The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07


There must be some mistake Mr. Worthng,' I
protested. Il do not want presume, but if you
feel that you can, won't you tell me all about 1t:
She did not answer me at once, but tapped nerv-
ously with her foot and l had begun to fear that
had offended her, when she said resolutey
"Yes, | will tell you, and perhaps you sec
clearly than |. have gone the ground 50
often in my mind that it has become maze, in
which | am bewdered to find the exit 1t was. as
| have said the night preceding tho beginning of
Donad's illness that | last Mr.. Worthng. That
evening had disagreement, the particulars OF
which of TO any one but ourselves.
Suffice it to say that quarreled on a point that
not at all vital 1t just after dinner, and
he had an appointment to meet at the club,
we could not argue it out and come to an under
standing. would have happened had there been
time.
"We did not part in actual anger for he kissed me
goodby. but there a coldness between us which
was perfectly natural, under the circumstances. My
resentment subsidized and | sat up waiting for
him to come home l looked for him before II
o'clock but he did not come
"Al night watched for him. In the morning
told the that he had had go of town on
business out to public telephone and made
inquiries at police headquarters. | had thought it
possible that he had been taken suddenly il-though
he was in perfect health-and he in evening
dress he would have papers with him by which he
could be identified, but there record on the
botters of an accident happening to man OF his de-
scription called tip every hospital in the city,
but could get trace of him. That was II days ago.
! am forced to the conclusion. humiating though it
is that he has not returned because he is happier
elsewhere
"Of course. Mrs Worthing I don't know Mr..
Worthing and so have no way OF Judging what kind
OF he is but the fact that he is your husband
is in his favor and that photograph of him that stands
your bureau represents man OF more character
than accords with my idea of one who would leave his
family in fit OF pque. There must be some more
potent reason than this for his losing his OF
sponsibities Perhaps this is of lapse Of
memory We occasionally read in the newspapers of
! man wandering away from home and forgetting his
personality for even months at time Why not en-
gage competent detective to make thorough search
for hin'f9
Mrs. Worthng shook her head wcariy.
81 would gain nothing by that But you right
anger is not enough to make man oblivious OF his
duty 1t may serve pretext, but behind every
pretext is cause, and the cause that rob a
woman of her husband is his devotion to another
woman When l came home that morning from my
futile telephonng I did what / guilty of
before-I went through my husbands pockets. l did
not do this because my in him shaken, but
if clew to his absence existed wanted to know it.
In the of the suit he had worn at the Office the
previous day found this note
She unclasped small leather bag that hung from
her belt and, using them though they were tongs
she inserted her thumb and forefnger and picked out
folded scrap of paper, which she held toward me-
/ took it and read:
my Precious One: can scarcely wait tonight to
come You will not fail me, know. How happy we
together! Counting the hours till shall see
your dear face. Ever own. DAISY DEAR"
I did not venture to look at Mrs Worthing How
this must gall herl 1 hot with indignation How
dare this man offer her the dregs of bitterness to
drink? This man, whom she had admitted to her
fullest confidence, to whom, undoubtedly, she had
yielded herself with the sweet surrender that goes
with the love of such woman, and which she makes
but once in her life-this man had treated her as
though she were not virgin gold, but base
metal I was spared the necessity of comment, for
Mrs. Worthing continued quietly-all along her voice
had retained its low modulation, much inn
pressive than the hysterical pitch to which most
women resort when overwrought:
"You Sec the evidence is all in and there is nc
chance of acquittal AS the baby IS we'll
must set about supporting myself have enough OF
my money in the bank to pay the expenses oi
his illness and to carry me along here for while
until my lease expires, but must enough to pro-
vide for him for few years until I have earned my
, diploma and have established myself | feel that il
would be wiser for to take up nursing than to at
, tempt any other line of work"
, There was an air of hnality about her, and die
not try dispute her decision. | afraid to trus
myself to speak, and | relieved when at thi:
juncture Donald awoke and had to go to him.
All that day my thoughts of her and how bes
, might help her. 1t was the 10th of the month
that her husband had disappeared Where | or
that date? Over in Oakland My brain set to work
and memory, that most magical of developing fluids
brought out each detail of mental negative which
+ had lain unnotced in the dark of forgotter
! yesterdays and revealed to vivid picture.
was again in my late patients room. noise ir
the street attracted my attention, and / the
, window FIRE truckgo dashing past 1t made
a sudden turn at the and tho end OF one O
the ladders Knocked down a man standing on thS