The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-03-29
THE BIG JOLT
sy A. NJ. CRAWFORD.

his club md had stayed away from
every place where he was likely to
encounter his wife. He had ended the
last argument about taking his young
stenographer to lunch. to dinner and
to places of amusement by telling his
wife that he wanted IN excuse to get
divorce.
They. were wholly unsulted to each
other SO why be mlllstOnes around
each others necks7 She was young,
pretty, too, and he would see to 1t that
she drew sufficient, alimony to insure
her every luxury. As for hlmself-he
was nun of the world and could not,
would not tolerate bonds that made
him accountable to any woman for
what he did.
II he chose to take pretty girl to
lunch, there was no hnrm In 1t. He
hnd always been true to his marriage
vows, he had told his wife stiffiy.
He had deposited money In the bank
regularly for her sustenance. Now he
Ind arrived at his lawyers office to In
qulre about the divorce proceedings
The attorney Informed him that HIS
wife had not drawn penny from the
bunk.
GLOW did she live. them" David
brought himself up with u Jerk.
"She has been Dan Goldman's sec
retnry ever since the day after you
left her."
"And the boy?" His voice was low
with suppressed emotion.
"Oid Sue, the only servant she
could afford to keep. Is taking care
Of him. They nrc living In two
rooms. fur out where the rent Is cheap
and the boy has chance to get out
In the sunshine every day. See here"
said Steele, leaning forward, 'there
was another woman, wnsn't there1
Well. what's become Of herr?
From somewhere down below came.
the excited voices Of children play.
ny in the sunny streets. The balmy
breath of an awakened earth stole
IN like a quiet, soothing incense.
"There never was any other
woman" sald David Bryson slowly.
I took my stenographer out a few
times, D. bad taste. but lots OF
men do those things-and Kate heard
II 1t and asked me not to do 1t
again, said that no woman could
iIctnte terms to me-we never quar-
relied. KITE WINS too fine for that sort
Of thing-so left In 2 ft of passion.
as you know"
He turned to look the lawyer In the
face, II let TINT stenographer go
On the first excuse could md and
hone that never see her face again
Kate working In old Dan Goldman's'
,flce! Why didn't somebody tell mo
beforef'
"Why," demanded John Steele sharp
", "do men want to make fools Of
themselves for bit Of fiatteryf A
mun likes to think that he Ii regu-
.ar devil with women aud always he
hns n Jolt coming to him like you are
getting right now. II were In your
place, l would give Kate chance
to be free, to be courted, to be loved
us she so richly deserves."
David Bryson stood up suddenly and
like drunken man. stumbled Into
little writing room. He dropped heav-
ily into a chair and seized paper and
pen In his shaking hands. His wife's
face seemed to smile at him from
the white paper. 1t WINS no time for
Idle fnncles. He shock himself and
rubbed his eyes. What would ne
say to her. to Katef She would love
him always. always. He was sure OF
that. Then he bcgnn to wonder. She
Ind refused his help. She had never
lifted q hand to cnll him back to her.
Most women would have found out
that he had been bluffing about his
stenographer and would have sent for
him on some flimsy pretext. What
would he dor He leaned his head on
his hands. Then ghost Of long ago
sprend magic tapestry before his
tired eyes.
He was once more in that little blue
room mt home and 1t was quite dark
save for the single night limp that
burned on low table beside the bed.
Again the agony of young father
hood luld his gripping hand upon his
henri and his eyelids burned with
tears, manfully restrained. His mind
CROPPED for words to tell the sweet
young girl wife how much he loved
her as she lny there, white and spent
from the birth pangs of his tiny son.
"I love you,'' was NIL that he could
shy. "Oh. my dear, love You so."
"And our son." she had added weakly.
He knelt down by the bed and laid
his head lightly against her full
breast. He felt her soft fingers stray
ing over his hair. sand I love you"
she had whispered, "oh, my denr. you
know now. how very, very much"
Something warm like ruin fell on
his cheeks. He put up his hand alb
sently, and, unashnmed, wiped the
tears away. He reached for fresh
sheet Of paper. He wrote something