The Lamar register., 1917-08-22

Copyright. BY W. G. Chapmanl
BY JOHN ELKINS

writing she started to open when she
saw that the address began with Mr.
Instead of MRS." so she stopped and
looked curiously at it, trying TO recall
the chirography of her various friends,
but finally deciding that this was en-
tlrely strange to her. She handed II
to her husband with puzzled and eX-
pectant air. She thought he would at
once tell her who It was from. But he
read it hurriedly, thrust it back in the
envelope, and said nothing.
She saw he was not going to explain.
She could not bear the suspense, 50
she spoke.
81 see," she smiled, "you have let.
ter from lady"
'Ycs," he answered. Then seeing
she was looking at him as though ex-
pectiug an explanation he added: "Its
a woman who wants to know about in
surnnce rates"
Its strange she did not write on
business to your Office"
"Yes," he answered, picking up the
morning paper as though he wished to
dismiss the subject.
"Do know herr"
81 don't know" he answered with
some irritation.
Let me see the letter. and I can
tell"
"Why in the world do you want to
see n simple business letter.
"Because 1 do" Her lips were trem-
bling. and her voice bit unsteady.
lie looked up from his paper, and
spoke with increased irritation.
"See here. Grace, II you hadn't been
so Internally suspicious, I'd have let
YOU see it. But l don't intend to now"
"If it had been just business, you'd
have let me look at it at first"
Her lips no longer trembled, and her
voice was defiant.
"Very well-think what you like.
But tell you I'm tired Of this eternal
naEging. I'm not going to stand itP
And he flung out of the house.
Grace sat for some minutes staring
in n vacant way at the wall. Then she
began to sob, and the tears welled up
and trickled down her checks. After
this upheaval of emotion she began TO
think. He had accused her of eternal
nagging." Was it true? She remem.
bered once looking up the meaning of
the word: II was, ITO scold or find
fault with continually" Was she do
ing that2 She didn't think sha wns
but she meant to watch herself here
after. SuH that did not altogether ex-
cuse his conduct that morning. She
told herself that II she had not no
ticcd for some months Il change in him
she would not have been so suspicious
They had been married only three
years. 1t seemed a very little while FOL
happiness to last. She loved him very
deeply, her whole life was bound VI
with his. Was this the end? If he was
caring for someone else there was lit
tie use in trying TO win him back. She
had always thought that.
When John Lester left the house thai
morning he did not take the subway
ns he usually did for his downtown of
flee, but he boarded n surface car ant
left 1t ut one Of the fine cross streets
about mile from his home.
Phyllis Bert met him delightedly
She was dark-eyed. dark-haired, with {
large full mouth, and very red cheeks
She was handsome in n high-colored
rather coarse-grained way, with eyel
ready laughter ana fullness Of anima
life. She had COME to New York os
tensibly to study art, but had found th'
metropolitan whirl rather more allur
ing than the study Of drawing.
90 Jncky! you darling! 10 come Sc
sooul' she cried, meeting him.
"Phyllisl why in the world did yoI
write thar letter to my houseT"
"Dld she open it?' she asked, nov
thoroughly frightened.
"No, but it made a scene"
"Oh dearl never thought. 1 want
ed to see you before you went to th'
office. and 1 didn't dare phone. Die
she suspect anythlngf"
Suspect? 1 should say she did.
got n nagging TO beat the band"
well. she'd find something else t'
scold about If it wasn't that. You sa!
she's always at it," said the girl.
Eyes, she is. Grace has changed. W.
used to be so happy He spoke in 1
disconsoIate. regretful way ms thougl
Ioath to part with the love of thos'
years.
But Phyllis was thinking only of he
own love for this man. She had neve
thought much about anything furthe
than the qualification of her own de