The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-08-15

uoCuHEeHI written Oy VIE ana en-
titled How I Saved My Husband"
The husband was an able, prosper
GUS young business man who began
to neglect his Wife and children and
spend his leisure time drinkjng-par-
ticularly at the club. This went on
for & number Of years and gradually
the nan began to lose his business
grip and self-respect. Younger men
! were placed above him in his bust
/ hess and he was slowly but certainly
going down hill. Finally at half past
one O'Clock one morning his wife con-
Z frontcd him when he came home and
told him frankly that she no longer
loved him and that she positively
despised him. She told him calmly
that she had prepared room for him
across the hall from her and that he
icOuld no longer expect TO share the
home with her. From this point the
story goes as follows:
The next three days are yet night |
mares of horror in my memory. Philip
left the house before breakfast; he |
came in late at night and went imme |
ldiately to his own room; he was not
in for single meal. ] saw him only
once during the time-met him on
the piazza as he was going out in the
morning. He looked ashen and bag
gard-eyed. 1t was all ! could do not
to throw my arms about his neck, tell
him, in spite of all, loved him, loved
him; beg for even my old, dishonored
place in his heart. But resolutely |
crucified my yearning- staked |
all, must | not stand the hazard OF
the die.
! There was no steep those nights
flor me. Had | lost? What was
Philip doing? Was he drinking in
istead of eating? l almost screamed
lat the sound of the doorbell or the
Telephone l was dry-eyed, but such
a physical weight sat on my chest
that often | gasped for breath. / re-
allied the feminine truism, that moi
matter what a rascal, and criminal, |
a husband has proven, it is only him
at his best that wife can see lost. !
However faulty held my mind to
Philips failures, my heart mourned
it bridegroom lover, and refused to
be comforted. The children added
to my anguish by their insistent in
auiries about their father
Those days seemed years. Was
my life to be like this?
con the fourth day l answered |
the ring of the telephone bell very
feebly, all a-tremble. This is Rags
dale at the office. Don't be alarmed
but your husband has had a slight
fainting attack. No; nothing serious,
the doctor says. Just the heat. | sus-
pect; he hasn't seemed himself for
several days. DR.. Murphy and | are
/ bringing him home.
"All day l sat by my husband; he
! dozed heavily, and occasionally NUT
tered words l could not catch. Once
| thought it was my own name 1t
was nearing night when he aroused.
You there. Rachel?" he murmured.
For answer | took his hand in both
mine and held it close, silently. There
was a pause before he spoke again;
his voice was weak. | remember now
IL keeled over in the office. To tell
YOU the truth, I've neither eaten nor
slept the last three days. | feel like
I'VE been beaten to pulp. I've been
finding out that you are right about
my friends and-and the drinks.
please God, Wife, it's face-the-other-
way for me from this day on, and II
you'll stick to me I'll win back your
respect and love. / was on my knees
my arms about him.
You have them already, Philip
both! | cried wildly, while the de-
MED tears swept me away on such
tide as you would never have dream
ed one small woman could she'd
The tears on my husbands cheek
are sacred memories.
"That was three years ago. Today
Philip has his partnership, his self
respect, and the truest love OF his
wife and children.
"He has since told me that it took
up to that very point of physical ex-
lhaustion to fasten his guilt upon him;
that had / weakened he was prepared
to make it up handsomely and go on
his way. True, my reason and my
body alike nearly snapped under the
strain. but what wife will say the