The Washington herald., 1914-03-20

4 The money, Il u1e6u-lI sOu ict hic-
Harold groaned. The loss he had In
Cured through his wife's mad playins
meant more to him than he cared &c
| acknowledge. Now he began to yield to
| the soft seductiveness Of the temptrest
before him. They had been sweethearti
once and ever since his marriage Mrs
Van Courtland had pitted her practised
wiles against the ingenious charms OF
Irene in a bold attempt to win him back
|. Suddenly the door opened and Mrs
Brandon stepped into the room. The
surprised pair sprang apart guiltily.
Harold was still too angry with Irene
to care to explain. While he looked al
her with dumb wrath Mrs. Van Court.
lands olick wits came to the rescue.
Don't excite yourself. Mrs. Brandon.
she said calmly. your husband COM
planned of q headache and I was trying
to soothe his nerves by rubbing his
hands"
Irene had seen too much to be deceived.
At last she found her voice.
DO you think l am a fool. a simple
TONI she blazed "You-you-" She
paused, quivering with jealous rage. But
with a toss OF her head and q queenly
air Mrs. Van Courtland gathered her
draperies and swept into the supper
room to join her guests. Husband and
wife glared.
II wonder IL you realize what your
foolishness has cost me tonight he ex-
claimed hosrsely. We are nearly
ruined
Irene seemed not to heed or hear. She
looked at her husband with an enig-
matte smile. They went to join the
merrymakers No one had suspected
anything was amiss. The hostess gave
no sign. Wine flowed.
A month later Harold had lost the
tawdry remnant of his fortune in an
effort to recoup his wealth in gambling
Their sumptuous home was despoiled OF
its treasures. and the costly furniture,
drapeL in ghostly Surroundings awaited
the movers vans. Irene. sitting amid
the wreck of II all. waited for her hus-
band 10 return from an errand. Then
they were to leave together. Where they
were going she did not know. She only
knew that for the first time since their
marriage she was supremely happy. The
gaudy show and tinsel OF wealth had
shackled her better self too long. Now
she was free at last,
The door opened softly and the Duke
OF Nalhallan entered. He had been one
of her husbands most Intimate friends
With the quick perception of a woman.
Irene knew he admired her In his own
feline way. But she had never permitted
his soft advances TO overstep certain
bonds.
Mrs Brandon" he began. twirIing his
mustache with eneminately manicured
hands. You have been in my thoughts
ever since the day / first looked into
those heavenly eyes of yours. Come fee
with me / shall take you across the
ocean. We shall live In one OF my
castles. We shall be supremely happy.
I am rich, and can give you everything
your heart desires. Quick, say you will
be mine, my darling
Irene shrank from him in disgust. She
had never liked his oily manners and
purring voice. Now that Harold was
penniless. he had deemed the time ripe.
she thought hotly. And he did not seen
TO lose any time. She had listened in q
daZed way. but as he attempted to kiss
her she struck him in the face.
'I shall have you then. whether you
want me or not" he cried. seizing her
brutally. She struggled and gasped for
breath.
Let her go. you cur" Harold had
sprang into the room. The dukes fingers
loosened their grasp and he covered
like a whipped dog before the enraged
husband. You coward masquerading as
a man-you skulking thief" snarled
Harold. and Irene thought him splendid
in his rage. Now go." Harold pointed
to the door.
As the Duke skunk from the room Irene
Elimpsed the beginning of a new man in
her husband. She had hoped something
would happen to bring out the good In
him that she knew he Possessed. 1t had
happened now. She could see that the
scene that had just been enacted had
made him realize that he loved her
lNW-A AA@ o.
things they had lost. She had won, He
folded her in his arms tenderly and her
heart leapt dizzily as he pressed a lin
gerinG kiss to her lips.
They made their home in a bare little
room far removed from their former resi-
dence. Harold looked strong and manly
in his rough working clothes. and Irene
was prettier than ever in her cheap little
house dress and her cheeks were bright
with new happiness.
One evening a strange impulse guided
her to the familiar Salvation Army bar
racks She was greeted by her old
ca plain.
Il want to come back" she said. land
nay / bring my husband, too?' The old
captain was overjoyed and 1t was ar
-anged that Harold and Irene should
oin the army. She told her hrsbe nd |
With tremulous happiness. The new life
lad made new man of him, he told her
But Irene knew II was the change she
rad prayed for. hoped for and sometimes
iespaired Of achieving. 1t had come now
and the power of her prayers had
,aused It
They were seated at supper one even
ng when there was a knock at the door
man standing there handed Irene an
important looking document
Perhaps You remember Mr.. Rogers. the
I'D broker who became a drunkard?" |
he asked her, and Irene remembered the
riumph OF her Salvation Army career
Well YOU helped him on his feet again.
ind he regained the fortune he had
ost. Last year he died, leaving II all |
o you |
Irene's mind reeled. Then she went
o tell her husband. |
And there is something else ! must
ell you. too" she whispered, winding
Ter arm about his neck II lost that
r oney TO Mrs. Van Courtland on purpose
knew poverty would bring out the good
n Spu-poverty and the power of PRAYER"
CCoTgHght, 1874 by Henry Barrett Chamberiin.l
cun A NTYcr ATTrNFHYY M y,y>~-