The Washington times., 1909-03-08
CHAPTER II.
BETrY HEARS GOOD NEWS.

" v such an emphatic bang, Bet
tv felt the utter helplessnese
, OF the average woman. to which type
she was firmly convinced she belonged.
II ever she had entertained a proud
idea of her own capa bilities, that idea
departed with the slam of the door
He doesn't think enough of me TO take
me into his confidence, she told her
self. as she wandered aimlessly from
room TO room. hardly conscious Of what
she was doing or where she was going
Her married life had not been one
long dream OF unalloyed happiness.
Betty couldn't dissect # carefully
enough to place the happiness and the
unhappiness IN their respective posi-
tiOns She only knew that the two
would not amalgamate to a sufficient
extent to make her forgetful Of the
disagreeable element in her existence.
She hadn't bothered 10 wonder as to
cause and effect. but had lived on and
on from day TO day and month TO month
until the first year was about TO finish
it's record.
She had no reprOaches for Wharton,
who had received her in more ways
than one. Betty mad never loved any
! one in all her life, and when the we'll
dressed. easy-mannered William Whar-
ton began to call her girl friends were
/ consumed with envy at her good for
t tune. Wharton seemed TO have plenty
. OF money, and ne spent it literally on
I Betty in all those little attentions which
go a long way toward convicing and
misleading a woman into the belief that
she has found everything she most de-
I sires in life
Z Betty did not stop to wonder at the
= lack of the aH-consuming passion such
e as she had read Of in books She mere
( " accepted what good fortune laid upon
her.
I Wharton's pictures of his prospects,
S his present financial condition, and that
q of the future had a great influence in
> | convincing the young girl that he was
. the one man in the world. She was
n dazzled by the glamour, for she had
{ been reared very simply. and, while she
had everything that she needed. she
had never tasted the delights OF luxury.
Wharton, on the other hand, was
quite at home with all that money
: could buy He had lived in Nsw York
= for wears. and was familiar with all
the schemes 10 lure the interest OF a
r woman.
l. Betty had a number or admirers in
p the town in which she lived, but one
% bv one they passed into oblivion when
tbe dashing Wharton appeared on the
g scene
J. His appearance in Betty's home city
m was brought about by months va
D. cation ne was spending with friend
d an acquaintance Of Betty's who intro
ot duced the two.
4 Wharton's manner was apparently SO
u frank and beyond all question that He
=, was received everywhere with glad
r04 IN 1nnffsFe
10 into the intimate details Of his family
and career.
II cucb ,nouirv. besides, seemed unnec-
III essarv. for Wharton himself volunteer
m cd all the information that curious
person might wish.
a since her marriage Betty had dis
covered thsF all he had said concerhlne
his family was true. but he had greatly
o,,oraetimated everything else. his oWr
o. t,,ooto included. She hated to thinl
i = Int she had at last concluded ina
he was a man Of mere ordinary anil
u Nv and she feared he Woulo never
'e roach the gIittering heights OF success
~ Her nature was buoyant enough NO"
le ever 10 cause her calmly 10 reason tA'
10 natter ont. She arrived al the decision
or that II he had exaggerated he mad no
as done so with dehign, and thaI II va
ne T,o~e,v his wav OF telling things.
Y. peei5es. II was too late now. She wa
q n,re wharton, and there was no goinI
n hal on the road over which she ha'
~ Travelled.
40 C,e never reproached him, but di
rs her duty and looked after her domesti
cs-ae His salary was only $50 weei
and as he persisted in living IN VIVA
by Rettv would call an expensive apaT
81 won't sha was often at her wits ends {
Is. make both ends meet.
h however. she went along withou
ne orc word OF complaint and always Wit
1e. d smile on her face
pm Put then he had always treated he
v-itb affection and consideration. III
brutality Of that morning was some
thing from which she would never re
I cover.
L Al last she saw her husband wre
veaIed in all the weakness OF his char
I'd, acter and the revelation made her shud
re der A feeling OF depression came owe
Re her which sine could not shake on.
co Mechanically she began washing m
hreakfss ST dishes. As she did so the re
meubrance Of the evening before cam
wildly 90 her mind
ng she could see Charles Nelson besid
ne her. peeling the potatoes She almos
g laughed at the recollection. He ha
n been so awkward about it.. and Their
.ed was very little potato left when he On
Is. isned his task. but he had stuck 10
Io,- 50 manufuliy that Betty had no bee
able TO caution him regarding his waste
fulness He did the best he could, an
after all 81 is good viii that counts.
Petty felt that she never wanted I
go into the kitchen again. The ghos
III of the handsome thief was ever befoI
-. her
a. II can't believe it," she exclaime
aloud as she threw the dish towel 0
the rack and left the place.
he Then she busted herself In tidyin
40 the fat She opened the door {
the boarder's room and stood lOokin
In for a moment. She even examine
IA the bed.
- No. there was no doubt about il. I'll
- bed had not been touched. He probabl
-. didn't even remove his coat, but merel
90 awaited his opportunity.
- Betty closed the door and wake
49, over 10 the portieTes. where she stoo
time lost n fhO11rbr