Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-06
In the Cleaning

be the making Of him. She'll discipline
him" But don't want him disciplined"
I said GROSSLY, as ] put her out OF the
room. That was the charm OF him. You
never knew what he would do next"
1t was perhaps a week after this that
we were sitting one evening in the gloam-
ing. There was a glow Of a wood fire
burning itself on the hearth, and the
tinkle of spoons against teacups, and
Tom at the piano singing. He had just
sung a passionate love song. fun Of
despair and longing and hopelessness.
When it ended there was utter silence for
a minute. and then a man stirred in his
long chair.
tom can draw the tacks out Of the
carpet when he sings like that" he said
with an attempt at flippancy
~ dislike all such songs and the man
per in which Tom sings them very
much" said Toms wife. disapprobation
in her voice. They er-seem almost i'm
proper"
you are always right" Tom replied
with hooking bitterness. thought. Now
the sentiment of that song. commends it
self neither to your judgment nor your
morals. Why should man cat his heart
out for love Of the woman he can get?
A fool. isn't he?"
IT do not care to discuss such TOPICS"
replied TOMS wife, iciy.
1t was just at this minute that Alicia
entered. gayly waving a yellow telegram
in the cir
After all, she is coming; isn't it too
delightful?" she said.
Il don't know whether IL Is or not"
replied, seeing | haven't the slightest
idea who she u.s."
why, it's Mary OVERLY She is the
most fascinating woman I ever met"
said Alicia, by way of explanation. "snd
she's n widow"
"Oh. Mrs Graham" said one woman,
aren't YOU ashamed to expose US to
such u danger"
How long has her husband been dead?"
asked another. HAS she begun to take
notice YETI"
Alicia hogan tc frown. DO you know"
she said sweeuy, that such things are
shocking when said of Mary OVERLY?
She has been widow for several years,
as far at that goes. but it isn't that
which sets her apart from other women
and gives her a look off, don't know
Z
t,sion as of one who has talked fare to
face with grief, and been sanct'fied by
It, She never mentions It. but I found
out quite by chance that she had had a
story In her life that was a romance"
Toms hand fell with q discordant
crash on tie keys Of the piano and his
face turned white. Don't tell he said
/ all the s.ories worth telling we're told
ages ago"
/ This isn't much OF one.'' said Alicia,
and suppose it's rather commonplace
/ after all. 1t was Just that Mary was
married when. but a mere child to dull.
commonplace man that she outgrew. She
lived with him comfortably enough, how
ever, until one day they walked into her
tmonotoAaus life Q young man who was.
!, one might say, the other. half of her
soul. tNether one dreamed OF any danger
until IT was TOO late. Then he went
away, and Mary took up the burden OF
! life agaln. but her heart was broken"
Now that she Is free, perhaps he ,Ou
mend It. Hearts are easily patched when
one knows how TO do IT," suggested one
OF the men"
NO" said Alicia. at was double
tradegy. There was some woman who
| 49, SaoNg NAtOE MN anu Sne was n GOOD
match. and no was desperate. and felt
that he ives done with love anyway
and in the sort of revulsion that often
comes TO man who has missed the
woman he wants, he married the woman
who wanted him. 1t Is curious. but I'VE
never heard who was the hero Of Mary's
romance, and I'd give anything to know "
Toni said sharply. IT left my fan
in the drawing room. VIII you find II
for me?"
The next morning when he came down
to breakfast Mrs. Norton told up that
Tom had received letter calling him &c
town, and that he had left on an early
train. She said that she was glad to see
that he was putting business before
pleasure and that there was nothing like
marriage TO settle mans
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