Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-30
THE EVENING STORY.
His Way.
His Way.
Copyright. 1913. by W. Werner. J

Copyright. 1913, by W. Welnerl
The last day, The last day" These
three words formed themselves into a
refrain that throbbed In Mrs. Tyner S
brain like the roll of an endless chain
The last day for their home-hers and
Ralph's. That was their meaning. but
she had realized 1t slowly. The shock
of the unexpected knowledge had been
too great
The mornings work was finished
without thought. even TO the giving of
extra little touches here and there.
Then, because there was nothing more
to do. she went and sat on the porch.
her hearing strained for Ralphs first
football.
Something must be done she kept
telling herself. "If Ralph would only
come
II Ralph would only come. Suddenly
she caught her breath and a chill went
to her heart Ralph. her husband, the
man without an ambition. he who from
the years beginning to its end earned
not SO much as "A single dollar. What
could come of his knowledge?
What indeed. Ms. Tyner knew that
her call for help was vain and for the
first time since her wedding day she
frankly faced the uG.y situation. Her
nent. her husband a reproach and a
handicap. Farming the land which had
beep hers, his first business venture had
not been failure. 1t was worse.
disaster
But even so she had refused to be dis
couraged She sold the encountered
land and invested in a mercantile bust
ness, happy in the hope that that would
appear to him. And ii seemed to. He
threw himself, body and brain, into 1t,
I'm there
unexpected inroads on the capital.
Everybody had something to sell and
the reasons why he should buy were SO
p ausibIe that he could not resist. and
presently there was on hand a big. un-
salable stock. Leaks, at first mere
nothing. changed to rivulets and then
to rivers. and one day the inevitable
red flag fioated over the entrance.
1t was then that the last remnant OF
her wealth went to the, purchase of q
small home. And still she did not re-
proach him. The two failures seemed
punishment enough.
Mrs. Tyner's face famed crimson at
the thought of it. but If his failings
were punishment he showed 1t in an
unusual way. Often he would unthink
ingly burst into snatches Of song or
whistling, and his countenance stoutly
belied anything III the way of low
spirits.
Ralph" she said to him onA day
when the mercantile venture was finally
settled 1.-The money is all gone. What
are yo, going to do now"
He had been tilted back in his chair
gazing at nothing. but he dropped down
and sat without speaking. After a
while he had ooked at her. why any
thing?' he asked.
Were SO comfortable. Mamie" he
went on. pleadingiy. why hurry?
Let's take a little time. There's no
hurry. We're young yet
Sheer inability kept her from reply
ing. A horrible suspicion that had some
times crossed her mind began to weave
a hideous fabric in her brain. the warp
and wool of which were her husbands
Incidence and lack of ambition. He was
a riddle easily read. and for days and
weeks she grieved over faded hopes and
watched him do nothing.
It had been early autumn when the
red flag gave its message to the pub
lie; it was spring when Ralph. with
great cheerfulness, began to improve
their property. He mended fences and
buildings and dug the grounds from
end to end into grooves and trenches
and beds singing, wEistling. calling
cheerily to passers-by. and apparently
in high spirits.
well have something here, Mamie.
that will be worth while by and by he
would say, but it was not till the bills