News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-10-14

was low and choking-"if you please
you had better co.
The millionaire nodded CURLY tc
each. At the door he turned and adj
| dressed Bob:
Apologies are not forthcoming" he
said. Advice, too, seems to be lost or
| you. But take tip from one who
! knows. Your wife is a sensible WON
an. Pay her lot of attention"
Reynolds made no reply. He gave
no sign that he heard. But he did hear
and the import of the millionaire's
words struck home. Sensible? Yes
she was that, perhaps, but he had
thought she was something more than
that when he gave his heart and soul
His wife reused him from his rev
erie. She came to his side.
Bob she said, 81 hadn't finished
You sent Brand away, but do not send
him away for good. Think what il
means to us; what it means to me
Why, when he offered you that forty
thousand dollars | never had a thought
in the world that you would refuse it
was like little child coming down,
stairs on Christmas morning and see.
ing tree all beautifully lit up. But
before could touch it you had put out
the candle and kicked away the tree
as SO much dead wood. But | couldn't
stand it. went out and picked up the
candles and have relighted them. II
icn'f LOFT Rob hn ;,
within our reach. Won't you let me
have it?"
Quite sadly and quietly he turned tc
her as he had before, but it was q
graver question now. He realized that
and he knew that his answer would
be momentous one.
Jane" he said, "if I have failed
failed to give you what you wanted;
failed to give you what you hoped for;
failed as husband and a man, | am
sorry. l am sorry, but that is all
can say. If you want more; more than
money can buy and want to buy i!
with the kind of money that Brand
offers, you must look elsewhere. II
cannot come from me. What you have
said of yourself is largely true. But ii
was all part of the agreement. l told
you you would have to go through it.
All of it. We both knew that"
EYES," she answered, "Gntil the |
chance came for you to help yourself |
You know that you believed and that |
/ believed that some day the chance
would come, and when it came, you
discarded it."
"But not that kind of a chance" he
said softly. THAT was not whrt
was expecting or looking for. l never
wanted to be thief, Jane, and l have
told you I won't be one now. I know
the temptation and though it grieves
me to see you blinded to it, it is not
merely my opinion against yours that
makes me firm. l am thinking of you,
too. l know if I take this money all
the love will be driven out of our
hearts, and this home, such as it is,
that we have struggled for, will be
gone"
But we can find better one"
mo, Jane" he persisted firmly, but
ut won't be better one.
1t won't be home at all. That word
doesn't signify four walls and a roof,
no matter how much magnificence may
be within them. Home is here where
we have made it. Home is in our
hearts and if we destroy the purity
Of it and our respect for each other,
home is nowhere. That doesn't mean,
though, that we are doomed forever to
this particular spot. l will work on.
If man is capable and honest and
knows his duty and does it, nothing
can stop him. 1t is only little wait"
Wait! That was the word she would
not brook The lure of ready money,
he luxury of it, had trapped Jane
firmly in its meshes. The little taste
she had had was just enough to make
her crave it, as little water drives
4 thirst-famished man to a maddening
quest for more.
"Only a little wait. Only a little
wait!" She drawled the words out in
4 wearisome monotone, and then ex-
claimed: "Why, soon I'll be like Mrs.
Collins with paint on my face and my
hands in gloves to hide the seams in
hem, and wanting some liquid balm
% drown the sordidness of it all. Now
f it were necessary, Bob, I'd be will
ng to live like Mrs. Collins, dowdy and
lirty, but it isn't. You can't take this
chance of escape from me. You can't
md you won't That's final"
She turned and crossed quickly to
Ter room. Reynolds stood as if dumb
watching the door through
which she bad gone. In a moment she
,ame out, dressed in coat and hat.
You're going out?" her husband
inquired in a surprised tone. "Why,
lane, if you want anything at the store
ct me go for you"
81 don't want anything at the store,
Bob, and I'm going farther than that.
IN going to New York. But not to
Brand" she added. There was no
more between Brand and me than be-
ween you and your employer and
,uess my jobs about ended there, as
he partnership is here" 7
you mean you're leaving Your hus- 4