The Washington herald., 1914-07-19

comment and shook his arm, making
the letter hutter so he could not read.
He turned and kissed her. For a few
moments after that she left him undis-
turbed, and then, not receiving any more
attention, again she shook his arm.
Again he laughingly quoted her with a
kiss, and then went on with his letter.
Still again she shook his arm, and again
he kissed her, but this time he captured
both her hands in one of his and held
them firmly while he finished his let
ter.
1t was only foolish little scene, and
yet it made Katherine turn from the
window with clutching at her throat.
She almost ran across the room to the
telephone and took down the receiver.
If she waited, her hurt pride would all
come back and she would not do this,
but now while she could
"HelloI Will you give me suite oo6?"
Her heart beat tumultuously. Should
she ask him to come to her! Or should
she do even more and say she was
coming to him? She was filed with a
generous impulse to give, to concede, to
meet him more than half way.
There is no one in GOO" came the
voice of the telephone girl Il can't get
any answer"
She hung up the receiver, the hot
blood burning her face. So he had gone
to the theater-he had cared so little
as that All her resentment and indig-
nation rushed back. Then she started
violently at a knock on the door. Il
was not the professional thump of
bell-boy-it was softer, more gentle
Without waiting for an answer the
door opened and her husband entered
He had been on his way to her when
! she telephoned.' He crossed the room
and took her in his arms. For 4 mo-
ment she struggled, and then hid her
face against his -houlder and sobbed
heart-brokenly.
We've both been very foolish"
"Oh, l know-I know" she muT-
INJURED.
Come over here, dear, I want to
talk to you" He led her to couch in
the corner of the room.
katherine, I've thought 4 great deal
in the last few hours, and I've realized
as l never have before the danger
of our happiness being permanently
wrecked by this thing. l know now
that the divided income will not help
it would only tend to further estrange
US.
But l want to say first of all, dear,
that blame you less now than ever
have. I've thought over all that first
year OF our marriage. know how hard
it was. and l appreciate all your econ
omy and self-sacrifce to help me. Why
| have not appreciated it more, was
because l knew you never believed in
me-you had no faith in my ultimate
success. And | think 1t hurt me more
because every one else had. Even your
own family used to tell you that it was
not necessary for you to use such ex-
treme economy, that my practice was
steadily growing and that my prospects
in every way were excellent. But YOU
seemed to have no confidence in me-
E YOU grew to save the pennies with
desperate fear OF the future That lack
OF confidence hurt and Inundated me
more than you ever knew.
And even when success came, even
then you still seemed unwilling to be-
lieve in me, you seemed to feel it only
temporary thing that came by chance,
and not something which I had wrung
from life by hard and persistent work.
and that would hold and increase by
continued work.
And so you still save and economic
in a way that l feel to be a constant
reproach on that first year and a re-
lection OF all the success that has come
to US since 1t is not that | expect or
wish either OF US to ever be extrava-
CANT. But l think we've earned the
right and can well afford to live COM
fortably without a constant dread OF
the expense"
He hesitated a moment, and then
went on more slowly:
And there's one more thing, dear.
This may seem brutal but think it
best to say it. When man has worked
hard and long. it's only natural that he
should want the pleasure OF spending at
least some part of what he has earned.
And if his wife does not let him spend
it on her-in the end he usually spends
it in other ways"
He stopped over and kissed her.
Now dear, that's all l wanted to say.
Except that I've determined to make
this trip as pleasant for you as l can.
And about the rooms-it shall be as you
wish. In the morning I'll have my
things brought down here"
Mono" nesting closer against
him, well keep those rooms-not these.
And can't you-can't you take me up