The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-09-12
HIS WIFE
BY MILDRED WHITE.
Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper
UniOn,)

arms stretched deSpairing-
~ across his desk, and presently his
head dropped, to rest between them. It
was all v us fur as he was con-
cerned, and there was nothing to do
but go away and leave Constance in
her fathers care, from which he, Rich
ard, should meyer have presumed to
take her. But 'love" ut that time had
seemed to be "the greatest thing in the
world" Wealth, and all its protecting
comforts paled to nothingness besides.
He had not realized in youths conf
dence to what length his ambition for
his wife a leading him.
Creditors had forced the fact upon
him-he was in debt, hopelessly in
debt. How had expenses been allowed
to exceed sc completely his regular In.
come?
Surely the smart little coupe had
been needful; Connie, perched on the
arm Of his chair, had delighted in the
convenience of her purchase.
The beautiful bungalow with ito
well-kept lawn had been her approprk
ate setting. The bungalow must go.
this was now inevitable, the servants
engaged by his wife must be dismissed.
War condition. might partially ex-
cuse his own lack of success in money
matters. He could bear the fathers
contempt-it vas of Connie he was
thinking. How would she look when
he told her the truth? What would
she do? But there was just one thing,
Of course, that she could do. She must
go back to her fathers home.
Whitehead, and with lines of suffer.
ing about his mouth, he raised his
head-reached for the t~elephone-no,
he could not tell her-yet. He would
write a letter, that would be the easiest
way. He would place the sum of their
indebtedness against that of his in
come; Connie should draw her own
conclusion and give him answer
Not nee did it occur to him that his
merry little wife might have shared
the blame, yet it vas she who had Sc
lected plans for the bungalow and its
costly location.
When the letter was sent on its
way, Richard left town for q bust
ness trip. On his return he would
learn his fate. His own street seemed
strange us he drove up to the bungalow
door, and the auto went for the last
time perhaps-back to the stone
garage.
The rooms were empty as he passed
from ono IN 0nnfh0rs n cy,nOlyfnp OiVs nj
desertiOn lowered everywhere. In
Comics own boudoir, bureau draw
ers and closets stood Open-she had
been ~packing-and was gone. Rich
ard sank wearily into q chair and rang
for q maid; his fears were realized
yet he knew that he had been hoping
against hope, allowing himself to
fancy the impossible-that Connie
might still have loved him enough to
face with him q new beginning OF
things.
"A1rs. Byron started to pack imne.
diately upon receiving his letter." the
maid Informed him. "She had left the
address of her destination if he wished
it."
Richard caught Mt the scrap of pa-
per. "Willowdale," he read in Con.
nie's writing, and that was all. He
wrinkled his brow perplexedly, then
sighed. No doubt Willowdale was
some new country place of her fathers.
They directed him at the railroad
station. It was a small suburban town
he learned, not fur from the city. The
agent at Willowdale shook his head
when Richard inquired for the home OF
Constance's father. That gyeat mans
na1ne appeared to be unknown.
"Mrs. Byron thcn," Richard asked
"can you direct me to herY
The agents face frightened visibly
"Wlite COTTAGE" he replied, "across
from the square,"
Richard was still perplexed IS he
turned into the garden path leading ia
the white cottage. 1t was avery pretty
ing the verandae pillars, but he could
not understand what Connie should be
doing there-and at the doorway she
met him. He paused breathless before
her radiant face. There were not re-
proaches, surely, in that evident hap
piness.
"Come In" said Connie. She laughed
as he had not heard her. laugh since
those first joyous days long ago. Their
at sight Of her husbands wan face, she
put up her arms to draw him down tc
her.
"Dear," she murmured, "welcome
this is home at last"
Richard held her close. "You near
-" he asked eagerly.
"That I have never really had q
home," said Constance. always there
were servants about to order things
gardens too we'll kept to enjoy. Here
there is but one small servant whom ]
shall order, Richard, and a garden full
Of flowers that grow alone. I chose
the place and moved in while you were
away. The rest of our furniture shall
be sold. It has been such fun to plan