The Rice belt journal., 1919-09-20

Wait till tell you. Come over to this
bench"
As they were being seated she re-
marked:
"Where have you been the last three
years? l heard you went West. And
! you look so pale. You must have been
sick"
! He nodded but did not vouchsafe
reply. simply moistening his dry lips
with his tongue.
~ heard You were engaged to marry
out there" she ratified on. well, got
married soon after you left; and we
lived so happily till"
Tears came to her eyes and choK'
+ ing sob halted her conversation. she
blew her nose and resumed:
"Ain't it queer, to see people Ike
Mrs. Haines back there fretting ana
worrying about that little boy ana
thinking she's in misery; while here
am with something real to worry about
Oh. Joe, its awful. that's what it IS
Who would have thought two years
ag0-Oh, that husband Of mine IS
brute. Do you know what he's been
doing? Well, he-he's been going out
with another woman, that's what.
She broke down completely and the
man placed a sympathetic hand on her
shoulder.
Don't feel so badly" he advised. III
can't be helped, Men sometimes 90
those things. Anyhow, it isn't as Dao
as if"
She looked up and said almost saw
agely:
! "Oh. it amt? That's all right for
you to say, Joe Carson-you who never
had a care in your life, and loaded
down with cash. too. l can't tell you
how I'm suffering because Of Waiter 5
actions.
You see. Walter never comes home
to lunch; but I phoned his ONCE a'
noon yesterday to see about some
things for dinner, and the Office girl
told me he went out to eat with some
woman. 1t made me furious, but /
didn't say a word to Walter lcaHed
again lust a little while ago and the
girl told me the same thing. 50 /
came ont IN take walk and decide
whether to get a divorce or just leave
him. That woman must be terrible
one of those vampires"
Another food of tears broke forth
and Carson looked about uneasily, hes
! itating to speak lest he say the wrong
thing again.
> The languid young woman ana the
+ bare-legged boy who was such trial
were passing. The youngster was
. laughing UP at his mother as they trip
ped along, his hand In hers.
7 Evelyn looked after them and re-
marked Fsneeringly:
"WeT, Mrs. Halnes has got over hel
, spell and the kids finger amt bother
> ing him now. Amt that the imltF
+ She did not observe middle-agec
. man and an elderly lady with gray
= hair who were sauntering through
, the park until they were close to the
bench.
! Evelyn" exclaimed the man in as
. tonishment as he and his companion
halted. "Why. how do you happen tt
Il be here?
= EVELYN leaped to her feet in sur
= prise and confusion. However, m al
- instant she had regaiued her compos
ure and was all smiles.
Mrs Wilcox" said the man, "ai
" low me to introduce my wife. Evelyn
YOU remember me speaking about tn
:, buyer for the Clayborn milliners-ou
best customers. Well, this is she"
Evelyn beamed on Mrs. Wilcox.
;, $50 pleased TO meet you," she sai'
warmly. my husband has oftel
spoken of you. Can't you come up t
;. the house for dinner tonight? Oh, b.
! the way-Mrs. Wilcox and Walter
= dear-meet Mr.. Carson, an old frien
: happened to meet while getting som
- fresh air and sunshine"
/, Carson acknowledged the introdut
- ton and presently excused himseli
Slowly he walked out Of the pari
- ~ swinging his cane, and entered the he
- - tel across the street. he noticed !
passing that the two old men agai
- were smoking in peace.
= TROUBLES, troubles" he soliloQuizet
= Everybody has them, and yet even
uaIIy they seem to work out all righ
But mine-there's no chance"
- = He nodded to the clerk, who hant
- - ed him telegram. With nervou
= fingers Carson tore open the envelop
"Come home. Joe,' 1t read. "Parl
- confessed to embezzlement. You al
~ ~ cleared. I'm ready for the wedding"
- Carson looked out the window {
- ~ the hurrying crowds, which he did nc
see.
l. "The worlds just about all right
= he murmured. Dear girl, she stuc
=. to me through it ALL"
nd Wild Animals That Are Passing.