The Cairo bulletin., 1908-11-24
THE BETTER WAY.

Z | rlcucllth NlihiHSOH y, Inc uoe
4 tor stood In the half-opened doorwa
n and stared at the slate His face
> usually pale and inscrutable, wa
/ now flushed and scowliIg why tn,
y devil doesn't she stay in Europe
{ --or send for someone else?" h'
g muttered. and a few minutes lateI
S he was down in the street. hasten
D Ing on his way TO see her.
After five years OF practice, OF
rather OF waiting for practice In q
small manufacturing town. he had
| just emerged from the dry bread
period, and. indeed. it would have
been the no bread period had he
been entirely depending on his earn
ings as physician But small
income from the heavily mortgaged
estate left him by his father gave
him meagre living.
The art OF practising medicine
with his tongue and a shotgun had
never appealed to Jackson, SO while
his more successful brethren. who
We're we'll yersed in the practice of
both. were making money, Jackson
was slowly building up among GER
| tain class a reputation of which any
man might have been proud. Yet
( by the majority OF his townsmen he
was looked upon as failure, and.
he was failure. No one knew this
better than Jackson himself
But he was philosopher enough to
know that for loyalty to ones ideal
a high price is demanded And tho
price he paid was high; he had seen
his beautiful cloud castle--a castle
that he had personally owned ever
since he was youth of 20-toppled
over in mid-air when Ada Rathhurn
became Mrs. Frederick Wilkinson.
That was two years ago, and to-
night as he fastened to her side, his
mind, which, lately, a powerful will
had beaten back from thoughts OF
her. cantered unchecked among
pleasant scenes. Again he was
youth of 20 and she was a laughing
biackhairel girl OF II. The sweet
Old memories Of first love lighted the
mans face. and In the darkness he
smiled to himself But his we'll
trained will took command again:
the old memories were put TO rout, |
and In their stead there was only
new patient.
The pretty woman lying among |
the pillows put out her hand to the |
doctor as he came toward her. Her |
cheeks were flushed and for
few minutes no words were spoken; |
hut two pairs OF eyes said things TO
each other that lips cannot say.
ia sorry to find you i'll, Mrs.
said Jackson, az last.
gently releasing her hand. as he
seated himself on low seat by the
bed.
The woman on the bed picked ner-
yously at thread pulled from the
luilt Il am not i'll" she answered
quietly. II am only tired. Travel
ing fatigues me dreadfully. But |
i want your advice really have
10 one else to-to help me. No
Dne-"
Her voice failed her and she bur-
ed her face In the pillows He
lnew that she was crying and he
Knew, too, that she was not woman
Who cried easily.
He elasped his strong, lean fingers
lightly around his knee and stared
lard at them Then. bending over
Ie seized her shoulders and turned
Ter face toward him Her hands
overed her face and he drew them
way.
What is II. Ada?" he whispered
oftly. Tell me-tell me. little
woman Has he-has anyone been
nkind to you?"
And when she had dried her moist
yes she looked at him and said.
nth little sob NO. be has not
cen unkind to me. Mr.. Wilkinson
, never unkind to anyone. But /
should not have married him.
ow know that was talked into
Varying him My mother coDtinu-
lly talked to me Of him and his
loney and and"
And OF me and my poverty" Jack
On added
Il should not have married him."
he repeated. THAT is why have
II him.
when did you leave him. Ada7"
ackson asked without looking up.
Il left him two weeks ago ia Par
J. just packed up and came here
/ once II knew that you would
~ me what | ought to do next, for
really don't know just how to go
bout getting a divorce"
Jackson. his arms folded tightly
cross his chest. sat ia perplexed 81
nee by the bedside. But the clsmor
a mob ragged within his brain. and
IL persistent cry she loves youl
be- has come TO you, She never
we'd the other man, by right she
yours, vas mingled with a strong.
I'm voice: lie. too. loves herl She
his wife,"
and then. almost timidly. she