The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-06

hurt note in her voice. Evidently not,
for his reply rang cheerily along the
wire.
Good girl! See you by eleven.
Goodby."
| She leaned across the desk, her
hands clasped, her gaze fixed on
space. 1t had come, her long delayed
hour of victory, and she must live it
alone The fruits of ten years unre-
hitting concentration and toll were
turning to dust and ashes in her
hands because
She flung up her head proudly.
After all, it was merely business
deal, part of the days work, Jack
had not appreciated what it meant to
her He had just been thoughtless.
She returned to his room and mechan-
ically started to lay away his clean
linen. But why should husband be
thoughtless? She could make allow
ances for men and their ways as she
knew them in business, but husband
in his home was different. Why had
he gone out of town when she night
need him sorely? Why had he failed
to make the $40 home? Why
She found herself staring straight
into a pair of roguish faces, smiling
at her from large photograph. And
beneath them, in childish handwriting,
ran the legend:
ITO the best playfellow in the
world from Constance and Ruth"
With trembling hands she reached
for the photograph. She had found
the answer to the vexing questions.
Behind those two children stood their
mother. Because of her, Jack had
rushed away to settle strike which
any capable superintendent should
have been able to avert. Because
Mrs. Mayfield would ask him to dine
at the quaint, rambling old house,
perched on a hill overlooking the
works, he had not hurried to make
the $40.
To be sure, Mrs. Mayfield was one
of her husbands best clients, and
yet
Still staring at the photograph she
recalled a hundred significant words
and actions, dovetailing them until
they formed a picture which set her
jealousy afiame. The average family
lawyer was not called upon to select
new motor car, to pass judgment on
plans for pergolas and terraces, to
decide upon the merits of private
schools and governesses for small
heiresses of moderate fortunes. He
was always buying the Mayfeld chill
dren toys or taking them ON hilarious
all-day jaunts, and only few months
back he had gone down the bay on a
revenue cutter to welcome them back
from Europe.
How often she had heard him pity
Gertrude Mayfeld for her burden of
responsibility her widowhood in
volved. Just as if he were not bear
ing the most of the burden for her!
Yes, that was the sort of women men
liked, and could understand. And
Jack has fallen in love with this slim,
girlish woman whose eyes were big,
wide and appealing, who reached out
for help and support as a delicate
tendril sways towards a strong, sure
branch, because
She tried to arraign this other
woman who had come into her life
and Jacks; but with bitter cry, she
flung aside the photograph and faced
the truth. The pitiless logic of the
woman, who knew life and men
through long years of business ex-
perience, flashed through her soul, a
binding light that would not be de-
MED. Jack had fallen in love with
this tender, womanly creature because
his wife had sacrificed him to her
own success.
Their ten years of married life un-
folded before her eyes like the flicker
| ing fire of a moving picture-their
early struggles, Jacks little successes
and hers alternating, overlapping, the
first big case he had won and his
| immediate demand that now she
should resign her position. She had
really meant to do it, to go home.
hunting and to free both of them
from the bondage of clearinghouse
life; but Brown & Lovett had offered
a substantial raise in salary to remain
She had cajoled Jack into letting her
work another year, with the promise
that their joint savings should buy a
suburban home. But then she had
induced him to let her invest her
savings in a desirable option. And
she had been buying options ever
since turning her money and Jacks
until they were well-to-do. Today's
deal would make them rich. A fine
record, yes; but at what cost? Her
husbands love.
She had done everything to hold
trade, nothing to hold her husband
When had she done anything for her
husband? When had she given him
inspiration, sympathy in his work
When had she kissed him last? With
strange insistence she repeated the
| question When had she Kissed him