Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-12-02
The Wife.
brian Spends tho Evening With MIR.
and Mrs Roberts.
Nv JANE Phelps
CHAPTER XC.

ana MiN. hObCrtS.
CHAPTER XC.
Moro than ever martyr did
Brian feel Az he ate his solitary din
ner; more than usual did ne blame
Ruth for leaving him. Rachel had
prepared delicious dinner. and he
ate heartily hut even tho food did
not cause him to cease "grouchlnE, -
ana he often mumbled to himself
between mOuthfulls.
Tie had been n fool TO feel at all
conscience stricken because OF Mol
lie King, when Ruth was spending
her time with that man Mandel-
that was the way he thought of
Ruth's work filled dayS--as being
spent with Mandcl He wouldn't
SIT alone all the evening. not II he
knew IL!
After he had finished his dinner
he read the paper for a while, then
no crossed tho hail and raped at
Roberts door. They were at home
and greeted him warmly. They
would play a three handed game OF
bridge II he liked. lie willingly
agreed; anything 10 pass the time.
Brian felt little ashamed that
he had not called before and tried
to atone by being as entertaining as
possible, And when he put himself
out he really was most agreeabl 10
companion.
How nice Mr.. Hackett was to-
night Clara Roberts said when he
had left them. II like him ever 10
much"
80 do /! but somcway he doesn't
strike me like fellow with any
great amount of pep He's too easy
EolnE 10 be much OF a success, I'm
afraid"
Just because you drive yourself
to death, dear, you must not be crit
lcal OF those who don't. You see he
has a clever wife who can earn more
than most men, while YOU have a
little goose who can only cook and
keep house for you"
That's all | want you "a do! And
! have u sneaklng idea that Hackett
wouldn't care lf II was all she did.
He's a queer fellow In some ways.
llr's egOtistical to an extreme in
some things, yet, unlike most ego
tists, not disagreeahly So have an
Idea that he cares very little for
money or luNuries lie was ono ~
the Greenwich Village set before he
married, | understand and they
pride themselves on their disregard
ut such things"
"Rut don't you think he Is ambi-
tloua?"
"Not particularly imagine Mrs
lInCkett ~ for him--he said you
know, that she was pleased when he
took up WplnE 40 that he could be
OF office help They arc
separated so much that many wom-
en- would have found fault TO have
him take his evenings, oven for
study She has n very unRelfish ma
turc think"
81 think so too, She is very
clever like her 50 much only
wish | could help you by earning
something"
you do help me, dear. guesS-
| am not very different from most
men when | say | prefer to work q
little harder and have you right
whore you are. and what you are:
my li.tle homekeeper in my home"
1t was fortunate that Brian could
not hear this conversation. Il was
700 much like the thoughts surginE
through his brain after he returned
TO his lonely apartment.
shes a dcar'" he muttered re-
forring TO Mrs. Roberts Hes "A
isfied with what he can give her.
I'm sure they are comfortable, even
II they duu't have things artistic"
the last word he emphasized bitterly.
II was early and he sat down 90
read. lie was in no mood to go to
he'd. and had no notion to lie awake
night. He would read until
he was sleepy
He became very much interested
IN magazine article he was reading
concerning the war In Europe. For
over two years the nations on the
other side OF the world had been
fighting; ana from the very firsl he
had been absorbed 10y the news. He
often thought that, had he not been
married, he would have volunteered
with tho Canadians, although he |
never had mentioned it even 10
Ruth
He became 90 ongruscd that he |