Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-10-26


decency."
You've lost your mind! You've
changed completely =
Yes. I have. You nee, wasn't a
wife until yesterday until Bob and i
had an understanding. I've had q sus:
picion 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."
II don't say love him. .
Mrs. knight snorted her triumph
loudly. Then you mustn't live with
him another moment. Ny dear child,
such relationship is-well. think 1t
out for yourself"
Lorelei saw the utility OF argument.
but certain thoughts demanded express
sion, and she voiced them, AZ much for
her own sake as for her mothers. I've
learned that marriage Is more than I
considered It, mother. It's an obliga-
ton. I intend to live up to my. part
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 the matter Is
out of our hands,"
Mrs knight relieved her steadily In
creasing anger by q harsh outburst
y never thought you could be SO
silly, after the way you were raised.
Didn't we give up everything for you?
Didn't Peter sacrifice his lies work to-
give you an opportunity ?" !,
"I'll keep on sharing my salary with
you
"salaryw. Mrs. Knight spat out the
word. after all our pains! salary!g
you're probably just as honest in
your ideas as am In mine," Lorelei
told her. Il sha'n't allow. you to want
for
II should hope NOT, since you're to
blame for Peters condition oh, you
know you are! II you hadn't wanted
a career he'd still be in Vale. a strong,
healthy man instead Of a cripple"
81 didn't want a career" Lorelei de-
MED with heat. "And father almost
had to leave Vale .
Nothing Of the sort. He was big
man there. Had to leaYe Vale,' ell? So
you've turned against your own blood,
and disparage your father Anyhow,
he was hurt while he was working to
give you a 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.
j, Strangely enough, the news OF Bob
Wharton's 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 az long az pos
sible. Bob rebelled 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 mortifying his father was 80
agreeable that 1t required much persua-
sion to make him rellnquish It. 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 stim 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.
Bob's society proved In some ways a
welcome change from the sOrdid drab-
ness OF her own relatives, for he was
eolorful, versatile, and nearly always
good humored. Misfortune aroused in
him a Wild hilarity; cares excited
imirth. 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
of the effects Of his recent dissipa-
lions, and in consequence it craved
only rest. Greatly encouraged by this
lack of desire, he boasted that the bat
tie was already won, and LOrelei pre-
tended to agree with him.
She did not deceive herself, however.
and "a brief experience convinced her
that to be merely 4 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, hiss 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 aJgreat
emptiness, and disappointment that
her life had been 30 crookedly FASH.
toned; sometimes she even felt de-
graded. and wondered II she were do
Ing right, after all.
In the course Of 4 fortnight Bob be-
gan to grow restless. One evening
when he came for her she saw that he
was nervous; q strained, tired look had
crept; into his eyes, and abe thought
she understood. Nevertheless his spir-
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