The Washington herald., 1916-06-04

ms Jaw drOoplng, MS eyes douise. Ahe
did not recognize his brave and loyal
little wife in this tempestuous tempered
visage. Being a mere man and used to
roughing il, he could not realize how
completely the hardships of the last few
months had wrecked Leilas nerves and
good nature.
He rose and went hurriedly toward his
wife, his arms outstretched. But she
recoiled from him, crying Historically:
Don't touch me! Give me back the
$4,000 I put into your empty mine!"
Now, Tom Carter knew pitifuny little
about women. Had he been more ex-
perienced he would have understood that
Leila needed only a good cry and per-
haps a day or so of absolute rest or
change OF scene.
She was tired, hysterical. unhappy. and
all this had changed her. for the mo-
ment into a peevish child. Her outburst
meant nothing more than that, as any
woman would have known.
But Tom was only q man, and more
over. an inexperienced one. To him the
fiery tongue lashing was terribly real
and tragic. Leila had turned on him, had
charged him, almost in so many words,
with outright dishonesty. And her ac-
cusation awoSe in him a proud anger
hat lay too deep for immediate speech.
Without a word he went over to a
turned to the sobbing girl with a sheaf
Of papers.
Here are the stock certificates for the
mine he said forcing himself to an
outward semblance of calm. "They are
made out in your name, all of them.
Every share is yours. And the mine is
yours. didn't tell you. because I wanted
it to be a surprise to you when the Leila
A. made our fortunes
Toni"
"If We had struck 1t rich the whole
thing would have been yours" he went
on unheeding. All my work. all my hopes
were for you; not for myself. The mine
was bought with your cash. And it is
yours by rights. I'm not the type of
man who lives on his wife's money. Take
these certificates. Some day they will be
worth a hundred times their face value,
II ever we can get Eastern capital in
/ terested in the mine, you will have all
the wealth you once planned that we
both were to enjoy. It'll be yours. In
the meantime, II I can save enough out
Of my salary to pay back the $4,000 to
you, I'll do 1t. Those are the only amends
can make"
Toni" she walled, all her babyish re-
sentiment dying down. Tom! I'm so
sorry. darling! Please forgive me! I was
just upset and nervous. Won't you try
to forget it, please? And I didn't mean
what said. want you to keep the GER
tifiCateS. l.
For answer he took up the sheaf of
p,Iers crossed to her dresser and put
the into its top drawer.
e." 'ney are yours, Eeila,' he said
''Yor must take them. I've put them
in there for you. I'm only sorry Won
think have been dishonest toward YOU"
Dishonest" she wept. her arms about
his neck. why, Tom. you are the
most honest. most honorable man in the
whole world Oh. won't you please for
give me?''
He could not resist the caress, nor the
tear-stained, appealing face. Clasping her
close to his heart, he kissed the little
mouth and begged her not to cry, but
to help him bear pluckily this new stroke
Of i'll luck.
So engrossed were they in their re-
Cancellation that they did not hear a
blackboard rattle up to the gate. Only
draft of outer air told them the cabin
door had been opened. They turned to
see Leila's father and mother standing
on the Threshold.
Mr.. Austins wrinkled face was alight
at the Joy of seeing his only child again
and at witnessing her delight at her
parents surprise visit. But Mrs Austin's
gaze had travelled past her daughter.
and she was surveying the dingy and
With cry of welcome, Leila ran for
ward to greet the newcomers
In the pleasure and excitement of the
reunion she did not notice her mothers
very evident repulsion at her surround
ings. Not until Tom had carried Mr..
Austin off to look at the mine did the
older women speak her mind. But then
she did 50. very clearly and emphatically.
Leila" she began. 'Hf had dreamed
this was the way you had to live I'd
never have had a peaceful nights rest.
From your letters imagined you were
in a rose-covered cottage with every
comfort you could want"
It have everything I need" declared
her daughter, loyalty.
you have hundred times less than
any longshoreman's wife" positively
denied Mrs. Austin. This is not a
cottage, it is a hovel-a squalid, miserable
hovel. And after all the loving care we
took to shield our little girl from priva-
tions. l can't bear to think of your liv-
ing like this
"If can bear it," returned Leila, with
forced gayety. you ought to be able to-"
But you can't retorted her mother
You've lost flesh. There are hollows un-
der your eyes. Young hands-oh, your
pretty little white hands, they are all
red and calloused and splayed out of
shape Your shoulders are getting bent
'and-and-Leila, there's no use arguing!
This has got to stop. I won't let you
kill yourself out here in this Wilderness
You're coming back home with US. This
very day.
No" refused Leila. albeit the tempta-
ton gnawed keenly. mo. I can't. Tom
needs me so! He is unlucky and
He will be unluckier." finished Mrs
Austin. when he has a sick and help
less wife on his hands. And that's what
he'll have, too, II you don't get rest
and a change. Another month Of this
and you'll be ILL., You weren't built for
druid gerry, any more than a butterfly Is
built to draw a plow. For Toms sake
as we'll as for your own" she urged. art
fully. come back with US! Just for a
visit. 1t will be the saving of your
health"
To fight back the craving to cry out,
Yes! Yes, Yes!' the girl turned to the
tub and began her neglected weeks
washing. The first garment she chanced
to draw forth from the suds was one of
Toms big flannel shirts. It was unwield-
ly. and she handled it awkwardly. At
sight of the dripping shirt Mrs. Austin
cried out:
Put that down! Put it down, dearie!
You shan't do such work! I won't haye
lit! /"
Tom Carter. with Mr.. Austin, came In
from their visit to the mine. Mrs. Austin