Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-11-23

Did I, but suppose every woman does
IL she only knew 1t. Tonight began
to understand what this ache inside Of
mo means" Her gaze came back and
centered upon his face, but It was
frightened and stricken. I've
sacrifaced my right to children
How can you say"
"Oh, you know It as well as I dot"
a dush wavered In the speakers
cheeks, then lied, leaving her white and
weary. "You, Of all men, must under
stand. I'm notorious. I'm painted
woman, q wicked woman-the wicked.
est woman in the land-and that repu-
tation will live in spite Of anything I
can do" She began to cry now in q
way strange to Pope's experience.
Pope's habitual restraint all at once
gave way. 'N0nsensey' he exploded
The thing that counts is what you
are, not what you seem to be. l know;
the truth"
Now there was nothing sufficiently
significant about these words to bring
light Of wonderment and gladness to
the girls face. but her tears ceased as
abruptly as they had commenced, and
noting the slowly growing radiance OF
her expression, Campbell was stricken
dumb with fright at the possible conse-
Quences Of temerity. The knowledge
of his shortcomings robbed him Of con-
fdence and helped to confuse him.
Adoree rose. For moment she
stood looking at him with peculiar,
tender smile, then took him by the
lapels Of his shapeless coat and drew
his thin face down to hers.
"I'm not going to let you back OUT
abe declared, firmly. you asked me,
didn't your"
"Adoreel No, no! Think what you
are doing" he cried, sharply.
But abe continued to smile up into
his eyes with gladness that intoxi-
Gated him.
She anuggled closer to him. murmur-
ing, cozily: II don't want to think
we'll have plenty Of time to think
when we're too old to talk. Now, just
want to love you as hard as you have
been loving me for the last six
months" ];
To al young fathers there comes .
certain readjustment Of values. To
Bob, who had always led a selfish.
th0ughtless existence, It was at first
bewildering to discover that his place
at the head Of his household had been
usurped by another. Heretofore he had
always been Of supreme domestic Inn
p0rtance, but now the order Of things
was completely reversed, If not hope
lessly jumbled. First In consequence
came this new person, tiny and vastly
tyrannical because Of its helplessness.
then the nurse, an awesome persona
sort Of oracle and regent combined
who ruled in the name and stead Of the
new. heir. Lorelei herself occupied no
mean station in the new scheme, for at
least she shared the confidence of the
nurse and the doctor, and ranked
above the cook and the housemaid, but
not 80 Bob. Somewhere at the foot of
the list he found his own true place.
Now, strange to say, this novel ar
rangement was extremely agreeable to
the depOsed ruler. Bob took q shame
less delight in doing mental service;
to fetch and to carry for all hands filed
him with Joy. But once outside Of the
premises he reasserted himself, and his
importance grew as gas expands. Be
fore long his intimate friends began to
avoid him Hike a plague. Il was his
partner, Kurtz, who finally dubbed
him "The pestilence that talketh in
darkness and the destruction that
iwasteth our mondays
One day, after Bob had acquired sui.
ficient confidence in himself and in the
baby to handle 1t without anxiety to-
the nurse, he. begged permission to
show It to the mailman downstairs. He
returned greatly elated, explaining
that the attendant, who had some I'M
possible number Of babies of his own
land might therefore be conside.ed an
authority, declared this one to be the
finest he had ever lbeheld. Oddly
enough, this praise delighted Bob out
Of all reason. He remained in Il state
Of suppressed excitement all that day.
and On the following afternoon he
again kidnapped the child for q second
exhibition. 1t seemed that the Infants
fame spread rapidly, for soon the ten.
ants OF neighboring apartments began
to clamor for q sight Of It, and Bob
was only too eager to crafty them.
Every afternoon he took his son down
stairs with him, until finally Lorelei
checked him as hs was going out.
Bob. dear" she said, with the faint
est shadow Of smile. Il don't think
it's good for him to go out SO often.
Why don't you ask your father and
mother TO come up"
wharton flushed, then he STAN.
mered, ''I-whst makes youer
think"
1Why, I guessed It: the very first
day" Lorelei's smile saddened. They
needn't see me. You know"
+ bob laid the child back In it's bed
ABut that's just what they want. They
want to zee you, only wouldn't let
you be bothered. They're perfectly
foollah over the lid; mother cries, and
father but just wait" lie rushed ont
iof the room, and in q few moments re-
turned with his parents.
Hannibal Wharton was deeply en-
barrassed, but his wife went straight
fp Lorelei and, bending over her chair,
placed kiss upon her lips. There"
said che. when you are stronger I'm