The Detroit times., 1917-11-24

hand folded in her Tap, staring on
into space Vaguely be wondered
what it would be like 90 be wedded
10 one OF the strong ones Of earth,
~ ho would dare and do and die for
her mans sake. Anyway, 70 won't
be- very long and I'm we'll insured
Thatii carry Lila over for several
years. After that therel be some
body else 20 look after her, for
she's a beauty and human natures
human nature. he thought wistfuny
as be lay awaiting for rhe sleep that
was go slow in coming
Eut long after n had come 20 him
the girl az his side lay listening 20
his tossing and coughing
Somehow the weeks dragged on
and Tate kept ~ bis work. For one
thing no was thankful Lila no long
or bothered him with bills. How
she was managing he scarcely knew.
He made little complaint. but once
IN a while. when the love of life
was strong upon him. he would
moan, II only Lila Was something
more than A beautiful luxury Some
women would see that fellow had
a chance a. life"
On an early March day, unseason-
ably warm, Tate was .sent out 20 a
small town on business. There was
long wait for return train. 40
ho wandered about the town The
cares of the city and al of his
weariness seemed 10 fall from him
and he was enfolded in a great
peace. He started 10 whistle from
sheer happiness, but the whistle
died on his lips and his soul went
sick within him For he remem-
bered. He must soon leave n all.
And Lila doesn't seem 20 care
be moaned Even tonight I've got
20 meet her and take her out 10
dinner And twice last week had
20 DO ~. Oh. well, buck Up and be
man"
But for him The Soy OF the day
seemed 10 have departed Listless-
ly he wandered on down street.
+ iaN thinking that II was spot for
an Inness 10 make immortal Then
ne SAW if-a little low house that
eem.d just 10 have grown there
Win The shrubs and the trees. Co
b INK nearer. be discovered that the
/ house was empty II seemed almost
an omen 20 hna He must inspect
t AS he turned the corner the
sound of hammering IN the rear at
'racted hie attention Wei, he
might as well meet the owner He
like 20 know what the place rented
for Ina such surroundings he might
bur no there was Lila He must
care for her
The hammerlng proceeded from
tho ROOF OF low building well 70
the back OF the boule To Tate's
astonishment the person welding
me hammer In awkward enough
fashion was woman y beg your
pardon said be, drawing near
The irregular hammerins ceased.
he person on the roof turned care
4 fully half way around and then gave
scream.
I'm sorry. didn't mean TO
frghten you" he apologized
Why, Tate. how ever did you
find oute" cried tho woman on the
7 roof
why Lila. Lila" he exclaimed,
and sank weakly on a bench near
by
u wa7 an hour later. when he had
+ got ove- the shock and they We're IN
the tiny kitchen eating the crack
ers and cheese which Lila had
I bought for her lunch. that she ex-
plained everything when you told
me weeks ago what the doctor said
( made Up my mind that ! must do
something l didn't know what. be
cause I've never had 10 think or act
for myself. much less for other
people And q seemed "a tho that
part OF me. was paTalyzed But /
+ had heard OF people who lived com
foriably on half what we had and
+ I hunted some OF them up and they
told me things ! knew you couldn't
{ De bothered. because you could hard.
+ ly do "a much as you were already
obliged to-
And ! thought you weren't wor-
rying a mite about me-"
"Yes. I'm that way. II r. hard
7 FOR people % tell what I am think
/ ing Bat made up my mind you'd
( have your 'bucolic existence. And
so ! hunted and hunted until /
( found this And I've bought IL and
paid for g."
why. honey. you didn't have the
money" cried Tate in bewilder-
ment
Il had eight hundred from father
and had loads Of jewelry. I got a
/ lot OF money for that"
But you shouldn't have sold your
| Jewels" protested Tate.
Keep baubles al the price OF your
life" cried Lila I've paid for IL.
and It's ours. Tomorrow's your
birthday, and was going 10 tell
you for surprise. Well be NOV
! ing the last OF the week. I've sub
leased our fiat with most OF the
/ furniture. Well have Just enough
sent out here 10 keep us going
And never dreamed you had a
business instinct In youl What
were you doing when I came here7"
Il was mending the roof Of the
/ chicken house. The chickens will
/ he hero in day or so, and / didn't
know who 20 hire 20 nI n. 60 ! did
/ it myself. I've been doing lots OF
such things lately around the house.
+ That's why I've been asking you
10 take me out 20 dinner lately. /
/ couldn't do this and get home and
( prepare dinner And you never no
+ ticed that I let Lena go weeks ago
I and have been doing the work my
self But now you're going 10 get
well You're going 20 1--we here all
II