Middletown transcript., 1914-11-14
CHAPTER xVl-contInued.


Quite sadly and quietly he turned to
her as he had before, but It was
graver question nov. He realized that
and he knew that his answer would
be momentous one.
Jane" he said, "if have failed
failed to give you what you wanted;
failed to give you what you hoped for;
failed as a husband and q man, ! am
sorry. / am sorry, but that is all !
can say. II you want more; more than
money can buy and want to buy It
with the kind Of money that Brand
offers, you must look elsewhere. 1t
cannot come from me. What you have
said Of yourself Is largely true. But It
WAS all part Of the agreement told
You you would have to go through Il.
An Of it. We both knew that"
~Yes," she answered. until the
chance came for you to help yourself.
You know that you believed and that
l believed that some day the chance
would come, and when 1t came. you
discarded It."
~But not that kind Of chance" he
said softly. "That was not what
was expecting or looking for. ] never
wanted to be a thief, Jane, and have
told you / won't be one now. ! 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 il 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 a better one."
~No. Jane," he persisted firmly, but
hopelessly. "It won't be better one.
II won't be home at all. That word
doesn't signify four walls and roof,
no matter how much magnifcence 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. will work on,
II a man is capable and honest and
knows his duty and does It, nothing
can stop him. It Is only little wait.
Wait! That was the word she would
not brook. The lure Of ready money
the 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 a little water drives
a thirst-famished man to maddeninG
quest for more.
"Only a little wait Only a little
wait!" She draBled the words out In
a 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 seama IN
them, and wanting some liquid balm
to drown the sordidness Of II all. Nov
II Il were necessary. Bob, I'd be will
ing to live like Mrs. Collins. dowdy and
dirty, but It isn't. You can't take thir
chance Of escape from me. You cant
and you won't That's final"
She turned and crossed quickly Il
her room. Reynolds stood as If dumE
stricken, watching the door through
which she had gone. In moment sht
came out, dressed In coat and hat.
you're going out?" her husband
inquired in q surprised tone. Why
Jane, II you want anything at the store
let me go for you"
Il don't want anything at the store
Bob, and I'm going farther than that
I'm going to New York. But not Il
Brand" she added There was NJ
more between Brand and me than be
tween you and your employer and
guess my jobs about ended there, al
the partnership is here"
aYou mean you're leaving your bus
band and your homer Why. you mus
be mad, Jane. ] won't let YOU"
"By what right can you stop me2
she inquired coolly.
"Just by the right Of our love-, b,
answered. stepping quickly to her sid
and putting an arm about her.
can't let you go that way. Jane. That
my end Of the partnership"
She drew away from his embrace
not angrily. but with determination
Bob. she said gently. = love YOU
You know do. But I'm not going .
be weak enough to let you dominat
me and make this fatal mistake. Whe
partners can't agree there is but on
solution and now our partnership
} dissolved She looked up at th
cuckoo clock that had told Of 20 man
happy hours and. OF late, SO many sa
ana weariscme hours in the little bur
galow. AS she lOuRed It began t
etllke. a dismal. lonesome note. as
the cuckoo had lost Its mate and wa
calling In q hopeless way from its littl
prison,
sFour o'clock. she said. "I'll be-
let me- see where win be2 ] don
know NeR York very well. Yes, I.