Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-05
; tcopyriEht, 1918. By Little. Brown 8 Col


"Yes, thank God for thatp
"And it's no use saying anything;
we understand"
"Of course we do"
She stood a moment, her hands
resting on the balustrade, smiling
down at the canterbury-bells which
stretched up their dainty cups to her.
Then she left him and went hum
ming back to her guests. He had no
such power over himself. He turned
and went to his room. He did not
attempt to see her again alone. They
dined in company of others and went
off to the club. It was all distress
ingly tragic, and so needless. He
had not expected to suffer as he did,
nor that she would culver under it.
Whatever else came, they had been
man and wife, and there had been
moments of mistaken faithl
They dined at the Challoner's and
went over to the Yacht club for the
dance. Amy's composure amazed
him. Whatever her faults, she met
a crisis like a thoroughbred. He had
endured thee dinner gloomily, con-
scious of his equivocal position, ex-
aggerating the malice he believed
in the eyes of everyone. At the club
he drifted away into the billiard
rooms, where smoke was hazy and
the green tables under the electric
lights looked like green valleys
dropped far below him. The talk was
all of war in this SCATTERING first
week OF August, 1914, and in the
stupefaction of the Imagination, So
cial lines disappeared. He listened to
a group in the corner nearest him,
who were arguing that conflict was
inevitable, and from time to time, as
phrases detached themselves he
frowned.
what do you Think" said a man
next to him, whom he did not know.
There won't be any war" he said
obstinately. "Germany's trying to
bluff France into deserving Russia"
Paper tonight says they've start
ed through Belgium"
That's only a feeler, too" he said
frowning. when they find Eng
lands in it too, it'll all sputter out.
The Germans aren't fools enough to
tackle that combination-you'll seeP
Hope you're right" said his
neighbor nervously.
"Of course I'm right" he assured
himself. "The thing was too incred-
ible-two-thirds of civilization
drenched in bloodlI Neverp
"If it did, think what would strike
the stock market" said his neighbor
with huge sigh. '.....
Forester had been thinking of
that too. More than once in the past
days he had felt an impulse to sell
out and take his losses. But he was
not a Spectator who plays for the
shifting of the wind. He was an in
weston who had been specializing
an investor who held to one idea OBJ
stinately. Then, too, the unfolding
drama of his internal life had
obessed him to the exclusion of ev-
cry other consideration. He was con-
WINGED of the sanity of his judg-
ment when so many others were
swept by hysteria, yet the doubt
that rose shrilly about him was dis
concerning. The stakes were heavily !
against him if the incredible should
happen. He rose and drifted back in
search of Irma. He jostled some one
as he avoided an outstretched cue,
and turned to apologize. 1t was Ru-
doiph Dellabarre, of all men!
The accidental meeting gave him
an unpleasant sensation, for his ma
ture was a frank one, and, coveting |
what he did, it was repugnant to
him to face the weak eyes which had |
the right to accuse him. ..I+
BEG pardon. How are your" he
said grufiy, passing hurriedly to
avoid giving his hand.
"Wonder what he'll do?" he
thought, despite himself. Then he
snapped his fingers angrily. What
became of Dellabarre was the one
thing he did not wish to consider.
After all, Dellabarre was a failure,
and must take his punishment.
1--WE have right to our happi-
ness ne SdluB IHlllklHB Vi Trina.
Even for the children's sake, she
should leave himl"
If only he, the husband, had been
of mans stature and strength, if he
had the sensation Of taking her from
an equal
The feeling was so strong that he
could not 60 from him to her; the
thing was repugnant. He saw Irma,
caught her eye and smiled, and his
face, unframed in assembling, show
ed too plainly his happiness. Then