Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-05-29

uzs-szzzsxsxsxrwsssxssn
must tu.u ~ his olhcr irleitI rur tAe
coiHpaniousliip my husband denies me.
Dest Luz site, what dc you adviser
; or a long time after Malcolm had
made sure of the contents OF the letter
over. There lay the explanation TO
lot of mysteries he had been trying to
solve in a haIf-hparted sort of way for
a long time. So that was the writing
Marian had been doing in secret-let-
ters TO Wendell Hughes, and letter
20 "Iuzette,' the name under which
Miss Lorene conducted her column.
Wendell Hughes had wormed his way
into her affections after ALL he told
himself angrily. What was there to
do about iti Before he had been
working out the problem for five min
utes he had decided on half dozen
courses Of action-most of them VIC
lent ones. Then conscience got in its
works lie was TO blame for it all, he
admitted, finally. 1t was all his fault
for ueglecting Marian, the sweetest
little wife in the world, as he had
done. or course he had been doing all
his hard work for her-her happiness
had never been out of his mind for an
instant, but he had mistaken what
would be happiness to her. His com
partnership and devoted love meant
more to her than all the wealth and
prosperity in the world. He could see
that from the letter and somehow the
thought thrilled him
Take charge, I'm going home, Mai
colin called out 10 Larry as he jumped
up from his desk. There is not much
TO do, but it's time you were taking
some of the responsibility off my Shout
ders anyway. I've plugged here too
long" He stopped at the door long
enough to look back and see Larry,
with coat OFF and sleeves rolled up,
digging into work with more vim than
he had ever seen HIM exert before.
That was the first act Of little
two months later. The winding up
scene was in the now delightful home
OF Mr. and Mrs. McDougall Malcolm
had Just started in to confess about
the great change that Marian could not
help seeing, They we're sitting in the
twilight before the very brightest kind
OF CRATE fire, and Malcolm's arm had
found a resting place around Marian's
slender waist His other hand was
snugly holding her little warm fingers,
and as he talked he squeezed them
very gently now and then.
1T was all for you, dear" he whis-
pered just so she could hear. All the
hard work was for you, and for the
happiness thought It WOULD bring
you. | thought ,n'd understand dear,
but now am glad you didn't"
But / did understand, dear boy"
she answered, in just as low a tone,
land | knew It was all for me-that
was why was content in my loneli-
ness. knew some day that we would
earn the glorious times we are enjoy
ing now. 1t was not so lonely, though,
for had my big surprise to think of
Look p She took a magazine from the
rack by their side and opened it near
the front. Look" She said again, az
she held it to his eyes
There before him was her surprise.
short story by Marian Lethbrdge-
his wife! In one Of the leading maga-
zines. too
"But your letter to Luzctte. dear
hearth" he asked in wonder when he
could gain his breath. You said you
were lonely and didn't have anything
to do"
ITS our turn to confess" Larry and
Betty advanced from out of the shad-
ows. 81 wrote that letter" Betty cor
Tossed meekly. And l told her to and
helped her came glibly from Larry
But why7" Malcolm looked from
one to another.
1--WE wanted you to give Larry
chance at the oflice--a chance to do
some Of the work that would show
them he could be Of more value down
there and get 3 raise In salary and he
wanted Marian to have happiness, too
because she wasn't really happy. II
has got everything we wanted"
And we wanted 10 get married"
Joined in Larry with bated breath.
What does It all mean?" Poor Mar
ian could not make head nor tail of II.
at means that l have been blind
idiot" Malcolm gasped but l am the
happiest man in the world, anyway"
Don't be too sure OF that" Larry's
voice came from out OF the shadow
and was followed closely by a smoth-
cred little cry from Betty that no one
mistook for a cry OF fright There was
not a word OF protest from any one
all lips were very much engaged other
wise.