The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20

sjace that afternccg n New Haven
when. listening 20 l-vward's imper-
tunitiss and cheying an impulse she
was powerler resist. she had flung
aside her w.. .sess' apron. furtively
left the restaurant and hurried with
him to the minister who declared
them man and wife.
Their marriage was a mistake. Of
co,rse. Howard was In no position
20 marry. They should have waited.
They both realized their folly now.
But what was done could not be unr
done. she realized. too. that II was
worse for Howard than II was for
her. II had ruined his prospects at
the outset Of his career and threat
ened TO be pm irreparable blight on
his entire life. She realized that she
Was largely to blame. She hnd done
wrong to marry him and at times she
reprcached herself bitterly. There
were days when their union assumed
IN her eyes the enormity Of crime.
She should have seen what q social
gulf lay between them. AL 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
ufe when the outlook was dreary and
hop~lsss. He had offered to her what
seemed . haven against the cruelty
and selhshness Of the world. Happi-
nses for the nrst time In her life
seemed within reach and she had not
the moral courage to say ''No."
II Annis Had no education she was
not without brains. She had sense
'eneugh to realize that her bringing up
~ The lack Of II was an unsurmount.
Teble barrier to her ever being ad-
uitted 70 the inner circle of Howard's
family. II her husbands father had
uot 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 q having anything TO do with q
oirl guilty Of the enormity os earning
her cvn living. Individual merit. In
hsrsSt nobility OF character, amiabili-
" Of dispesition. and . personal repu-
tation untouched by ucandal-all this
WIT Sor nothing--bscause unaccom-
pAhisd ~ wealth or social position.
. annie had neither wealth nor position
She had net even educStion. They
conssdsred her common, impossible.
Ther we're ever ready to lend an ear
TO crtain ugly stories regar ding her
past. ncae Of which were true. After
Aeir marriage. Mr.. Jehries. ST.. and
his wife absolutely refused TO receive
Der or have any communication with
ner Whatsoever. Al long. therefore,
"a Toward remained faithful to her,
the ,rsaeh with His family could never
be hsa1o6.
A'sve .-.c mere stew. dear" she
.@-ss. extending be- hand for her hus-
bands plate.
Howard shook HE head aod threw
down his knife sno fork.
"rye had enough" ne said despond-
enty ~ haven't much appetite"
She looked At him with concern.
Poor boy. you're tired out!"
As she noted how pale and detected
I ne appeared. her eyes filled with
.ynp1lAetic tsAxs. she forgot the
appalling number Of cigarettes he
smoksd . day. nor did she realize
nSv abuss Of alcohol had spoiled his
stomach fer solid food.
Il wish I knew where TO 20 and ret
that $1,000" muttered Howard. his
mind still preoccupiec with Coxe's
= ~Droposition. Lighting another cisa-
rette. he leaned back IN hts chair and
1Apsed into silence.
Annie sat and watched him. wish.
ins she could suggest some way to
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 10 his
faults. but she excused them. His
vices. HIS drinking. cigarette smoking
and general shlftlessness were. she
argued. the result OF bad associates.
He was selfindulgent lie made many
sgood resolutions and broke them. But
> he was not really vicious. He had n
good heart. With some one to watch
him and keep him In the straight path
he would still give good account of
himself TO the world She was con.
ndent OF that She recognized many
excellent qualities In him. They only
wanted fostering and bringing out.
That was why she married him. She
was few years his senior: she felt
that she was the stronger mentally.
She considered II was her duty 10
devote her life to him. to protect him
from himself sst make man OF him.
=, IL was not her fault. she mused. II
ses was rot lady. Literally brought
y MP In tne gutter. what advantages had
she had? Het mother died IN child.