Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-18
HIS SECOND WIFE
BY ERNEST POOLE
Author Of "The HnrbSr," "His Family,
Copyright, 1880. by Pablto Ledger 90.

dosnd onss vo,, you v,os cant draw the pans--the
because 1 made you tryl And I went
10 Nourse. to your old friend Dwight
ana then to Sally Crothers-and asked
mem all to help me- And as / went on
n" SeIi IsaTned in iana about you as you used to be-
man found--not Amy's husband
mine, all mine ''"u-
And l had almost got you back
Wnen Fanny Carr. with her nasty view
| vou III tboan anu wnat | was doing, brought
you believe them, Joe, I'm through !!
20 70 Nourse or to Sally Crothers and
tneyll tell you have spoken the truth
II you won't believe either them or me,
Fanny Carr. But II you do believe me
ana were to go on together now. you'll
nave to drop Fanny for good and ali
and leave Amy way behind. You'll have
TO take up your old friends and try to
S tSint rotners yn,,r bn, into your firm. You may
mine-but II It's my life. it's nv | busie n1.
ness too! It's like four walls around
me now, and l want to break out ana
do you.away from mere money !!
s,r, I've watcned you. dear-.seen what a
s.ruggle has gone on inside Of you-it
has worn you out Haven't YOU made
money enough? Let's leave II 20 m
Paris, and get to work before it's tod
late for you to get back what YOU had
And ' II there's no money, never mind It
VIII come later on-but don't let's he
afraid II II doesn't Don't let's he
afraid OF pain-of fighting hard and
sunering, Joe I want more children
l want you want you mine, ali mine
| see?" ''N
She had been eagerly leaning toward
him. Joe was staring into the fire; the
look IN MS eyes had frightened her and
made her hurry, to be through.
w,,,n5ha ,W5hat Is ~. she asked. And she
| what I've told you. Joe?''
| Yes he said. II believe all that. 7
believe a good deal more than that -
There was little silence, and Their sud
| denly he reached for her hand, held /,
twitching sort of way. II haven't been
quite as blind as you think. I've seen
good deal of what you were doing,
But" he frowned-"I'm older than YOU
are: / know this job of mine clear
spoke Of, I've had some hard mean
tussles about itA-lately-and that's my
| only excuse for acting like a damn foo
as I did-the other day No use in
taking ta,sis Of that any mors-or of-Amy
| Joe! !" Ethel whispered. Tears came
In her eyes. He went steadily on:
| She had some fine points-youl
| never know. There were things we
| needn't talk about now. But you've
made me see things, too. don't think
smell be In the way any more--I think
well be able to speak of her"
of course! We must I want tn
uear EtheIs voice was shaking.
,, Not now" With an effort he rose
yIheres something else to worry about.
What do you mean?" She had risen,
too and caught his arm. "Youre no,
well. Joe You're white as a sheet p
He laughed a little.
wrong @ in NOT here quite rtss rsht Something
one hand to the base Of his brain and
scowled as though it hurt him. Moth
Ing serious, probably. But before II goes
too far, want you to know that when
l get well I'm going to have try al
gong to try--but I may be too late
| may be older than you think" The
tone OF his voice was sharp and strained
Il don't know" he said "rhe doctor
may. About him-that's another point
It's a nerve specialist we need! TeIe.
damnably!"
She got him to bed The specials,
came, and when he had examined Joe
ne mad a talk with Ethel that left her
very frightened. After that came days
and nights. when Joe. as though in
delirium. said things In a tumble which
revealed to her the inner chaos he had
gone through In the last few weeks
ne talked OF Amy loyalty even plead
he talked of Ethel In many moods. Now
ne was angry at her Interference: again
he saw her side of II. and then his love
Tor her would rise. More often still he
talked about work, and here again the
struggle went on. Money money, money
figures, calculations. schemes and ri.
Vals, heavy chances But suddenly all this
was gone, and In pitiful anger at his
own futility he would storm at himself
Ior not being able to put on paper his
early dreams
But the weeks dragged by. and at
last she felt he was coming back to
sanity. With his partner, then, she
conspired to take Joe over to Paris In
April, to stay for a year II he would
agree. And as part of the conspiracy
Ethel had several meetings with Nourse
and Sally Crothers, in the hope OF
bringing Sally's husband into the firm
TO be there In Joe's absence. This was
far from easy. for Crothers naturally
himself until he knew that Joe would
agree. And whether Joe would agree
or not was by no means certain. Watch
ing him as his health came back, Ethel
wondered how he would be when he
returned to the office. How much OF
OF his illness. had come only from a
mind keyed up? How much OF his
promise would he remember? Men sick
and men well are In separate worlds
she could not speak of 1t to Joe, for
the doctor had forbidden it.
At the end of another month, however
Joe was up and about again and soon
| IN spite OF the Doctors instructions. he
was back at his Office hard at work
rms OF course looked ominous. Wha,
was ne doing? She could not discover
For his partner. over the telephone
was far from satisfactory. Now that
ne had Joe back again in that beloved
! otfice OF theirs, his manner toward Ethe
seemed to her TO be gruff and un.
m dFmlehdiy. TO say the least. stand
| believed he could handle Joe all by him.
| self - she -thought In annoyance. Al
last she sent for him one day and gave
him quite piece of her mind and al
tho9gh not fully successful, she at least
ma4e him acquiesce in the plan she and
Sally had concocted for a little gather
ing TO take place one night the following
| week.
1t was nearly o'clock upon the eve,
hg hhing IN question; and iTI her room, al
| ing her toilet. They were going tc
dine with the Crothers', and Joe was
| nervous about It.
Come on. Ethel. hurry up"
Yes. love. I'm almost ready nov
| Are you sure the car Is at the door,"
IT'S been there nearly, half an hour T.
That's good, Just minute more
AS he apgrily lit a cigarette. she look.
ed In the glass at him and smiled
How he breads 1t, poor dear" she was
! thinking as he strobe into the living
room, ,meeting Sally and all his ole
friends" She frowned. Heaven knows
| dread It myself What am going tc
| say to them all? And suppose they
don't care for me In. the least? -
Well IL will annn ha nver - prnRentl, |,