Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-08-04

II wonder II Helen ever has troubles
or worries, or II she eve gets blue?'
And that evening he surprised her will
the demand:
Tell me something about your work
Helen"
my work."
Yes. What are you working Oh
now"
why, some essays; about al much
as anything"
All, they were humping against the
same old Ice foe, but Jim determined NOT
to see 1t.
what sort Of essays?" he persisted
"Why-er--ethical, principally"
How do you go about writing an es-
say, Helen?"
"Why, ! don't know. Pretty much as
anyone else does, | suppose"
There was a pause; them:
That's good work you've been doing
on the Meridian"
Thank you"
Jim got up desperately, and began
looking around for his hat. He wished
with all his heart just then that 1t was
not against the rule for her to ask where
he was going, 1t would have been such a
satisfaction to his soul to tell her he
was going In search Of some one who
wasn't a clam.
AS the weeks wore to months, Jim
failed to understand that he was as
angry as a hurt %schoolboy owe his re-
pulse. He fancied that mysterious
forces were at work within him-and
perhaps they were. That the deeper
instincts of his nature were awakening
and crying for companionship-a cry to
which his wife could not respond. 1t
was as though he had CROPPED in the dark
for the touch of a human hand and
grasped the cold clay of a dethroned idol.
He seemed to be looking forward into
long years Of lonellness-the unuttera-
BILE loneliness of a mismated soul; the
of failure, Of incompleteness
grew upon him. The story Of his life
tragedy. He told himself bit
terly that while he dreamed Of affinity
he had drifted upon affectation. And
being young and vigorous, he flung out
savagely against his fate. Other men
at will in their wives gardens;
he might enter only when she chose to
let down the bars. To stand waiting
vithout-always. This was not mar
'%iage-this was not even common COM
oanionship. 1t was not long before dis
ran up its evil seed. when
! tie becomes a farce, the sooner it is
the better"
So 1t happened that while o%nlookers
we're still commenting admiringly up
IN the beautiful success of the expert
nent, one Of the experimenters was In
is heart face to face with the thought
f divorce and the other was spending
ong hours with her head in her hands,
linking, thinking. Why had 1t failed?
t had been carefully planned and faith
ully executed. 1t looked reasonable
t was reasonable. And yet-and yet
here was not a drudge In the street that
Id not get more happiness, 81 sup
ose happiness Is not a very reasonable
ort of something" she murmured, visit
ully, and rose to stand before the fire.
While she stood there, twisting the
on her fingers, Jim came in. He
ad resolved to tell her plainly what he 1
That this death In life was no
niger endurable. +,
Helen" he began, abruptly, lido you
link we get as much out Of matrimony
) might be g~otten?" ,
Helen smiled mirthlessly. !
I'VE don't seem to get very much" .
lie admitted. ,
Jim started. He had forgotten-rath-
1t had lever occurred to him that she ,
light also be-well, disappointed. She !
oked very fair standing there In the !
and-she was his wife. All the q
anhood in him rallied at that thought. :
embarrassed, he took up tho :
,ok she had been reading, and asked, n
vkwardly:: y
Shall l read aloud?" u
"If you think you will enjoy Ruskin."
lie dropped into a chair and sunk her A
eek against her knuckles. Jim began a
read mechanically. He was playing
r time, and he knew It. II only there u
as some other way. But there was
,ne-he knew that, too. Without an
ca Of what he was reading, he fell to \,
time by pages, n more page
d yet n more, then at last-to the r,
tom Of this one and no more. His
nds were cold. his voice husky, but he n,
Is conscious of 1t. Conscious only of h,
at haunting question: why had It h,
lied" Suddenly the words he was "
aiding rang like an answer to It in his Ia
RS: I'VE are all sunk in the sin Of
we want to keep back part Of =,
= price" He paused and read them I,
ain with swift comprehension: I'VE
mt to keen back part Of the price" "a
Helen" he said. in a low, eager
ice; "Helen?" .,
The hand that propped her cheek had
Dped 10 her temple, and he could not IN
her face. He leaned forward, the
nd that held the book dropped be- h,
aan HE Enaae uhiia HE othor hapd