The Democratic advocate., 1909-04-02

you are making an awfuI mistake, but
1t will have to work itself out II you
won't take any advice
Then he went to his own room and
smoked another pipe on 1t. and sfter
that he wrote a letter.
And in three days came a letter 10
Perceval Dear boy" it began. II
must come to you at once Things at
Aome are In a dreadful state. will
tell you when reach you. l know you
haven't much for us to live on. but !
have a little money in the bank that !
have saved from my allowance, and !
shall follow this note at once. Expect
me on the 10:30 a. m. Friday.
"ANNABEI..p
"And this" said Perceval desperate
~ as he showed the note to Randolph.
''is Thursday. What am l going to do
with her when she gets here, Ran
dolphT
Randolph smiled inscrutably. Find
some rooms I'm a cheap quarter and set
up housekeeping"
Perceyal's face frightened. "And go
out every morning and make her think
I'VE gone to work? You are genius.
Randolph"
It took the two men several hours to
find little furnished apartment that
would seem suitable for young cou.
pie with little money. Perceval grum-
bled disconsolately. Il hate to put my
jewel in such a setting" he said.
"Tell her the truth" Randolph again
advised, "and you won't have to put
up with such cheap things"
But Perceval refused. The next
morning he met Annabel at the sta
tion, and together they went to the lit
tie cheap apartment, and here Annabel
wept on his shoulder.
Her account OF the trouble at home
was somewhat vague. but she was en-
thusiastic over the thought Of her
housekeeping. 'Tt will be lovely "a
work for you," she said.
But Perceval found It anything but
lovely. He hated to see her soft white
hands In the dishwater. II made him
vince to see her bending over the
flaming stove. and even the Joy Of her
presence could not take away his sense
OF infinite guilt
And so he grew thin and pale and
worn
"You are working too hard" Anna
bel said one night. And when he shook
his head drcarily his little wife crepi
out 70 the janItor's room and tele
phoned TO some one.
'He is punished enough" was hei
queer message. Cant you have him
90 to bis old quarters tonight and have
II overg"
The next night Perccval said 70 An
mabel. II have an engagement with
Randolph. You won't mind n leave
you, VIII you. dearT
"of course not" she acquiesced. Il
can get along Just this one time"
Randolph told him that he wished q
borrow some OF Percevafs books. Il
knew they were ln your rooms. and
thought you wouldn't mind coming
over" said he, $50 took the liberty oI
asking you 70 desert your wife for on,
evening"
As the two men entered the iuxurl
Gus quarters Percevai sighed. "T'o thinl
Of my condemnlng Annabei 10 sucl
hideousness as that apartment we nrl
living inF' he said. leaning down I,
turn on the low electric lamp on hii
study table.
The light fiared up and showed th'
coy room. the little tire already light
ed IN the open CRATE. the blue hnm'
burning under the brass teakettie.
why. whatT' Perceval demanded
4 like the big bear In the fairy tale
who has been living in my roomf"
From behind a tall screen came /
little figure in white.
''0h. Percevalw cried Annabel ans
threw herself In his arms.
/ And when Randolph had explaInc,
that he had taken chances and has
written the truth 10 Perceyars iittl,
wife and Annabei had explained tha
she had known he was going TO schoo
and not to work ever since she ba,
come 10 him. and, oh, didn't he know
that she would love him II he wa
rich, Perccval drew long breath o
happiness.
II don't deserve H." he confessed
with his eyes shining. "and we can
live In these rooms, Annabei. But
am going to take my chances witt
dad. and when he secs what den
little, queer little thing you are he VII
give in, and 81 he doesn't I can ear
my living like man now that ] NJ
square with you. sweetheart"