Evening star., 1914-03-15

dear me-" said the old lawyer. finally,
your husband is long time"
Hes undependable.' snapped Re-
beccah. If he thought he could rile ME
by making me wait
1t was then that the old doctor opened
the door and again entered. His face
was very grave. and he nervously cleared
his throat 'Rebeccah,'' he said slowly,
Daniel didn't feel like coming back, and
he asked me not to tell you. but
Rebeccah spranS up in a rage. Her old
eyes snapped. Whats he done? l want
to know. Something to rile me, I'll be
bound"
Nothing to rile you." the doctor sor-
rowfully said. IF you knew that Daniel
had Bright's disease and couldn't live six
months would you let the divorce go? Six
months isn't very long. you know
down suddenly A slow fear gathered
in her old eyes. And slowly a look OF
age that she haG not worn before came
to her. She closed her eyes as though
she saw Daniel dead!" she gasped.
why, / never thought-never dream
ed And then she was silent. The
two watching old men saw her face
crease with grief; its irritable lines faded
away. Daniel alive and hearty was un-
desirable. Daniel sick dying, was hard
to live without.
He asked ME not to tell the doctor
repeated. HE went home"
Rebeccah rose, nodded toward the heap
Of papers. Tear 'em up" and went
home, stopping on the way to get some
perch.
home-she found Daniel sitting hunched
in an armchair in the living room. At
her entrance he Strengthened and tried
to appear nonchalant But when she
sniveled and put the corner of her apron
to her eyes he got up and held out his
a .pacEv C1aar-t Thay, ho N -ad
into silence. And then: ITS such a
little while
She patted his grizzly gray head. I'VE
won't talk about it. And I got some
perch for supper" she said
No" he objected. II brought some
Goldfish. l never did like perch"
And when he insisted she cooked both.
But neither ate and afterward she gave
both platters to the cat.
For the first time in years they sat in
the living room together that evening
and talked over the past. And though
once or twice, from habit. they fell into
bitter argument over date or place, they
hushed at once, and two wrinkled gnarl-
ed hands stole apologetically toward each
other. And the next morning Rebeccah
fretted because Daniel went into the
garden without his rubbers. Her voice
was shrill and irritable. But under the
shrillness quavered anxiety.
1T doesn't matter" Daniel said, gently.
when she trotted out with them and stood
over him till he pulled them on.
IT'S mean for you to talk that way
Danny" she said. with trembling lips.
with care the doctor said"
'Yes-with care" clustered Daniel
And out you run in the wet grass to
take care OF me. l don't want to be
careful when you
When L Why, any one'd think you
was glad to die and leave me." reproach-
ed his wife. And. Daniel. I'd make you
a tapioca pudding. seeing how well you
like it, but for starchy foods
II couldn't eat it unless you could.
too." he said, brokenly. IT don't think
you ought to have had that second cup
of coffee this morning, Becky. It's
stimulating, you know, and you must be
terrible careful"
Rebeccah looked at him wonderingly.
and then the wonder gave way to doubt.
the doubt to knowledge 'Why?" she
asked. And before he could reply she