Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-12

WHO'S GUILTY?
ID Story, The Weaker Strain
By Mrs. Wilson Woodrow

By Mrs. Wilson Woodrow
ssscr OF ..The silver Buttern!." "rhs
|As. (Novellxeo iron, the series OF photo
|5yays Of the samc name released by
|8ssths Exchange md shown at the Vie
1915. Mrs. Wilson woodrrr
|sYNoPsIs OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
Happy young couple, though they arc poor.
lust as Tom begins t" succeed as an archi-
|$cncert stage With raul l.cerand com
|fossr and pisnis, Tom Is nnw,ii,ms for her
|tishes. That very day rom is badly in
Cured. Their savings melt sway and Laura
Tom Is convale.con, II. learns that nrm
That owes him money e inSolNcnt l"crapd.
Continued from TucsdayD
|Hs"You are mistaken" said Tom cold.
III. II am giving her n chance 10 keep
Ser reputation As FOR my not being
Il Die to provide FOR her. that is no con-
germ of yours"
Her husbands rudensss 10 their guest
u Prices eye me, hers lie saw. i'm
her face. the sharp disappointment in
CHE had done for him-all she had
xuffered and sacrificed on his account
NALL that this Chance" meant to her.
Moreover, he reelected, what right
hRd he to refuse her the opportunity
To- make 4 livelihood, now that lie
gould no longer earn ono for her
Elbow long is tho tour?' he asked
Aesitatinsly.
E"Ten weeks" replied l.eerand. with
Sndden eascrness I'VE open next
Monday night In Galveston VIC close
In New York Just ten weeks later"
$Tom!" cried Laura, joyous In
8redulity bringing u nush 10 her
$heeks and a now light TO her eyes. as
The read Prices expression. TON.
&lo you mean YOU arc really going 10
get me Go?"
Tom nodded. in silent wretchcduess
2E"Good for you, old man" applaudcd
EhrEent.
SsNI congratulate YOU on coming at
last TO your senses. Mr. Price" added
4he delighted Lcerand You will
never be sorry for this. thank YOU
ayith all my heart
SS'I don't want your thanks. crowlca
afom, ungraciously I'm doing this
I'm her account. Not on yours owe
otto her And pay my debts"
$9Three days later Laura Price Snt
Forth from home to Join the Lesrand
S.onccrt company At Galveston.
Tom could hobblc painfully around
fhc fiat by this time. The funds from
fhe pianos sale would provide for him.
FOR the present. and for tho wages Of
in elderly woman who had hccn hired
Ito keep house for him In his wifc's
a5bsence.
q Before the ready money should he
Bone the family cxchcuucr would be
le-enforced by such sums KS Laura
3ould forward to him from her salary.
VI Laura was iubilant. Her life dream
aiat at last come true. The voice Tom
#ovcd-the voice her friends and
Teacher praised-was TO he heard by
fhe music world at large She would
.so able to take her place among tho
gccognized singers Of the day
~ If she should make Eood--and there
sns no doubt OF this. in her heart
S2cr foot would he firmly placed upon
no ladder OF fame; tho ladder on
SShose loftier runcS stood Media and
arctrazzini aud the rest of the im-
portals. Her future was assured
;shere would he gold and rlory-gold
% d1spel Toms money troubles and
make him comfortable for lifcclory to
effect upon him. as her husband. and
% make him happily proud Of his re-
stowned wife.
1t was dream Of perfect happiness.
md II transported her into a vcrItabla
&ools' paradise that exalted and thrilled
&,er Whenever q panE OF premature
Homesickness asSailCd her. or she
8hrank from tho prospcct Of ahsauc,
from her adored husband. she would
quiet these unbiddcn uualms by saving
10 herself:
E&Its for Tom, It's all for him, |,
tyill be his success well as mine
AS for Tom. once having made IN
hnS mind, he said not word TO indi-
sate the hcartbreak that WAS his In
{ettinE Laura accept TIA sizes r;sl,d offer
sJe had lade his life S.S iirrt-no SHCrIf,,a
II self-effacement. RE had Welded his
5swn happiness for hers.
fIs.For. ne knew he and She would never
bgain> be as once they had been III.
Knew, too, that during every hour nf
ser absence ne would he tortured by
~ gnawing jealousy that would rcnd
ais soul as the fanrs 81 rahid beasts
sdixht rend victims body
he hated I.ceraud He hated
the composers easy arsressiveness