The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-01-18
CHAPTER II.--contInusd.

said earnestly. mot one second have
! ever regretted marrying you--that's
honest to Godl"
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. II she
: thought Howard nourished secret re.
r grets II 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 a deep sense OF guilt ever
since that afternoon in New Haven
when, listening to Towards impor-
tunities and obeylng 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
10 marry. They should have waited.
They both realized their folly now.
But what was done could not be UNI
done. She realized. too, that 1t was
worse for Howard than 1t was for
her. II 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 enormlty of crime
she should have seen what social
gult 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
me moral courage to say NO"
II Annie had no education she was
lot without brains She had sense
'nough to realize that her bringing up
IT the lack of 1t was an unsurmount-
'ble barrier to her ever being ad-
nitted to the inner circle OF Towards
amily. II her husbands father had
lot married again the breach might
AVE been crossed In time, but his
new wife was prominent member of
ne smart set, woman full of aristo-
'ratic notions, who recoiled with hor.
ror at having anything to do with
girl guilty OF the enormity OF earning
ner own living. Individual merit, In
nerent nobility of character. amiabili-
" OF disposition, and personal repu-
Iation 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. Thew
considered her common. impossible.
iney were ever ready to lend an ear
10 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 or have any communication with
her whatsoever. AS long, therefore
rs 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-
,ntly. u haven't much appetite"
She looked at him with concern.
Poor boy, you're tired outl"
AS she noted how pale and detected l
ne appeared, her eyes filled with ,
sympathetic tears. She forgot the
appalling number of cigarettes no
smoked day. nor did she realise
how abuse of alcohol had spoilad his
stomach for solid food.
Il wish knew where TO 20 ana get .
mat $1,000, muttered Howard. his ,
mind still preoccupied with Coxe,s !
proposition. Lighting another cIga. .
retto. he leaned back In his chair ana
apsed into silence.
Annie sat and watched him wish.
ing she could suggest some wav IN I.
solve the problem that troubled him
She loved her husband with NH har
aeart and soul. His very weakness 4.
u character endeared him the more
20 her. She was not blind TO his =
aults. but she excused them. His
'ices' his drinking, cigarette smoking
md general shiftlessness were. she :
.rgued, the result OF bad associates
He was self-indulgent. He made MANY
good resolutions and broke them. But = !,
no was not really vicious. He had a =
good heart With some one 10 witch
aim and keep him In the straight path y
1e would still give a good account OF y
himself to the world. She was con. l
ndent OF that. She recognized MANY .,
excellent qualities in him. They only
wanted fostering and bringing ont
That was why she married him. She
was few years his senior; she felt
hat she was the stronger mentally d
She considered II was her duty 10
ieFote her life to him. to protect him r
rom himself and make a man OF him
IL was not her fault. she unused ~ ,