The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-30
Copyright lgV5 By tie Du5lrs- Merrill Co

THE first step in our married life
that seemed to me strange, that cast,
not what you'd call a cloud, but
shadow, over my happiness. was that
she insisted on keeping the marriage
secret. She had several reasons, all
Of which seemed good and sufficient
TO her. She said her people would
not like her marrying a stranger far
away from home, and that they'd cut
up very ugly when they heard 1t. Her
principal reason. and the only one
that seemed to me to have any force,
was that she feared she'd lose her
job. She had 1t on good authority that
the firm where she worked wouldn't
employ married women, and If they
knew she'd got a husband who was
making a fair salary, they'd give her
the sack. Whether 1t was for all the
reasons together, or for just this one
don't know, but she'd only marry me
If I'd solemnly promise to keep the
matter secret. I'd have promised her
anything. Shed out and out be-
witched me.
$50 We were married and went to
housekeeping in a little fat in a sub
urb. We had our mail sent to our old
address at Mrs. Heeney's. She was
in the secret, the only person who
was. We had to let her know because
Of the letters, and inquiries that
might have been made for US from
time to time. We were married in the
winter, and that winter was the hap
! piest time of my life. I'll never for
! get II. That little fat, and that little
( black-eyed WOman-they were Just
Paradise and the angel in II for me-
/ Not but what she had her faults; she
was hot-tempered, quick to flare up,
| and sharp with her tongue. But
never cared-just let her sputter and
| liz till she'd worked 1t all off and
/ then I'd take things up where they
were before the eruption began. 1t
! was a happy time-a man in love and
a woman that keeps him loving-you
! can't beat it this side of Heaven"
Dominick made no answer. The
actor for a moment was silent and
| then with a sigh went on.
Il suppose it was too good to last.
Anyway, 1t ended. We'd lived that
way for six months when in the be-
ginning Of June the Dramatic School
failed and | lost my job. 1t came on
us with almost no warning, and it
sort of knocked US out for a bit
wasn't as upset by it as Mrs. Carter
was, but She"
Who's Mrs. Carter?" said Domi-
nick.
My wife. That's my name, Junius
Carter. OF course the name | use on
the stage is not my own. took that
In the Klondike, made it up from my
mothers and the name of a pard l
had who died. Well, as was saying,
Mrs. Carter took it hard. She couldn't
seem to get recOnciled to it, l tried
to brace her up and told her ii would
only be temporary, and I'd get an.
other place soon, but she was terribly
upset. We'd lived WELL not saved q
cent, furnished the fat nicely and
Kept a servant. There was nothing
Tor 1t but to live on what she made
1t was hard on her, but I've often
thought she might have been easier
on me. l didn't want to be idle or eat
) the bread she paid for, Lord knows!
tried hard enough to get work.
. tramped those streets in sun and rain
TILL the shoes were falling off my feet
) But the times were hard, money was
tight, and good jobs were not to BIZ
. nad Tor the asking. One Of the worst
features Of the case was that I hadn'
any regular line of work or profession
The kind of thing I'd heen doing dom
mt man for any kind Of lob. II
couldn't do my own kind Of stunt II
have to be just a general handy-ma1
, or stevedore, and I'm not what you't
call rugged.
1T was an awful summer! Tn,
heat was fierce. Our little fat wa,
ike an oven and, after my long day
tramp after work, l used to go hom
Just dead beat and lie on the loung
ana not say word. My wife wa
worn out. She wasn't accustomed t,
warm weather, and that and the VOL
ry and the hard work sort Of wore OF
her, and these were evenings whel
she'd slash round so with her tongu
that Id get up, half dead as | was
and go out and sit on the doorstep til
she'd gone to bed. I'm not blamin
her. She had enough to try hel
Working at her machine all day 4
that weather would wear anybody
temper to a fragile. But she sal
some things to me that bit prett
deep. 1t seemed impossible it coul
be the same woman I'd got to kno7
so we'll at Mrs. Heeney's. We wer
both just abe used up, thin as fiddle
strings, and like fddle-strings read
to snap at a touch. Seems queer t
think that thirty-ive dollars a wee
could make such difference! Wit
it we We're in Paradise; without IL W
were as near the other place as peopl
can get, l guess.
We'll, ii was TOO much for her Sh
was one OF those women who can
stand hardships and she couldn't max
out in the position she was in. Low
wasn't enough for her. there had :
be luxury and comfort, TOO. One da
= I came home and she was gone. No
r in answer 10 a look Of inquiry on Don
inick's face, there was no other ma,
She wasn't that kind, always {
straight as a string. No, she ju:
couldn't stand the grind any longe
She left p letter in which she sal
some pretty hard things TO me. bl
I've tried to forget and not bear ma
4 ice. 1t was a woman half crazy wit
heat and nerves and overwork th:
wrote them. The gist Of ii was til;
she'd gone back TO California, to b.
sisters who lived there, and she va