Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-22
lCopyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz

.(Copyrlght, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
So she had thrown him over! But
Ter turned to the letter again.
This is final" he read. Il am very
sorry-more sorry than / can tell you,
but ] mean it, after long and careful
thought. If / cannot reconcile myself
to these things before marriage-how
much less so, afterward! Believe me,
it is better for us both"
Three years of happiness! Three
years of picturing the future through
haze of golden dreams; of planning
all its little details! That had been
so sweet OF fighting desperately,
against heavy odds, for the big things
for her sake. The final pride OF
winning victories she was to have
shared, rejoiced in with him--made
complete. And this was the end
Il didn't want you to go to the
city," her letter said. II begged you
not to--but you would go. And this is
the result. Perhaps ii is just as well.
These traits would have come out in
you some time. At first, when heard
you were carrying on, l did not be-
lieve it. Then wrote to you, frankly,
as woman should. / expected you
to deny it all. That you confessed
was sufficient shame to me, but that
you tried to justify these things is be.
yond all reason. You know how
have been brought up. How much
religion and straight living mean to
me and my people. To attend horse
races; TO bet money on cards; to
drink wine, late at night-with
women! Oh, | could never, trust a
man who did such things-and could
not even see they were bad!"
She had sat in judgment and con.
demned him, coldly. judicially, and
without real chance for defense; pro.
claimed him bad-unfit for her. And
why?
For nothing. Absolutely nothing
but what any other man might easily
have done. When her cousin came to
town Butler entertained him. What
else could he do? The race track to
Butler was one of the sights-nothing
more. Through a petty vanity-just
to show the cousin he had learned
city ways--he had let himself be
drawn into poker game at the club
In the evening he and the cousin
called on two girls and took them to
the theater. A little supper al
Sherry's followed. That was all. Evi
IDENTIFY the cousin had talked-inno
Gently enough, for he was a very de
cent chap-about his good time" II
Butler had denied Tiled about it
all would have been well; or, if he
had showed repentance, remorse that
he could not feel. II would have been
so easy to deceive her or humor heI
whims. But, because he had been
honest, she could not trust him.
and / loved her SOL" he said
brokenly. II loved her SOL" All al
once he felt very tired. His arms re
Taxed until they rested, listlessly
upon the table, and his head sank for
ward between them. Thus Higgins
found him among the drawings fol
his first big architectural work-the
plans which had. that morning, beer
the fuel OF a glad ambition; which
were now the ashes of his house OF
dreams.
go away" said Butler, after Hig
gins, in alarm, had pulled him to ar
upright posture. I'm tired. I'm
Oh, confound it! Leave me alone.
Whats the matter, old mann
asked Higgins. Come, tell me
Broke? Anybody dead? Brace up
This won't do at ALL"
Butler threw the letter on the table
in reply. There were places on il
where the ink had run, freshly, in lit
tie round spots. Higgins read it
gravely. AS he did so Butler arose
and put on his hat and coat
where are you going?" asked Hig
gins, with quick suspicion.
Butler laughed. "Oh, I'm not goint
to shoot myself Needn't be fraid
old chap" He indicated the lettel
with bitter gesture. What's the us,
of having reputation, If you can
live up to il? I've been turned dowr
for something | didn't do; nevel
would have done. Now, I'm going t
have time" He pulled a handful o
loose coin from his pocket and jinglet
it in his hand. "I'm going out and ge
drunk-if you want to know. That
what I'm going to do
Then I'll go with you," said Hig
gins. 1T won't hurt either of US. To
morrow's Sunday"
Come on then" cried Butler, al
most gaily. Come along. Wen hav,
one grand time"
At the Architects club they pickle,
up two others. Butler hailed then
gladly. Higgins saw no objection. II,
knew that in the rather precariou
game they were to play that night
certain safety lay in numbers. t,
Butler II was all new, and, after tn,
first few drinks, enhancing; the bril-
liantly lighted saloons, where mel
slapped him on the back like loni
lost brothers: where everyone smile,
and told stories of previous goo,
times; where automatic pianos played
ceaselessly, gay, popular airs tina