Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-10-20

The mothers lips parted, closed
parted again-she seemed to taste
something unspeakably bitter. my
dear! Why, my dear! He hasn't a
cent. It's absurd. The marriage was
only a form. You're no more his wife
in the sight of God than"
Lets not talk about Cod" cried
Lorelei. "That ceremony was scarce
ly legal, not to speak Of religion or
decency."
you've lost your mind! You've
changed completely"
eyes, have. You see, l wasn't
wife until yesterday-until Bob and 4
had an understanding. I've had a sus-
picon that my old ideas were wrong,
and they were"
Fiddle -de-dee! You're hysterical.
You can't make me believe you learned
to love that man."
81 don't say love him."
Mrs. Knight snorted her triumph
loudly. "Then you mustn't live with
him another moment. My dear child,
such a relationship is-well, think 1t
out for yourself"
Lorelei saw the futility of argument,
but certain thoughts demanded express
sion, and she voiced them, as much for
her own sake as for her mothers. 1--WE
learned that marriage Is more than /
considered it, mother. It's an obliga-
just as long as Bob lives up to his. II
he complained of the fraud we prac-
ticed on him I'd be willing to leave
him; but he doesn't-so the matter Is
out of our hands"
Mrs. Knight relieved her steadily in
creasing anger by harsh outburst.
II never thought you could be 80
silly, after the way you were raised.
Didn't we give up everything for you?
Didn't Peter sacrifice his life's work to
give you an opportunity"
"I'll keep on sharing my salary with
you"
Salary Mrs. Knight spat out the
word "After all our pains! Salaryv
you're probably just as honest in
your ideas as am in mine,' Lorelei
told her II sha'n't allow you to want
for"
~ should hope not, since you're to
blame for Peters condition Oh, you
know you are! If you hadn't wanted
a career he'd still be in Vale, strong,
healthy man instead Of cripple"
81 didn't want career" Lorelei de-
MED with heat. "And father almost
had to leave Vale"
Nothing Of the sort. He was big
man there. Had to leave Vale eh? So
you've turned against your own blood,
and disparage your father Anyhow,
he was hurt while he was working to
give you start, and now he's help
less. Ten thousand dollars right now
would save his life. Think that over,
when your own father is dead and
gone"
White with anger, sick with disap-
pointment, Mrs. Knight whisked her
self out Of the apartment.
Strangely enough, the news OF Bob
Whartons marriage had not leaked In
to the papers up to this time, and Lore
lei, having regard for the feelings Of
his parents, insisted that he help her to
keep the matter secret as long as pos
sibe Bob rcbeled at first, for he
adored publicity. He rejoiced In his
newest exploit and desired his world
to hear of it, while the prospect OF
further notifying his father was so
agreeable that 1t required much persua-
sion to make him rellnqulsh 1t. With
her own family Lorelei had less diff
Guilty, for they were by no means
eager to advertise their bad bargain
and had withdrawn behind stiff re-
straint, leaving the couple to their own
devices. This attitude spared the bride
much unpleasant notoriety, enabling
her to pursue her work at the theater
without comment.
Bobs society proved in some ways a
welcome change from the sordid drab-
ness of her own relatives, for he was
colorful. versatile, and nearly always
good humored. Misfortune aroused in
him wild hilarity; cares excited
mirth Lorelei realized before long
that this very jocundity Of his, since it
fed upon constant change and excite
ment, constituted the gravest menace
to their happiness. The man lived en-
tirely outside of himself; he utterly
lacked the power of self-amusement.
He refused to frequent the theater os-
tensibly because of their secret, in
reality because of his shame at allow
ing her to work. AS Lorelei came to
know him better and to understand the
conflicting forces within him, she be-
gan to wonder how long he could hold
himself true to his bargain.
During the first week of their mar
ried life his system struggled to throw
off the effects of his recent dissipa-
lions, and in consequence 1t craved
only rest Greatly encouraged by this
lack of desire, he boosted that the bat
tie was already won. and Lorelei pre-
tended to agree with him.
She did not deceive herself, however,
and brief experience convinced her
that to be merely wife to one Of
Bob's vagrant disposition was not
enough; that in order to keep his new
self alive she must also be his sweet
heart, his chum and his partner II
she failed in any one of these roles dis
aster was bound to follow. But to
succeed in them all, when there was
no love to strengthen her, was by no
means easy. Always she felt great
emptiness and disappointment that
her life had been SO crookedly fash
ioned sometimes she even felt de-
graded, and wondered IL she were do.
1uU riOhf flor oil