Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1917-04-27

C>g.L ana took heI l" tii'
cl,lh across the bay for four "co'"
tea. Even went 81 far aS Ia get tickets
fo- the grand opera Saturday night
although Wagner bored him TO fears
And nothing had the least eject
Not that Maude received his "rer'ur's
rude!y. She accepted both his Gii'S
Of cndrarmrnt and entertainment Ill
her brSr society manner. But the
very eEIusivcness Of her thanks he'u
him ut arms lcngth-gave nm inc
sensation of having been So recent!
introduced IL her that he dared h"'
take any liberties of intimacy.
So the gulf between them wideil"h
and every little bridge h" tried 10 run
across fell with hopeless crash.
His kcrurSt disappointment cam"
the morning Of the fatal Thursday IL
self. To his delighted surprise. as he
sal down Ia breakfast, he found at MS
place one of the knitted silk neckties
that were then the latest fad. when
il wns neither a conventional case al
Christmas nor birthday. could white
dove bring Il man more unmi>takahie
Olive-lcaf token Of peace than Such
love gift made by his wife'S own far
hands?
But when Maude joined him few
minutes later. In spite of his frank
pleasure over the lie. in spite oil MS
hearty thanks for his surprise, her
manner WAS more distant than ever
and never had he sat through more
wrctchcd meal.
on his way downtown. Dick Brent
cor on the car. Friends from college
days, Osbournr had always Thought
Dick no end uf fine fellow. Yet MS
wife was suing him for divorce on the
ground Of "incompatihility Of temper.
That was the real trouble between
Maude and him. They could no longer
hit it off. II was the beginning "f III"
end. AND, Is their marriage had been
without love on either side, founded
strictly on Il business basis. there WAS
nothing to hold them together. Grim
" he fuced the inevitable, Il future
without Maude. and srimly the In
evitahle stared back.
"A fellow gets SO durn'd accustomed
10 having his wife about" he thought
miserably.
The day had begun badly, and 1t
Went on worse.
After all. the little dinner at III"
club that had started the whole trouhl"
fell through. Desmond was leaving on
IN earlier train than first Intended,
and U~h"urnr had 10 be satisfied with
his promis" 10 stop over II day on his
way up.
"rherc's one thing I want to do be-
fore train time. though" said Desmond
rs 0SbOurnp was about to take leave
Of him in the court Of the Palace.
I've just turned down an invitation
for tonight to contingent party Of
the daughter of IN old chum # mine
md must make my peace 10y sending
he little girl Il suitahl" souvenir Of
he occasion. Could You pilot ME to
/ jewelry shop where could find some
for herr
OF course. Osbourne pilotcd. From
,ne-part policy and ninrty-nine parts
pure friendlinesS he went in Ia help
lin select his triuket. And there in
he case before his very eyes. in all
IS exquisite. rhaste beauty. WINS just
he sort of pearl pendant h" had run
he town over to get for Maude nj
christmas.
Instantly Jack OSbOurne had his
,heckbook out, and when he left III"
shop with Desmond little white vel
;et box lay warm in his pocket.
ST will mean nothing To her now.
hough." he thought. dcSpond"ntly. "n
his way home. Il suppose was Il fool
o buy it,"
In the same hopeless mood he took
out his latch key and opened the door.
Jack, Is that you:" called an eager
voice from the top Of the stairs. You
came home. after allf'
"yns rar,n bnrrn" orCwnrni 0..