquired a look Of weary and
patient resignation.
Straight up to the table at which
the priest sat hurried the woman. In
her e~agerness and agitation she never
saw the surprised but soothing gesture
which beckoned her to a chair. But
as she sank into it mechanically it be-
came evident hat she had been cry
ing.
"Oh Father Billings!" she exclaimed.
wildly-the gentle little priest being
SO designated by his High Church con
gregation-"Oh Father Billings do help
me. II you do not" but 1t was some
minutes before she could go on.
Il met an-an old friend this after
noon" she explained. subsequently,
land we've had an ice together, Just
to talk of-of old times. There wasn't
a shadow of harm in it, although we
used-we used to love each other. Per-
haps,' with a sudden accession OF reck-
~lessness. Il love him still. At all
events, someone-my husband" her
voice and face all concentrated bit
%terness. plotted and came between us.
Then l married-Mr. Brewster. II
felt so helpless; l didn't know what
else to do. And I've tried to be a good
wife to him. a far better wife than he
has been a husband. I've never seen
the other man-since I was married,
until today.
I'VE came upon each other quite by
accident, and we only-we only talked
a little of-of that other time. But as
we left the confectioner's by one door
my husband anne in at another. II he
saw me-and I'm almost sure he did
he'll believe the worst in a moment.
He judges everybody by himself. And
the fact hat he had another woman
with him won't make a bit of differ
elce-to him. If he saw me-and |
know, | feel that he did-he's at home
now. questioning my maid. He always
does 80 IL he finds me out Of the house,
no matter where ] am, nor how short
a time I've bee absent. And II he
discovers that l haven't been making
charity calls his afternoon. as | told
my maid l intended doing, hell-he'u
throw me aside like an old glove. or
an answered letter. Oh, l know him."
as the priest looked i%ncredulous. land
l know what he'll do. And II don't
know-ah yes. God help me! | do
know-what will become Of me. And
l haven't a relative. scarcely a friend