The Detroit times., 1917-07-04
CUAPTER CNXVII.

about my usual tasks. About II
o'clock Martha came up stairs and
announced ieuorc Dorian.
= couldn't walt she called, a.
she followed Martha 90 nay room.
have soue good news for you-such
good news
What ls ~" asked returning
her embrace. but my voice was list
less / felt no particular interest; ~
seemed as thu I never should hear
any good news again.
"Well. ! had setter from Rome H.
yesterday You remember him, OF
course. the orchestra leader you met
at my house"
Yes very WELL
had dropped into IGNORES one
evening when Robert was out. and
I had been too dependent 10 stay
alone. SiLnor Romeli was there. !
had yielded 20 Ignores persua sions
and played FOR him. ! RENE mb"r
now tnat never had played better.
But mad almost forgotten II; | sure
~ had attached no Importance 10 my
chance meeting with him.
We'll his pianist Is IN. Her doc
tor forhld= her 20 play this season
Romel has written me asking me- 70
onor you the position. ! am 10 DO
the soloist, You know
For "a moment everything turned
black My head swan. Here was
my opportunity.
Have 20 decide Immediately 7
asked. as soon as I could speak
40. hu' he must know by the hrst
or the month
Very well. TU think II over"
you NUT accept this offer. MAJ
gsret 10 would be absolutely wick ed
for you 20 let such "a chance slip
lll write Rumfii Immediately l get
home. lie will be delighted. ! didn
tell YOU ail no said about your play
Ina O.. "a "a llau
80 danger 90 that ! returned
also laughing you may tell Slgnor
Rumeli that I VIII let him know be
fore the first ~ the month whether
. can accept the position or not.
but yoN don't act hif excited
thought you'd be terribly battered p,
the offer"
"Oh. am. ~ course. replied as
stood az the door. Then as / turned
o. no ln thought that neglect.c
wife longing TOR love was not undulN
faftpred hY praises OF her abilities.
That night did not hear kober'
when De came n. ] had fallen asleel
Immediately ! touched the bed. utter
ly worn nut with my ernotionS ~
the morning my nina was n such
chaos had only spoken In mono
st lfahira Vie, ,ugrossed in his pa
per a. usual. had not noticed.
But am day the thought was VIZ
mo that when night came woul'
tell him of Romells ofrer, and my IN
tention 90 accept IT, would als'
ten him why ] would accuse him o.
being TN love with phyllis lawson
would also tell him as soon az +
could hc arranged ne could free him
SELF of me- and tho children
There my thought halted The chill
drtn Bruce Mould Robert give
len up 20 me- He must. J decided
Werc mine Mine more thar
his Gf course ! should not object q
hi. SOC Ing them..l would arrange IA
household after lenorc Dorian :.
would hire only responsible womel
20 care for the children while ! wa
away
Then came another distressing idea
Had Robert cared for Phyllis Law
son when ho hult enc house and ha'
given It SCI unreeerN"dlN o. me 20
cRuse he knew that We would not Boz
! long together HAD he even 50 ions
ago fallen under ner spellr
II il almost udirrous now. tn
manner In which / brushed all difh
4 culties aside. How easily I. IN m!
I tortured state 0f mind disposed n
/ my own ne and the lives 81 M,
! husband and children 3ut ] was y
such mental condition, loving Rob
! crt and sure he vss forever lost u
me that / was scarcely rcsponsthle.
fencre had sald she hoped Rober
wouldn't be dtsaRreeable about m!
| going on tour with Eomeli
DisaRreeahle, could have shouted
with laughter what difference dc
| ris attitude make % me- No more
/ than mine 10 him--save that ] knew
il would hurt his pride. lie was II
Hove WITH another woman. was mis-
/ cradle. unhappy unable 20 endure
I longer the tnrtHrinR knowledge anf
remain where saw him daily. WHERE
I was constantly reminded ~ her
/ Perhaps with absence 7 should rcEair
my uoise. and thru my work a mo-
! dicum Of happiness
knew ! should meet with oppoSi
tion on all sides. That father ml
hrothers even Helen would ohtec
| strcruously TO the step contem'
plated Philip had been right wher
ne said 90 many years before that Il
~ came 20 a choice between ne ant
Robert. Brnce would side with Robert
well should have 20 get aloug with
nuf thcir approval
when thinking Of Robert his root
81 objections 20 woman doing any
thing outside 81 her home unless
compelled by poverty the irony ~ q
all curled my lips with scorn The
very woman who had supplanted mo
was IN sense public character
She was writer. woman " no mad
a great deal Of money. and who was
battered fcted by tho very public
before whom he had forbidden me q
appear