Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-07-19
CHAPTER x,x.-continued.

He waited and looked at her curl
4 ously as II wondering what her an
swer would be. He waited some time.
and then slowly she said:s
Il think-you had better go!"
"You don't mean that!" he ex-
claimed, In genuine surprise.
She shook her head affirmatively.
Yes, do" she said; your father
wants you to take your position in
the world. the position you are entitled
to, the position your association with
me prevents you from taking"
Howard drummed his fingers on the
tablecloth and looked out of the win
dow. 1t seemed to her that his voice
! no longer had the same candid ring as
he replied:
t} Yes, father has spoken to me about
It. He wants to be friends. and Il"
I He paused awkwardly. and then add
cd: 81 admit Twelve promised to
consider it, but"
Annie finished his sentence for him:
I You're going to accept his offer.
! Howard. You owe it to yourself. to
your family, and to- She laughed
( as she added: Il was going to say to
millions of anxious readers"
S8 Howard looked at her curiously He
did not know II she was testing or in
earnest. Almost impatiently he ex-
\ claimed:
why do you talk in this way against
your own interests? You know I'd
4 like to be friendly with my family.
and all that. But 1t wouldn't be fair
to YOU"
I'm not talking against myself,
! Howard want you to be happy, and
you're not happy. You can't be happy
under these conditions. Now be hon.
est with me-can you?"
"Can you?" he demanded.
~ mo" she answered. frankly, mot
unless you are" Slowly she went on:
Whatever happiness I've had in life
7. I owe to you, and God knows you've
4 had nothing but trouble from me. I
did wrong to marry you, and I'm
willing to pay the penalty. I've evened
!, matters up with your family; now let
me try and square up with you"
"Evened up matters with my fam
1ly?" he exclaimed in surprise. What
do you mean?"
With smile she replied ambigu-
ously:
"Oh, that's little private matter Of
my own!" He stared at her, unable
to comprehend, and she went on.
gravely: Howard. you must do
what's best for yourself. I'll pack
your things. You can go when you
please
ssil He stared gloomily out Of the win
dow without replying. After all, he
thought to himself, 1t was perhaps for
the best. Shackled as he was now,
he would never be able to accomplish
anything. If they separated, his father
would take him into his business.
7 Life would begin for him all over
again. It would be better for her,
too. OF course, he would never for
get her. He would provide for her
comfort His father would help him
arrange for that Lighting a cigar
cite, he said, carelessly:
"Well-perhaps you're right. May
be little trip through. Europe won't
do me any harm"
"Of course not" she said, simply.
Il Busy with an obstinate match, he
did not hear the sigh that accom-
panied her words or see the look Of
agony that crossed her face.
but what are you going to do?" he
inquired, after silence.
With an effort, she controlled her
voice. Not for all the world would
she betray the fact that her heart
was breaking. With affected indif.
! ference, she replied:
ooh, I shall be all right. I shall go
and live somewhere in the country for
few months. I'm tired Of the city,"
so am l." he rejoined. with ges-
ture Of disgust. But hate like the
deuce to leave you alone"
'.That's nothing" she said, hastily.
"A trip abroad is just what you