Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05

What is it that troubles you, dear? Is it
business"
He replied with a nod of the head, whereupon
she smiled though the confession relieved her
of her darker fears. In dull way he realized
that money and position did not rank first in her
regard.
VERY bad business?" she continued, in tone
of interrogation-"s something that cannot be
mended? 1t must be to make you look so fear
fully worried Perhaps you are thinking Of me,
dear, but you must not be troubled overmuch on
my account. l can stand anything-so long
l have you left-and my grlies"
"Anthing, dearest he repeated-"an anything?
Are you sure of that?"
"Yes, quite sure"
even to beginning again, right down at
the bottom rung of lifes LADDER"
There will be the joy of climbing.
"Well"-by effort he pulled himself together
THAT is what we shall have to do.
reached the breaking point tomorrow
shall be a ruined man."
Just for few seconds she quivered under the
shock. He saw the in her cheeks grow
paler, felt her hands trembe. But all the while
her pity was for him, and when she kissed him
again and murmured, "my poor boy" he knew
| that not one of her regrets was for herself.
short spell of hard, tense-drawn silence, and then
she begged for the whole truth.
"1s there way out, Godfrey; are you sure
the thing is as bad as you say?"
| 81 can find no way dear You see, it's all
because of the poor cotton crop and bad blum
| der that | made right at the very beginning Of
the season. For the first. time my judgment was
at fault, and since then I've been simply hanging
on to desperate chance of escape. Until few
weeks ago thought should just manage to keep
afoat until the first shipments of the crop
reached us but-it's been too much for me.
I've raised money on everything; it's been ter
ribe struggle, for many firms are badly hit,
but I've mortgaged the mills and borrowed
money on the house, and-and still I'm short
. Tomorrow my name will be hammered on
Change, and all will be gone"
Not all, dearest" she whispered, her face very
white now, but very resolute; 'love will be left
us. love and work"
"And you think" he began, but she interrupt
ed him.
'I think I'm going to be wonderfully proud of
my husband. He's going to show the world some
thing of the grit that is in him. We came
together for better or for worse, for richer for
poorer So far we have tasted only the richer
and the better side; may know little
of the poorer, but there is going to be
no worse in our lives"
Then Godfrey Thwaites bowed his head upon
his hands, This the hour of reveaton-the
hour wherein there disclosed to him the ma
jestic power of womanhood But not even yet
was the revlation complete.
With a calmness, defiance of circumstance
that still further amazed him, she began to dis
cuss the days that lay ahead, cheerily tried to
show him how together they would meet and
vanquish whatever might be coming to assail
them, and it was only though by after
thought that she returned to the present and
begged for a little more light.
"Ah," he exclaimed, "that is the most tragic
part of the whole business A mere trihe would
have saved me, only my resources are exhausted
and / can't raise another penny.
"a trihe" she echoed; "and how much may
that be-" There was curious, excited ring in
| hut he fall a1 IN
"Well," he replied thoughtfuly, GIVE hundred
pounds would do it. 1t wouldn't clear
me out and OUT but could meet my accounts to-
morrow, and then I should be all right until the
new crop came to hand. But then, five hundred
pounds or five hundred pence ts all the same,
for I'm simply cleared out Here, whatever's
the matter?"
He was alone He heard her sweep in frantic
haste along the corridor and up the stairs, heard
her return as though her errand were of life
or death. 1t was, at all events, mission of trans
formation for when she came again into his
presence he saw that her cheeks had surrendered
their pallor for the hot glow of excitement, that
her eyes shone with JOY In her hand, out
stretched towards him, she carried book
"There" she cried joyously "look at that and
tell me you're glad for the thing I've done"
! Stricken dumb by wonder, a great unnamable
hope surging in his heart, he obeyed her COM
mand, but his hand trembed so that the tale
of the book could not be read
"Tell me what it is, dear," he begged; "what
does it all mean~
"That-she pointed to the book-"s my only
secret l told you at the start, Geofrey that
you were being too good to me- that could keep
the house going on half of what you allowed me,
and I've done it-or very nearly But you
wouldn't have any of the moneC back, and so l
schemed little scheme, and I've saved all
could That is my handbook, dear-theres near
y seven hundred pounds. I'm the happiest wo-
man in the world tonight"
One long, bewildered look, then, as the truth
forced itself upon him. the book slipped from his
fingers, he sank into his chair and again bowed
his head upon his hands. Not yet could he thank
her for the miracle she had wrought, not yet de-
clare his gratitude and pride He was writhing
in the torment of sefreproach. His wife had
saved his name from dshonor, his home from
destruction, his children from sacrifice and--he
had doubted her, he had doubted her. In all the
years he might yet give to her he could never
atone for his wrong.
But Nellie Thwaites knew nothing Of her hus-
bands doubts, and when he took her in his arms
and called her his Queen" just as in their
lcourtinR days. she was quite content