The Irish standard., 1916-12-30
CHAPTER XIII,

Young Howe had been firmly re-
solved to give up all his bachelor hab-
Its with his wedding day. In his lndo-
lent, rather selfish way, he was much
in love with his wife.
But with the inevitable misunder-
standings of the first months of mar
riage had come desire to be appreci-
ated once again at his face value.
Grace had taken him, not for what he
was, but for what he seemed to be.
With Christine the veil was rent. She
knew him now-all his small indo-
lences, his affectations, his weaknesses.
Later on, like other women since the
world began, she would learn to dis
semble, to affect to believe him what
he was not.
Grace had learned this lesson long
ago. 1t was the A Il g Of her knowl-
edge. And so, back to Grace came
Palmer Howe, not with suggestion to
renew the old relationship, but for
comradeship.
Christine sulked-he wanted good
cheer; Christine was intolerant-he
wanted tolerance; she disapproved Of
him and showed her disapproval-he
wanted approval. He wanted life to
be comfortable and cheerful, without
recriminations, little work and much
play, drink when one was thirsty.
Distorted though it was, and founded
on a wrong basis, perhaps, deep in his
heart Palmer's only longing was for
happiness; but this happiness must be
Of an active sort-not content, which
Is passive, but enjoyment.
"Come on out" he said. "I've got
car now. No taxi working it's head off
for us. Just little run over the cOun-
try roads, eh?''
It was the afternoon of the day be-
fore Christine's night visit to Sidney.
The office had been closed, owing to a
death, and Palmer was in possession
pr holiday.
"Come on" he coaxed. "We'll go out
per-"
Il don't want to go.''
"That's not true, Grace, and you
know it,
"You and are through"
Its your doing, not mine. The
roads are frozen hard; an hours run
into the country will bring your color
back"
"Much you care about that. Go and
tide with your wife," said the girl, and
flung away from him.
The last few weeks had filled out her
thin figure, but she still bore traces of
her illness. Her short hair was curled
over her head. She looked curiously
boyish, almost sexless.
Because she saw him vince when
she mentioned Christine, her ill temper
Increased. She showed her teeth.
"You get out of here" she said sud-
denly. II didn't ask you to come back.
{ don't want YOU"
'Good heavens, Grace! You always
knew I would have to marry some
day."
II was sick; nearly died. didn't
hear any reports of you hanging around
the hospital to learn how l was get
hng along"
He laughed rather sheepishly.
II had to be careful. You know that
Is we'll as do. l know half the staff
here. Besides, one Of" He hcsi-
lated over his wife's name "A girl I
know very well was in the training
school. There would have been the
1evil to pay If I'd as much as called
lp."
"You never told me you were going
70 get married"
Cornered, he slipped an arm around
her. But she shook him off.
II meant to tell you. honey; but you
rot sick. Anyhow, IL hated to tell
you, honey"
He had furnished the fiat for her,
There was a comfortable feeling of
coming home about going there again.
Md, now that the worst minute Of
their meeting was over, he was visibly
happier. But Grace continued to stand
cycling him somberly.
"Pve got something to tell you," she
:. said. Don't have fit, and don't
laugh. If you do, 1ll-1ll jump out
Of the window. I've got place in a
store. I'm going to be straight, Pal
ner."
Good for you!"
He meant 1t. She was nice girl and
be was fond Of her. The other was a
DOGS life. And he was not unselfish