Okolona messenger., 1911-08-17
CHAPTER II.-contlnued.

"You know l wouldn't, Annie" he
said earnestly Not one second have
l ever regretted marrying you-thats
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. If she
thought Howard nourished secret re-
grets it would break her heart. She
could stand anything, any hardship,
but not that. She would leave him at
once
In a 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 Howard's impor-
tunities 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 q mistake, Of
course. Howard Ghs 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 it 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
wrong to marry him and at times she
Tcproached herself bitterly. There
were days when their union assumed
In her eyes the enermity of a crime
she should have seen what a social
gulf lay between them. All these
taunts and insults from his family
which she now endured she had fool
1shly brought upon her own head. But
she had not been able to resist the
temptathVl. Howard came into her
life when the outlook was dreary ana
hopeless He had offered to her what
seemed a haven against the cruelty
and selfishness Of the world. Happi-
ness for the first tiIae in her life
seemed within reach and she had not
the moral courage to say mo"
( If Annie had no education she was
not without brains. She had serse
enough to realize that her bringing up
or the lack Of it was an unsurmount-
able barrier to her ever being ad-
mitted to the inner circle of Howard's
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-
TOR 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-
ty of disposition and a personal repu-
tation untouched by scandal-all this
went for nothing-because unaccom-
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, Sr., 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 mere stew, DEAR" she
said, extending her hand for her hus-
bands plate
Howard shook his head and threw
down his knife and fork.
'Tve had enough" he said despond-
emily 81 haven't much appetite"
She looked at him with concern.
Poor boy, you're tired out!"
AS she noted how pale and detected
be appeared, her eyes filled with
BympaLhCllS LCuJ b. Duc lOIBUJ Iu6
appalling number of cigarettes he
smoked day, nor did she realize
how abuse of alcohol had spoiled his
stomach for solid food
Il wish l knew where to go and get
that $4,000" muttered Howard. his
mind still preoccupied with Coxe's
proposition. Lighting another ciga-
rette, be leaned back In his chair and
lapsed 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, bis drinking, cigarette smoking
and RRsAarRl shiftlessness were, she
azessed. tn Tasult Of bad associates