The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-10

4
Table.
YES" she replied, absent-mindedly.
as she passed cup of coffee.
He made monkey of Capt. Clin.
ton all right" went on Howard. What
J did he come for?"
ITO see you-of course" she re-
piled
! "Oh, I'm all right now," he replied.
Looking anxiously at his wife across
the table, he said You're the one
that needs tuning up. heard you
crying last night. You thought was
asleep, but | wasn't. / didn't say any
thing because-well-I felt kind of
| blue myself"
Annie sighed and leaned her head
on her hand. Wearily she said:
Il was thinking over all that we've
been through together. and what
they're saying about US"
Howard threw down his newspaper
impatiently.
Let them say what they like. Why
, should we care as long as we're
happy"
His wife smiled sadly.
Are we happy?" she asked, gently
"Of course we are," replied How
ard.
She looked up and smiled. 1t was
good to hear him say so, but did he
mean it? Was she doing right to
/ stand in the way of his career? Would
he not be happier II she left him? He
was too loyal to suggest 1t, but per-
I haps In his heart he desired 1t. Look
ing at him tenderly, she went on:
II don't question your affection for
| me, Howard. believe you love me-
but I'm afraid that, sooner or later
| you'll ask yourself the question all
your friends are asking now, the ques-
tion everybody seems to be asking"
What question:" demanded How.
ard.
/ Yesterday the bell rang and a gen.
! t'emar said ne wanted to see you. I
told him you were out, and he said
! I'd GO iUst &C vol He handed me a
card. ~ II W. A." name of the news
pa per - rCl:: H."
"Well?"
He asked me If it were true that
proceedings for divorce were about
to be instituted. If so, when? And
could | give him any information on
the subject? | asked him who wanted
the information and he said the read
ers OF his paper-the people, believe
ne said over million of them. Just
think, Howard! Over a million peo-
pie, not counting your father, your
friends and relations, all waiting to
know why you don't get rid of me,
why you don't believe me to be as bad
as they think l am"
/ Howard raised his hand for her
to desist
"Annie-please!" he pleaded.
That's the fact, isn't it?" she
laughed.
NO"
His wife's head dropped on the table.
She was crying now
I've made hard fight, Howard"
she sobbed, but I'm going to give up
I'm through-Tm through"
; Howard took hold of her hand and
carried it to his lips
! Annie, old girl" he said, with some
feeling, 81 may be weak, I may be
blind, but nobody on top of Gods green
earth can tell me that you're not the
squarest, straightest little woman that
ever lived! 1 don't care damn what
one million or eight million think.
Supposing you had received letters
from Underwood, supposing you had
gone to his rooms to beg him not to
kill himself-what of it? 1t would be
for good motive, wouldn't it? Let
them talk all the bad of you they want
| don't believe word of it-you know
don't"
She looked up and smiled through
/ her tears.
! You're so good, DEAR" she ex-
claimed. Yes, know you believe in
me-" She stopped and continued, sad
ly: But you're only boy, you know.
What of the future, the years to
conner? Howard's face became Sc
rious and she went on: "You see
you've thought about it, too, and you're
trying to hide it from me. But you
can't. Your father wants you to go
abroad with the family"
"Well?"
He waited and looked at her curl
ously as If wondering what her an
swer would be. He waited some time.
and then slowly she said
Il think-you had better go!"
You don't mean that" he ex.
claimed, in genuine surprise.
She shook her head afirmatively.
Yes, | do she said; your father
wants you to take your position in
me world, the position you are entitled
to, the position your association with
me prevents you from taking"
Howard drummed his fingers on the
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