The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-01-04

mDDleu ht lonely lunCu, Trying 10 as /
sure herself that nothing was seriously |
amiss; but she could not make up her |
mind TO go to bed She tried to read |
and failed. An hour passed, then am
other; thousand apprehenslons
crowded in upon her.
Bob. when he did arrive. entered
with elaborate caution. He paused In
the little hall. then tossed his hat into
the living room, where his wife was
waiting. After moment his head
came slowly into view. and he said:
"When the hat stays in, go in; when
II comes out, beat it,"
Loreei saw that he was quite drunk.
81 Just came from the theater," he
explained. but It was dark. Has the
show failed. dearieT" He tried TO kiss
her. but she turned her face away.
"Come! Must have my little kiss" he
insisted as she rose and moved away,
leaving him swaying in his tracks.
Studying Lorelers umsmiling face
his tone altered. "Oh. | know!
slipped. but IL couldn't be helped. Ma
ture insisted. and yielded gracefully;
but no harm done, none whatever.
Life is n series of compromises. Mod
Grafton IL the thing. Live and let live"
Lorelei nodded. "Exactlyl We shall
live as we choose. only. of course, we
can't live together after this" Then
her disgust burst its control. and she
demanded, bitterly, Haven't you any
strength whatever? Haven't you any
| balance, Bob?"
He. grinned at her cheerfully. 81
should say | had. walked fence on
the way home just to prove 1t; and !
scarcely wabbled. Balance! Strength!
why, you ought TO see jim. They had
to carry him"
"Jim? Was-Jim with your"
"In spirit yes; in body-only for n
time. For a brief while we went gayly.
hand in hand, then Jim Jagged. He's a
nice boy. but weak; he falters beneath
load"
She questioned him searchlngly and
soon learned OF Jlm's visits, OF the
flask, of the pool games. When she
understood 1t all her eyes were glow
ing. but she found nothing to say. Al
last she got Bob TO bed, then lay
down beside him and stared into the
darkness through many wakeful hours
In the morning he was not only con
trite, but badly frightened, yet wher
he undertook TO make his peace h,
found her unexpectedly mild.
"If you're sorry, that's all ask" sh,
said. "I changed my mind during tn,
night"
"Never againr he promised, feeling
ly. 81 thought had cured myself"
Lorelei smiled at him family
"Curedl II took ten years to work tn,
damage-lt will probably take tel
years to repair It,"
, Bob was aghast. "Good heavensl Ii
, ten years I'll be too old to drink--I',
/ tremble so that I'd spill 1t. But wher
did you get this dope?"
> "I've been reading. I've been talk
: ing to doctor, too. You see, l wante,
TO help"
, Lets change doctors. Ten years
: 1t can't be done"
: "rm afraid you're right. There's N
: such thing as reformation. If your
o born alcoholic you'll probably die
Q drunkard. I'm hoping that you dldn
inherit the taste"
h "Well, whether It was left to me Q
= whether l bought 1t, can't go dry "a
q ten years"
"Then our bargain Is ended"
3 He looked up sharply. "oh no,
lsn'tw
n "Yes."
@ He extended shaking hand. and h
voice was supplicatlng as he said:
I can't get along without you, kid. YOU
t part of me-the vital part. I'd go
d pieces quick II you quit now"
It "When we made our agreement
n meant to live up TO every bit of It
k Lorelei told him, gently, "but we're g
Il ing to try again, for this was Jim
fault"
!, "Jim2 Jim was sorry for me. I
g tried TO cheer"
n Lorelei's smile was bitter "Jim WI
d never sorry for anybody except hir
self. My family hate you just as 20,
E family hate me, and they'd like to Sc
\. arate u.s."
" "Say. that's pretty rotteng" Bob e
d claimed. "If he weren't your broth
I'd"
70 Lorelel laughed mirthlessly. &c
II ahead! l wish you would. 1t mig
Is clear the atmosphere
"Then | will" After a moment
ID continued, II suppose you feel "
re must go on supporting them?'
IA "0f course"
r "Just as you feel you must suppo
,e me. Is It entirely duty in my case
ID Seeing her hesitate, he insisted, "IsI
t; there any loye at all?"
a. "I'm afraid not, Bob"
a, The man pondered silently. 81 su
n- pose IL were the right Sort" he sal
at length, with some difficulty, "Pd
ID you go under these circumstance
ie Well, I'm not the right sort; I'm n
4. H.,