The Monte Vista journal., 1912-07-27
A. HOWARD CUNTER

pdpeTb blBueu, AuQ MhTBeTy HThuhih
and Henry Wade. whom God had
Joined together some eight years
earlier. were put asunder by Norton
& Norton. as attorneys for the hus-
band, and young Kelley West. repre-
senting Mrs. Wade. The whole af-
fair. their friends agreed. had been
beautifully managed. incompatibility
was the plea. and the only disagree
able feature OF the arrangement was
ing OF the parties to the suit at the
office Of Norton & Norton.
Margery had cried before the meet
Ing. for 1t seemed absurd to think OF
Henry as not belonging to her any
more. as marrying some other
woman. perhaps. Then she had dried
her eyes. powdered her nose and put
on her most becoming suit. feeling
that Henry must be made to sec that
he was losing something precious;
and nanked by her bosom friend.
Rita Whitmore. and on the arm Of
young West. she had come to the ap-
pointment with Just that look Of re-
signed martyrdom on her face which
the occasion demanded.
Henry came to tho meeting by him
self and looked frankly worn and
wretched. moreover he made no at
tempt to ease the embarrassment Of
the situation, but was cold. gruff and
unnatural. "a perfect brute" as Rita
said afterward. with congratulatory
squeeze of Margery's hand.
Margery went back to the mansion
that Henry had built for her when
they moved into town FIVE years be-
fore. and, putting her head down on
Polly Marie's curls. cried 80 that her
tears ran down Polly's fat neck.
She had not been there for years,
because 1t was ever SO far out In an
undeveloped suburb, that small, snug
home where she and Henry had be-
gun housekeeping when they ran
away from their people and were
married years ago. Old Martha, her
nurse. lived there now. and kept
everything just as they had left 1t.
Dress Polly Marie for walk"
she called to the governess, and be-
gan stufflng things into her hand
bag
The governess protested. pointing
to the heavy clouds that were gather
ing outside. but her mistress was OBJ
durate.
There was long trolley ride and
then walk across an open field.
with Polly Marie, who had fallen
asleep. hanging Imply over one
shoulder, and the bag humping
against her ankles in a most uncom-
Portable way. But she struggled
bravely on. for over the high stone
wall in the distance she could see
the gables OF her haven.
Through the iron gate, up the long
walk, and then came disappointment;
for the sitting-room shutters were
closed and Martha was evidently not
at home. A moment she paused in
CONSERVATION. then she recalled the
broken hasp on the shutter Of back
window. 1t had been SO long since
she was there that she had almost
forgotten. All she had to do was to
climb on the garden bench, pull the
shutter open, and-there she was!
But this was not so easy with
Polly Marie and the bag, and only
after two or three futile leaps did
she reach the ledge and scramble to
the floor inside. The sky had dark
ened and great splashes OF rain were
falling. but from her vantage ground,
Margery leaned out and called de-
family. Rain away. rain away, we're
safe In our little brown house"
n ha
the house was full Of memories
nice. domesticated memories-that
lowered about the linen closet and
purred from the kettle on the stove.
The tiny bedrooms. dining room,
a sitting room and best-or worst
OF all. Henry's den. At that door
she stopped; II would be so dark In
there, for the heavy panels needed q
CHEEKY ire to light them up With
something like 4 sob. she threw open
the door and caught her breath with
sheer Joy. A bright fire cracked on
the hearth and the reading lamp
brought out warm lights from the
brasses in the room, and in front Of
the nre. with his head buried In his
hands. sat Henry.
But OF course Henry should be in
his den. II was the most natural
thing in the world. So. Please" she
begged. may we come ini We're
dreadfully cold
Are you real. Marry" asked Henry.
peerinG at her across the circle OF
light. Then wonderingly. Come in.
whether you're real or not-out Of
the darkness. out Of the storm"