The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-01-12
CHAPTER lI.-continued.


said earnestly mot one second have
ever regretted marrying you-that's
honest to Cod"
A faint flush of pleasure lit up the
young wife's face. For all her as
sumed lightheartedness she was badly
in need of this reinsurance. If she
thought Howard nourished secret re-
grets it would break her heart. She
could stand anything, any hardship.
but not that. She would leave him at
once.
In way she held herself respon.
sible for his present predicament She
had felt deep sense of guilt ever
since that afternoon in New Haven
when, listening. to Towards impor-
tunities and obeying an impulse she
was powerless to resist, she had flung
aside her waitress apron, furtively
left the restaurant and hurried with
him to the minister who declared
them man and wife.
Their marriage was a mistake, of
course. Howard was in no position
to marry. They should have waited.
They both realized their folly now.
But what was done could not be I'M
done. She realized, too, that it was
worse for Howard than it was for
her. 1t had ruined his prospects at
the outset of his career and threat
ened to be an irreparable blight on
his entire life. She realized that she
was largely to blame. She had done
wrong to marry him and at times she
reproached herself bitterly. There
were days when their union assumed
in her eyes the enormity of crime
She should have seen what a social
gulf lay between them. All these
taunts and insults from his family
which she now endured she had fool.
ishly brought upon her own head. But
she had not been able to resist the
temptation. Howard came into her
life when the outlook was dreary and
hopeless. He had offered to her what
seemed haven against the cruelty
and selfishness of the world. Happi-
ness for the first time in her life
seemed within reach and she had not
the moral courage to say NO"
If Annie had no education she was
not without brains She had sense
enough to realize that her bringing up
or the lack of it was an unsurmount-
able barrier to her ever being ad-
mitted to the inner circle of Howard s
family. If her husbands father had
not married again the breach might
have been crossed in time, but his
new wife was prominent member of
the smart set, woman full of aristo-
cratic notions, who recoiled with hor.
ror at having anything to do with a
girl guilty of the enormity of earning
her own living. Individual merit, in.
herent nobility of character, amiabili.
ty of disposition, and a personal repu.
tation untouched by scandal-all this
went for nothing-because unaccom,
panied by wealth or social position
Annie had neither wealth nor position,
She had not even education. They
considered her common, impossible
They were ever ready to lend an ear
to certain ugly stories regarding her
past, none of which were true. After
their marriage, Mr.. Jeffries, Sr., and
his wife absolutely refused to receive
her whatsoever. AS long, therefore
as Howard remained faithful to her
the breach with his family could never
be healed.
Have some more stew, DEAR" she
said, extending her hand for her hus,
bands plate.
Howard shook his head and threw
down his knife and fork.
I've had enough" he said despond.
emily. Il haven't much appetite"
She looked at him with concern.
Poor boy, you're tired QUIT"
AS she noted how pale and detected
he appeared, her eyes filled with
sympathetic tears. She forgot the
appalling number of cigarettes he
smoked day, nor did she realize
bow abuse Of alcohol had spoiled his
stomach for solid food.
Il wish l knew where to go and get
that $4,000" muttered Howard, his
mind still preoccupied with Coxe's
proposition. Lighting another ciga.
rette, he leaned back in his chair and
lapsed into silence. ...-
Annie sat and watched him, wish
ing she could suggest some wa1 10
solve the problem that troubled him.
She loved her husband with all her
heart and soul. His very weakness
of character endeared him the more
to her. She was not blind to his
faults, but she excused them. His
vices, his drinking, cigarette smoking
and general shiftlessness were, sic
argued the result of bad associates.