Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-03

face with the eyes Of beggar; but the re
Spouse he had hoped for was not there.
IL don't know she faltered. Il
guess We've had our time, JOIN
And then he knew she would never under
stand; knew too that she was not the kind
Of wife to whom man could confide secret
like his But he tried again Remember
that time, about twenty years ago, when we
sat under the trees-the same old trees,
AIuriel? | was asking you to be my wife.
Will YOU marry me?' said, just as plain
and direct like that, without any soft words.
We were both of us too tired, | guess, and
too poor and lonesome, to dabble with sentl-
ment | guess we weren't like the Others,
AIuriel, the Others who have sat under these
old trees since then. We were never young,
YOU know.
"AIaybe it was best that way, she con
soled. I'VE always were plalnspoken and
simple folks And we've been getting along
pretty WE'LL guess as well as the others
And am sure | have been lot happier
since | left Worley's office.
PICK Ms suddenly became aware that
the odor of bay rum he eXuded fresh
from his Sunday morning shave was con-
Eliminating the breath of the lilacs. But the
impression was fleeing. His wife was nurs-
ing wound acquired by the youngest Bick-
ins in his efforts to run at top speed round
circular howerbed and prove that the law
of centrifugal force was all bosh.
IF it hadn't been for Worley- he
thought aloud; though he hadn't meant to.
"Worlev, YES said his wife, and therewas
bitterness in her voice that startled him.
what do you know about Worley?' he
demanded little sharply.
why, John, he was my employer, you
I 4 Il, II ,,1n
worked in his Office that | got to know you
don't you remember!
@Yes, YES, of course Queer | should have
forgotten it." And then, muttering under
his breath, all but too low for her to hear,
"Scoundrel!"
She forced her arm tenderly under his
"But he cant harm us any more, john
~Cs-harm u.s." He gave little startled
gasp. what do you mean, Muriel? How
did he ever harm us?'
"Oh, | am not sure just what | meant,
John. l never liked him, you know, this
with a weak laugh that something strangled
into groan But it treasured Bickins.
Il was lust thinking he said, about
poor-poor Jones. You never heard OF HIM,
| guess"
mo, l never heard of him. You are not
cold, are you, John? But what are you say
ing about jones'
Bickins, fumbling for words, wondered
how she could find it cold for the air was
warm and caressing. Then, Zones was
Worley's partner mean one of Worley's
partners Guess you never knew much
about Worley's affairs Well, poor Jones
was on the inside sure enough! He meant
well enough, did Jones; but he was young
and foolish and poor, and there was girl.
They were to be married as soon as he could
get little balance in the bank. And then
Worlev-'
He glanced at his wife Her face, tense but
unimaginative, showed no trace OF keener
interest
"Worley came to Jones and showed him
how he could use that bank balance, he
continued bitterly. @He whispered scheme
into his ear whispered it in that smooth,
cunning way of his. They were to start
new investment enterprise with Jones as its
president. 1t looked straight enough to Jones,
honest fool that he was. Things began to
look cheerful The girl and he had decided
on the day. Then
"You never really knew what skulking
dog Morley was. The concern was fraud,
a barefaced swindle; though Jones didn't
know it until it was too late Then, as he
was the nominal head Of the concern, he
was told he could either refund the inves-