The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-04-22

lpfpce edingal fot d j Scrce de about
% 10 tnst itutsd. II so, when 3 And
could 1 give him any information on
the sub ect3 I asked him who wanted
tie Information and he said the read
ers 'of his papsr-the people I believe
he said over q million Of them. Just
think, Howard! Over 1 million PEG.
Pile, not counting your father, your
friends and relations, all waiting to
know why sou don't get rid of me.
Why you don't believe me to be as bad
as they think,I am"
Howard raised his hand for her
to desist
Annie please!" he pleaded.
That's the fact, isn't ~" she
laughed. ~
No"
His wife.s head dropped on the table.
She was crying now.
I've made hard fight, Howard"
she sobbed, out I'm going 10 give up.
I'm through-Im through"
Howard took bold Of her hand and
carried ii to his lips. '"@
Annie. oldgIrl." he said. with some
feeling, ~ may be weak, may he
blind, but nobody on top OF Gods green
earth can tell me that you're not the
squarest. stralghtest little woman that
ever lived! ! don't care a damn what
one million or eight million think.
Surprising yod''hatl received letters
from Underwood supposing you had
gone to his rooms to beg him not to
kill himself-wtat Of It? It would be
for a good motive wouldn't It? Let
them talk all the bad of you they want.
don't believe word Of it-you know
don't. s,iis!,,,s;6...
She looked up and smiled through
her tears, Z hi s7Ftssso
You're 10 good; dear" she ex-
claimed. 4'Yess Snowsyoq believe In
me-" She stopped and continued, sad.
ly: "But you're only''a boy, You know.
What Of the future. the years to
Gomez" Towards face became Sc
rlous, and she went on: You see
you've thought about II, 'too, and you're
trying 10 hide It from me. But you
can't. Your father wants you to so
abroad with the family"
"Well?" e
He waited and looked at her curl
ously as II wondering what her an
swer would be. 11eIwaited some time,
and then slowly she said:
Il think-you had better go!"
You don't mean that" he ex-
claimed, In genuine surprise.
She shook her head af1rmatlvely.
Yes. do" she said; your father
wants you to take your position in
the world, the position you are entitled
to, the position your association with
me prevents you from taking"
( Howard drummed his fingers on the
tablecloth and looked out Of the win
dow. 1t seemed TO her that his voice
no longer had the same candid ring as
he replied:
Yes, father has spoken to me about
It. He wants 10 be friends, and T."
HTe paused awkwardly, and then add
ed: Il admit I've-Pve promised to
consider 1t, butt
Annie finished his sentence for him:
You're going 10 accept his offer,
Howard. You owe 1t to yourself. to
your family, and to- She laughed
as she added: Il was going to say to
millions OF anxious readers"
Howard looked al her curiously. He
did not know II she was testing or in
earnest. Almost fmpatiently he ex-
claimed:
Why do you talk.in this way against
your own interests? You know I'd
like 10 be friendly with my family,
and all that. But it wouldn't be fair
to YOU"
I'm not talking against myself.
Howard. want you to be happy, and
you're not happy. YOU can't be happy
under these conditions. Now be hon
est with 1he7can you?"
Can your" he demanded.
NO" she answered. frankly, mot
unless you are" Slowly she vent on:
Whatever happiness I've had in life
owe to you. and God knows you've
had nothing but trouble from me. |
did wrong to marry you, and I'm
willing TO pay the penalty. I've cvened
matters up with your family: now let
me try and square UP with you"
"Evened up matters with my fam
ily?" he exclaimed in surprise. What
do You mean"
With smile she replied ambigu-
ously:
oh, that's q little private matter of
MY oWu!" He stared at her. unable
to comprehend, and she went on.
gravely: Howard. you must do
what's best for yourself. I'll pack
your things You can so when you
please"
He stared gloomily out Of The vim
dow without replying. After all. he
thought TO himself, 1t was perhaps for
the best. Shacked as he was now.
he would never be able to accomplish
anything. II they separated, his father
would take him into his business,
Life would begin for him all over