The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-31
For Business
Reasons
BY McCulloch Williams

If you really cared about me"
Elinor began. breaking off there in a
.hoking sob.
William. her husband. frOwned heav-
lily. and said sarcastically. "Of course
don't care-you are only my wife
Tor whom ! spend my days toiling and
srubbing-and from whom ! get in
| return"
Il try! You know try-ever so
hard!" Elinor flashed out. But your
your - mmother - won't - let ME
have a minutes peace"
"WOn't-eho really hadn't noticed
it," William retorted. still sarcastic.
Il suppose the real root of the matter
is-you want ME to leave her. Under
stand shall not do 1t! That's fiat.
You married me with your eyes open
knowing all she had done for NE
that l was her only child--besides.
told you outright would never leave
Ter lonely. You aerced-anything to
get me. Now--you want to get away
from your bargain
DO you want to get away from your
bargain?" Elinor asked, suddenly
calm. sparks &. re bottom Of her
eyes drying them maGically.
William did not answer--only smiled
provol.ingly. After little she went
on. still clearly, III you do will
take myself away-as soon as we have
gone over the accounts. | want to
leave things straight"
Really, Elinor-this is too ridicu
lous. With the Travers expecting us
to dinner-and the theater afterward."
William began-he was not smiling
any more. but still his voice was hard.
Elinor's head went up. You do
not answer" she said. Il take silence
for consent. As to the Travers, you
can make my excuses say you came
to tell them was indisposed."
The door opened without any pre-.
liminary knocking. Mrs. Alsop, the
elder. came through it saying with
"A frown. William. YOU should be
resting you can have fifteen minutes
before II is time to dress. Elnor new
er thinks OF such thingsbut if you
are TO 70 on doing yourself justice you
must take care of yourself. And to.
night ! want you to be your hest self.
The chief Justice. who is to be at
the Travers. is an old beau of mine
suppose YOU 20 in my place am
staying at home. And can help you
dress, Elinor said. her voice studi-
Ously commonplace.
Her mOther-in.la law stared at her.
Not going" she echoed Il take
your place. knew you were poorly
bred. but must say never dreamed
you could be ignorant enough to think
Of such thing"
Say Kindness for Ignorance, moth
or" William interposcd. "Elinor is
impulsive- and very generous. OF
course, her suggestion Is impossible
But ! know she thought only Of Civ
ing you pieasure-the pleasure Of meet
ing an old friend"
1T will be much greater pleasure
10 have him see my son and his wife
at their best. among the best people.
Mrs Alsop said proudly. AS fox
James Dwight. | don't care a pin
except TO have him see made no mis-
take in refusing him. He will he
| hn,tnn II
fathers SON"
The clock striking the half hour
made her hurry off with a vexcd TX
clamation
As the door shut behind her William
went mp to his wife. laid hand upon
her arm and said, not very easily.
, You are very angry. Elinor-that
know. And II is in your power "a
take a deep revenge Unless you go
tonight. cannot That will mean
the loss OF Traver's good will and
good word. which just now are vitally
important to me. lie and his wife
count on US to llven their party The
others are rich, but heavy and Wild
to be amused
we are not paupers thanks 10 my
mother. She saved my fathers es
tate, you know. But one can't stand
still-yOu know that without telling
! have invested more than ought 10
have risked In a deal that Traver can
make successful. Knowing that you
must decide. throw myself on vuIr
mercy"
ION my Justice. you mean" Elnor
said lifelessly. Therefore | Will 90
1t shall never be true that added
TO the harm did you in marrying on
the wreck OF your fortune"
Come, now, let's kiss and he
friends" Alsop said. trying 10 IKE
her in his arms.
She eluded him. turned TO her toilet
table. and began pulling the pins from
her hair. saying over her shoulder:
AS I am staying only for business
reasons. and so long as they are IN
portant, there seems 10 be no occasion
for W ever to quarrel again"
She was the life Of the party nat
night, so blithely brilliant. so elhnly
fascinating, Alsop was amazed lie