The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-10-09

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youth with money. What Annabel
wanted was a man who worked, pref
erably with his hands, but, failing
that, one who lived in the thick of
the fight for existence. And she meant
it too And that is where l fell.
81 was head over heels in love with
her." continued Perceyal forlornly,
land | simply wouldn't let her go.
So l let her believe that | was work
ing my way up in business. The first
lie was simple enough and looked like
one of those things that could be
squared easily enough afterward. But,
oh, Chase! | had to back that lie up
with details on details until | had lied
to her at least ten lies to the hour.
Well, we were married before | left
in the fall wasn't of age, and she
wasn't. and she wouldn't leave home
until | could support her without ham,
pering my business career.
II knew | had to come back to col
lege or get dad down on me, so | told
her to stay" groaned Perceval. "But
| made her marry me for fear some
thing might come between us, and
couldn't stand that, Randolph. But
think how I'll appear to her, for I've
lied in every letter, telling her how
business was, and all that
The young fellows voice broke. Ran
dolph held out sympathetic hand.
She'll forgive you, all right" he
said. But you sit right down tonight
and confess, old man. It's not only
the right thing. but the best policy, to
be perfectly frank with her. and If
she's in love with you she'll forgive
you
But Perceval shook his head 81
don't dare" he said huskily. 81 am
so afraid I'll lose her, Randolph, and
she is the dearest thing in the world"
"You nave said that before Ran
dolph remarked patiently. Il think
you are making an awful mista Ike, but
it will have to work itself out if you
won't take any advice
Then he went to his own room and
smoked another pipe on it. and after
that he wrote a letter.
And in three days came letter to
Perceval:
Dear Boy-I must come to you at once.
Things at home are in a dreadful state.
l will tell you when l reach you. l know
you haven't much for us to live on, but
have a little money in the bank that l
have saved from my allowance, and
shall follow this note at once Expect
me on the 1920 a. m. Friday
"And this" said Perceval desperate
ly as he showed the note to Randolph,
lis Thursday What am going to do
with her when she gets here, Ran
dolph?"
Randolph smiled inscrutably. Find
some rooms in cheap quarter and set
up housekeeping.
Perceval's face frightened. And go
out every morning and make her think
I've gone to work? You are genius,
Randolph"
1t took the two men several hours to
find a little furnished apartment that
would seem suitable for a young cou-
pie with little money. Perceyal grum-
bled disconsolately. ~ hate to put my
jewel in such a setting" he said.
.'Tell her the TRUTH" Randolph again
advised, land you won't have to put
up with such cheap things"
But Perceval refused. The next
morning he met Annabel at the sta
ton, and together they went to the lit
tie cheap apartment.
Her account of the trouble at home
was somewhat vague, but she was en-
thusiastic over the thought Of her
housekeeping.
But Perceyal found it anything but
lovely. He hated to see her soft white
hands in the dishwater. 1t made him
vince to see her bending over the
flaming stove. and even the joy of her
presence could not take away his sense
of infinite guilt.
And so he grew thin and pale and
worn.
"You are working too hard" Anna
bel said one night And when he shook
his head drearily his little wife erept
out to the janitor's room and tele-
phoned to some one.
HE is punished enough" was her
queer message. Cant you have him
go to his old quarters tonight and have
it over?"
The next night Perceval said to An
mabel: II have an engagement with
Randolph. You won't mind if leave
you, will you, dear?"
"Of course not" she acquiesced. 81
can get along just this one time"
Randolph told him that he wished to
borrow some of Percevals books. II
knew they were in your rooms, and l
thought you wouldn't mind coming
over" said he, 80 took the liberty of
asking you to desert your wife for one
evening"
As the two men entered the luxuri-
GUS quarters Perceval sighed. ITO
think of my condemning Ahnabel to
such hideousness as that apartment we
are living in" he said, leaning down to
turn on the low electric lamp on his
study table.
The light flared up and showed the