Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-04-27
CHAPTER lI.--Continucd.

You know ] wouldn't, Annie" he
said earnestly Not one second have
ever regretted marrying yoll-that S
honest to Cod
A faint flush of pleasure lit mp the
young wifc's face For all her as.
sumed ghtheartcdnoss She was badly
in need of this reinsurance III 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 a way She held herself respon-
sible for his present predicamcnt She
had felt a deep sense of guilt ever
since that afternoon in New Haven
when, listening to Howard's impor-
tunltles 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 mistake. of
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 UNI
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
reproached herself bitterly There
We're days when their union assumed
In her eyes the cnormity of a 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 fool
ishly brought upon her own head. But
temptation. Howard came into her
life wien the outlook was dreary and
hopeless. He had offered to her what
seemed Il haven against the cruelty
and selhshness 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"
If Annie had no education she was
not without brains She had sense
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. If her husbands father had
not married again the breach might
have been crossed in time. but his
new wife was a prominent member OF
the smart set. a woman full of ariSto-
cratic notions, who recoilcd with hor.
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-
ty of disposition, and personal repu-
tation untouched by scandaI-alI this
went for nothing-becausc 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. MIR. 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 knife and fork
I've had enough" he said despond
sntly. 81 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 Will
sympathetic tears. She forgot the
appalling number of cigarettes h,
smoked day, nor did she realize
how abuse of alcohol had spoiled hi
stomach for solid food.
II wish knew where to go and ge
that $4,000" muttered Howard, hi
mind still preoccupied with Coke.
proposition. Lighting another ciga
rette, he leaned back in his chair an,
lapsed into silence.
Annie sat and watched him. wish
Ing she could suggest some way t
solve the problem that troubled him
She loved her husband with all he
heart and soul. His very weakness
| Of character endeared him the NOR
\ 10 her. She was not blind to hi
faults, but she excused them. Hi
,,ces. his drinking. cigarette smoking
and general shiftlessness were, sh
L aSp,yoN AHsa vor,,st S~l