The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-09-07

Il divorce. but | can If | wish. You
have found your happlness-now you
must let me find mine as | choose.
Things may go on as they are, if you
wish. I shall not interfere with you,
neither must you with me-
Edward Utley's face was an inter-
esting study Here was the quiet,
aquiescent wife in new role. He
was ignorant of how much she knew
of the truth. For the present at least
her proposition seemed the only one
on which to keep the peace, so he said
sullenly: "As you WILL" and left the
room.
1t had been heart-tearing scene for
Grace. She loved her husband very
deeply, and her tears dropped on the
baby's face. But she cuddled it the
closer to her breast, and hushed it to
sleep. The little girl not yet two
years old, was very pretty child
with little rings Of sun-kssed hair and
eyes like blue violets. At the home
where Grace found her, they called
her Marjorie.
Grace saw to it that her husband
was not annoyed by the child, and he
seemed quite Indifferent to it's exist.
ence. But Grace was so very happy
in the care of the little one she was
content to have it so. When Mar
jorie, who was really an adorable
child, WAS three years old, she begged
so for brother that Grace brought
home little boy about two years Of
age.
When Utley sighted the new arrival
he snorted. "Oh, so this is to be an
orphan asylum
mo" answered Grace. "They are
never going to know they are or.
phans."
"How many more do you think of
adopting?'
81 haven't any idea yet. 1t will de-
pend. Now Toddlekins, shake hands
with your father"
Utley very gingerly took the little
pink fist in his, gently put 1t back, and
left the room. He had been intro
duced to a new sensation.
81 think" said Grace, few weeks
dren at the seashore this summer.
wish you would see about renting
cottage"
Utley found the cottage, and an.
nounced his intention of coming down
for week ends. He came out the first
Saturday evening, and the next morn
ing, as he sat smoking on the piazza
beheld Grace, a nursemaid, and the
two children, going down to the beach.
They seemed very happy party
laughing and talking merrily. She
had not even asked him to come. He
was out of it all. He tried to read
his paper, but he found he was moi
usual thing, this feeling of loneliness
but it would be a terrible drop to his
dignity to go after them. After a
while, dignity or no dignity he decided
to go. He found the happy family on
the sands. Marjorie industriously dig
ging, Fred making rather Intellectual
efforts to build something. He was
quite cordially received by Grace
Marjorie was trifle shy, but Fred
took the most unwonted liberties. sit
ting on any portion of his outstretched
form that happened to be convenient
and filing his pockets with sand
When Grace started to take the littl,
ing him, and began to show him how
to build a fort. Marjorie paused al
her play, wistfully watching the two
and Utley noticing this asked her Il
come and help. He played with the
children till luncheon time, and seemed
4 to be enjoying every minute. The nexi
week end he insisted on giving botf
/ the children a dip when he went ou
to swim, laughing heartily at the fright
Of the boy, and afterwards spendins
great deal of time teaching him how
to say daddy"
Next he announced that he intended
to take his vacation, and would spenC
it all with the family at the seashore
When Grace saw the little boy riding
down to the beach on the shoulders o.
her husband, and the girl cllnging t,
his hand, something tugged at hel
heart. He had fallen In love with tn,
children. OF that she was very glad
But what did it mean for her? Sh,
was happy when they called him ia
Their, and 1t pleased him, but-what o
her?
That evening when he had kissed
both the little ones goodnight, ant
they sat alone in the quiet cleaning
Grace said to him: Il am glad tn,
children do not trouble you. Ed. Blu
you ought not to make them care 81
much for you"
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because-if they learn to Low,
you-and you should want to go away
If we part, it would be so hard TO
Them
"Gracei" he cried with intense feel
ing. II don't want to go away. What
ever it was that stood between us
yes, l admit there was someone-bu
she has gone forever out of my life
If you win forget 1t. if you will lie
me come back as though it had neve
happened-do you love me enough {,