The Press., 1914-11-18
he cause of lis desire for a separation;

! the cause of his desire for separatiOn: !: therefore he did not nuke it known. The truth Is that ordinary family jars full of matrimonial theories had led him to take the course he did.
 It was agreed betWc, Il husband and wife that the fact that he was to de- part permanently was I.t to be i'm parted to the child.rn: They were to be told that their father was going away and his return was left indefin te. His wife packed his belongings. and us he saw her doing the work he won dered how he was to . t them un- packed, for to this she, had always attended. and he had become absolute iy useless ill either packing or unpack- ing.
 When all was ready Ellis kissed his children. then turned to his wife. She had turned away and was buSyinS herself putting some toilet articles ill his satchel. He assumed that she dil not wish to be kis. cd. and it gave him a pang. But it must be remembered that he was not going ANay on ac- count of special quarrel O.: cEimila ton of quarrcb O., but on general pr.n- ciples. He kissed all the child:en, and they noticed that he hu%gcd them very close.
 "Why. papa" sail lite Ed. ''yo"':c crying
 The only reply was c!o CT h1E. As soon as the father had b;d,.cn good by to them he seized his NltcLcl and shot out of the door without look n2 behind him, to the wonder of all cX ccpt the mother.
 There is no fool like the theOretic fool. He can go over theories that have grown up ill his mind. they be- coming more and more perfect to him the while. and not see some g airing defect that to another will plainly let down his whole fabric. Ellis fabric was toppling before he left home. He had no sooner got to his new quarters and looked about him ill a room in which there were furniture and decOra- tions, but no living being. when it collapsed utterly. That night was the most miserable of his existence. He did not sleep, but lay awake trying to form plan whereby he might go home and save luis face at the same time.
 First he thought that he would lay down series of rules for the guid- ance of himself and his wife and if she would agree to abide by them he would go home and try tO live in peace, He even wrote out several of these rules, but tore them up. He thought of various expedients, but none seemed practical.
 In the morning when all his plans were discarded he wrote note to his wife admitting his mistake and asking whether if he came home he would be received as before his departure. Mrs.. Ellis replied that he would be welcome, adding no condition or stipulation whatever. He had scarcely received her note when he called an automobile and told the chauffeur to drive. ire spective of speed limit, to his home.
 His wife met him at the door and threw her arms about his neck. To- gether they went into the dining rOOm where the children were just finishing their morning meal. All rose and jumped upon him. The older ones had suspected that something was wrong in the fathers going and were much moved at his sudden return. When the greetings were over and the chii, drcn on their way to school Ellis said to his wife:
 Where are those copies of our pre- nuptial agreement?
 Mrs. Ellis disappeared and soon re- turned with the articles inquired for Seizing them. her husband tore them into bits and threw them into the fire burning on rhc hearth.
 Wife" he said with animation, cit is my Opini"h that these newfangled plans for trial marriages and easy di- vor'cs arc for persons who either can't get on together or have never been married. For you and me they are ri- liculous
 'Thcy will not help those who are happily married. and, as for those who arc 'i'shappily married. God help them!"
 That was the end of Ellis matrimo- nial theories. When after that he and luis wife had spat. according to m "SICCCiL IhcH tll''uc dLlCI HIS lelulu' they made it up before going to sleep that night. This they found to be a great advantage in many ways. First. it ended the spat: second. it got them used to cutting short their differ ences; third, they soon became used to considering such disagreements as mere explosions of nervous irritation | and not worth explaining. At any rate. | they grew closer each year. and today | Ellis wonders how he could have been | arnch n fOOl