, 1910-08-18

Placed the Rolls and Butter on the
Table.
frequent as to cause surprise, so. with
out waiting to remove her apron. she
went to the door and opened 1t. DIR,
Bernstein entered.
Good morning, Mrs. Jeffries," he
said, cheerily. Putting down his medi.
cal bag. he asked: How is our pa
tient this morning?"
"All right, doctor. He had a splen.
did nights rest. I'll call him."
Never mind, I van to talk to you
Seriously. he went on: Mrs. Jeffries,
your husband needs a change of scene
He's worrying. That fainting spell the
other day was only a symptom. I'm
afraid he'll break down unless"
Unless what?" she demanded, anx
iously.
He hesitated for a moment, ~ II un
willing to give u%tterance to words he
knew must inflict pain. Then he
quickly continued:
Your husband is under q great
mental strain. His inability 10 SUP
port you, his Punishment from his
proper sphere in the social wsvd is
mental torture to him. He feels his
position keenly. There is nothing else
to occupy his mind but thoughts OF
his utter and complete failure In life.
I was talking to his father last night
and"
And what?" she demanded, draw
ing herself up. She suspected vnai
was coming, and nerved herself tc
meet 1t.
Now, don't regard me as an enemy
said the doctor in a conciliatorJ
tone. "Mr. Jeffries inquired after hit
son. Believe me, he's very anxious
He knows he did the boy a great in
Justice, and he want to make W
for it."
"Oh, he does?" she exclaimed, sar
c~astically.
Dr.Bernstein hesitated for a momen'
before replying. Then he said. lightly
Suppose Howard goes abroad for
few months with his father ant
mother?"
rs that the proposition" she de
m&nded.
The doctor nodded.
II believe Mr.. Jeffries has alread!
spoken about it to his SON." he said.
Annie choked back a OBJ and, cross
ing the room to conceal her emotion
stood with her back turned. looking
cut CO the widow. Her voice wal
trembling as she said:
He wants to separate us, I know
He'd give half his fortune to do 1t
Perhaps he's not altogether wrong
Things do look pretty black for me
don't theyf Everybody believes tina
my going to zee Underwood thai nigh
had something to do with his suicide
and led to my husband being falsel,
accused. The police built up a fine 70
nance about Mr.. Underwood and mt
and the newspapers! Every othel
day 4 reporter comes and asks u,
when the divorce Is going to TAX
place-and who is going to institute
the proceedings, Howard or me. |
everybody would only mine their owl
business and let us alone he nigh
forget. Oh, | don't you, doctor
You're my friend. You made shor
work of Capt. Clinton and his comics
sion.' | mean people-outsiders-
strangers-who don't know us. an
don't care whether we're alive or dead
those are the people l mean. The.
buy a ons-cent paper and they thinl
It gives them the right to pry int
every detail of our lives" She pause'
for a moment, and then went on: IS
you think Howard is worrying?
think, so, too. At first / thought l
was because of the letter Mr.. Under
wood wrote me, but l guess it's wha
you say. His old friends won't hav
anything to do with him and-he'
lonely. Well, I'll talk 1t over wit
him"
"Yes-talk it over with him"
Did you promise his father you
ask me?" she demanded.
"No-not exactly" he replied, hes
%tatingly.
Annie looked at him frankly.
Towards a pretty good fellow t
stand by me in the lace of all that
being said about my character. ism
he, doctor? And I'm not going t
stand in his light, even II 1t doesn'
exactly make me the happiest woma
In the world. but don't let It trickl
into your mind that I'm doing 1t 70
his fathers sake"
! At that moment Howard entere
from the inner room. He was SUI
prised to see DR.. Bernstein.
How do you feel today" asked th
doctor.
First rate! oh. I'm all right. 70
see, I'm just going to eat a bite. Won
you Join us?"
He sat down at the table and pickle
up the newspaper, while Annie busie
l hAHoall NTH aH...iAn In H. IIahAA