Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-10-20

salary talk" he said. shortly. "D'you
think I'd let you-snpport me? D'you
think I'm that kind of a nosegay
When get 80 | can't pay the bills RI
walk out. Tomorrow you quit work
and we move to the Ritz-they know
me there, and-this delightful, home
like grotto of yours gives me the colly
wabbles."
"Who will pay the hotel2" Lorele
smiled.
"Mr. George W. Bridegroom, o
course. III get the money, never fear
l know everybody, and I've borrowed
thousands Of dollars when l didn'
need It, My rooms at the Charlevoi,
are full Of expensive Junk; I'll sell II
and that will help. As soon as weir
decently settled I'll look for a salariet
job. Then watch my smoke. II
quote from the press Of few month
hence: The meteoric rise of Rober
Wharton has startled the financia
world, surprising as 1t does the sensa
tiOnal success Of his father. Younl
Mr.. Wharton was seen yesterday at hi
Wall street office and took time from
bis many duties to modestly assure ou
representative that his ability was In
herited, and merely illustrates anew
the maxim that "a chip Of the old blocl
will return after many days. Tina
will please dad. He'll relent when
attribute my success to him."
you must quit drinking before y0J
begin work." said Lorelei.
81 have quit"
With u person Of such resilient tenn
permanent, one who gamboled through
life like fawn, argument was diff
cult. Bob Wharton was pagan In his
joyous inconsequence; his romping
spirits could not be damped; he bub'
bled with the optimism Of Robin
GOodfellOw. Ahead of him he saw
nothing but dancing sunshine. heard
nothing but the Pandean pipes. The
g!rl-wife watched him curiously.
II wonder II you cam she unused
"Before we begin our new life we're
going to make bargain, binding on
both Of us. You'll have to stop drink
Ing. | won't live with a drunkard. III
work until you've mastered the crav-
Ing"
mo" Bob declared, firmly. "I'll
take the river before III let yOu-keep
me. Why, II l."
Lorelei rose and laid her hand over
bis lips, saying quietly:
"Pm planning our happiness, don't
you understand? and it's big stake
You must pocket your pride for a
while. Nobody will know. We've made
a botch of things so far. and there Ia
only one way for US to win out"
"A man who'd let his wife"
"A man who wouldn't let his wife
have her way at first Is brute"
"You shouldn't ask It," he cried sui
lenly.
Il don't ask It: insist upon it. II
you refuse we can't 60 on"
Surely you don't mean that2" He
looked up at her with grave, troubled
eyes.
~ do. I'm entirely In earnest. You
haven't strength to go out among your
friends and restrain yourself, No man
as far gone as you could do it."
"I've a simpler way than that" he
told her, after a moments thought.
There are institutions where they
fellows up. III go to one OF
those"
mo" She rejected this suggestion
positively. "They only relieve; they
don't cure. The appetite comes back
This is something you must do your
self, once and for all. You must fight
this out In secret; this city is no place
for men with appetites they can't con
troll. DO this for me, Bob, and-and
III let you do anything after that. III
let yOu-beat me-" Getting no re-
Spouse from him, she added gravely,
ut Is that or-nothlng"
81 cant let you go" Bob said finally
Good! Wen keep this apartment
and I'll go on working"
He hid his face in his hands and
groaned. "Gee! I'm a rotter."
"You can sell your belongings at the
Charlevoix, and wen use the money
Wen need everything, for can't piece
out my salary the way I've been doing
There can't be any more supper parties
and gifts"
~ should hope not" he growled. "I'l
murder the first man who speaks tC
you"
Then 1t Is a real, binding bargainT
ut is-if you'll bind 1t with another
kiss" he agreed, with a miserable at
tempt at cheerfulness. But | sham
look myself In the face"
For the first time she came to hin
willingly.
Doesn't 1t seem nice to be homes
with yourself and the world?' sh'
alnhad n ftnr n Nnn
Yes" he laughed. I'm sorry +
cut the governor adrift, but he'll hav
to get along without our help"
Despite his POPULARITY he was deepl
moved. As the situation grew cleare
to him he saw that this girl was abou
to change the whole current of his care
less life; her unexpected firmness, he
gentle, womanly determination at thu
crisis was very grateful-he desperat,
~ longed to retain Its support-and "
tne arrangement to which she ha
forced his consent went sorely againi
his grain. His struggle had not bee
easy. Her surrender to him was Q
complete and rs unselfish as his ow
acQuiescence seemed unmanly an
weak. He rose and paced the HIT
room to relieve his feelings. Days an
weeks OF almost constant disslpatic
had affected his mental poise quite
dlsastrously as the strain OF the pa
twenty-four hours had told upon b