Taiban Valley news., 1919-04-04
apartment and live there with

PSSuIuL ttTLuS III Uue bungalow VI
Park Heights. Maxwell was despond
ent but uncommunicative Patience
was calm, yet went about her worh
with sadly inscrutable eyes. There
was guarded, wistful friendliness be
tween the two, and shying on from
each other, as though to avoid mention
ing the situation.
The painters and carpenters came
and went, transforming the shabby
house into charming freshness. Max
well began regular work on the lawn,
turning its rough surface into green
velvet, cutting dead sprouts from
shrubs and trees and training vines.
For years he had spent his evenings
downtown on the plea that he needed
relaxation.
Now he never left the place except
to go to his work, and In the long twi-
lights Patience, with the light hand
work which she saved for evenings,
took strange comfort in knowing that
he was busy near her. Dorsey-the
child's own contraction Of the "Doro-
thy which was given at her christen-
ing--scracely had been acquainted
with her father, but now she reveled
in the company of daddy" and trotted
after him like frolicsome puppy. Her
father enjoyed 1t, too. and Patience
would hear their merry dialogue out
side until bedtime.
nNIaa u, rfIo 80 %to bzua1 IN II {%- ~ nka
morphosis. Patience had the living
room done over inexpensively in soft
browns, and made the dining room,
with its ivory enamel and blue walls,
seem as though intended for the blue
china inherited from her mother. Up
stairs the rooms were freshened with
white paint and fresh walls, and the
house stood transformed.
II want to tell you, Max" announced
Patience, one evening, "that, now that
the house is ready, and the lawn is at
its best, feel that it should be put on
the market. There is really nothing to
hinder my going nowl"
Max looked at her fixedly for mo-
ment, then turned and left the room.
She had scarcely time to wonder until
ne was back.
"Herew He held out the gilt let
tered "Dressmaking" sign which for
some time had been at the side en-
trance.
Maxwell, what do you mean?" she
asked. Was this the easy-loving, in
different husband, who had been de-
generating into a loafer, this decided
man whose blue eyes flashed so darkly,
and whose mouth was so firmly set7
st means that, all the time you have
been making over this house, you have
been making me over, too, and that
now / am ready to take the Job off
your handsw
Patience, her hands clasped over her
heart, did not speak. 1t was his hour
and he should dominate it. He went
on:
"Every word you said that night
was true-only had blamed every one
else and excused myself. 1t has taken
three months of hard work ON your
part to put me on the right track. /
have not told you that / have been
promoted twice since you brought me
up standingW
He laughed TREMENDOUSLY in his ex-
element, but mastered his voice.
To-day they made me assistant man
ager in my department. Next year they
ora sroipr +o apJar0a tho oop,Douv and
will take me in-they say they need a
Britton in the flrm-imagine
With single motion, he broke the
sign and threw 1t on the table.
"That's kindling wood, and nothing
!" he declared masterfully. |
"From now on, for the rest Of the year,
you may use your needle for your own |
and Dorsey's frills. Next year you are |
to hire some one to do 1t for you. Pa |
tience !" his victorious voice took on a |
note of pleading "your old shiftless
husband is gone-forever! Won't you
give the new one a trial?"
The resolute, self-controlled woman
mad disappeared, leaving behind sob
ping creature who clung to Maxwell,
at his touch like maiden
with her first love.
81 hoped that If showed you what
,ur home might be, you would not let
ne destroy it," she sobbed; "every
stroke that has gone to make 1t lovely
las been for you-and Dorsey-and to
Eeep us togetherp
The little home, dreaming cozily in
ts green setting, seemed to smile with
happiness under the still moon, for 1t
vao aoFa |