Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-02-08
CHAPTER ll.-contlnu.dl,.

fOu know ] wouldn't, ANNIE" he
said earnestly Not one second have
I ever regretted marrying you-that's
honest to .God!'
"A faint flush Of pleasure lit up the
young wife's face. For all her as.
sumed lightheartedness she was badly
in need of this reinsurance. II she
thought Howard nourished secret re.
grets 1t would break her heart She
could stand anything, any hardship.
but not that. She would leave him at
once.
In way she held herself respon-
sible for his present predicament. She
had felt deep sense of guilt ever
since that afternoon In New Haven
when, listening to Towards impor-
tunittes and obeying an impulse she
was powerless to resist, she had flung
aside her waitress apron, furtively
left the restaurant and hurried with
him to the minister who declared
them man and wife.
Their marriage was a mistake, of
y course. Howard was in no position
to marry. They should have waited.
They both realized their folly now.
But what was done could not be un-
done. She realized, too, that 1t was
worse for Howard than it was for
her. 1t had ruined his prospects at
the outset of his career and threat
ened to be an irreparable blight on
his entire life. She realized that she
was largely to blame. She had done
3 wrong to marry him and at times she
reproached herself bitterly. There
were days when their union assumed
In her eyes the enormity OF crime.
She should have seen what social
gulf lay between them. All these
taunts and insults from his family
which she now endured she had fooi-
ishly brought upon her own head. But
she had not been able to resist the
temptation. Howard came into her
life when the outlook was dreary and
hopeless He had offered to her what
seemed a haven against the cruelty
and selfishness of the world. Happi-
ness for the first time in her life
seemed within reach and she had not
the moral courage to say NO"
II Annie had no education she was
not without brains. She had sense
enough to realize that her bringing up
+ or the lack of 1t was an unsurmount-
able barrier to her ever being ad-
mitted to the inner circle Of Towards
family II her husbands father had
not married again the breach might
have been crossed In time, but his
new wife was prominent member of
the smart set, woman full OF aristo-
cratic notions. who recoiled with hor.
y ror at having anything to do with a
girl guilty Of the enormity of earning
her own living. Individual merit, in
herent nobility OF character, amiabili-
~ of disposition, and personal repu-
tation untouched by scandal--all this
went for nothing because unaccom-
Z panied by wealth or social position.
Annie had neither wealth nor position
She had not even education. They
considered her common, impossible.
They were ever ready to lend an ear
to certain ugly stories regarding her
past. none of which were true. After
their marriage, Mr.. Jeffries, ST., and
his wife absolutely refused to receive
her or have any communication with
her whatsoever. AS long. therefore,
as Howard remained faithful to her,
the breach with his family could never
be healed
Have some more stew, DEAR" she
said. extending her hand for her hus.
bands plate.
Howard shook his head and threw
down his kn, e and fork.
1--WE had enough" he said desmond.
emily. Il haven't much appetite"
She looked at him with concern.
Poor boy. you're tired out!''
As she noted how pale and detected
he appeared, her eyes filled with
sympathetic tears. She forgot the
appalling number of cigarettes he
smoked day, nor did she realize
how abuse of alcohol had spoiled his
stomach for solid food.
II wish knew where to 60 and get
that $1,000" muttered Howard, his
mind still preoccupied with Coxe's
proposition. Lighting another ciga-
rette. he leaned back in his chair and
lspsed into silence.
Annie sat and watched him, wish
ing she could suggest some. way to
solve the problem that troubled him.
She loved her husband with all her
heart and soul. His very weakness
Of character endeared him the more
] to her. She was not blind to his
faults. but she excused them. His
vices. his drinking, cigarette smoking
and general shiftlessness were, she
argued. the result of bad associates.
He was selfindulgent. He made many
good resolutions and broke them But
he was not really vicious. He had a
good heart. With some one to watch
i him and keep him in the straight path
he would still give good account of
himself to the world. She was con-
fdent of that. She recognized many
excellent qualities in him. They only
wanted fostering and bringing out.
That was why she married him. She
vas few years. his senior; she felt
that she was the stronger mentally.
She considered 1t was her duty to
Z devote her life to him, to protect him
from himself and make a man of him.
-A~~~S a. q ~ -