The herald., 1920-10-21
REFORM OF ROXANA
BY LINCOLN RoTHeLUm.


voted. withal unhappy, sutton; but too
it must be admitted that RoXana often
found need TO exercise her most win
some tricks of Cajolcry 10 win back
the smiles her teasing tricks had
chased away.
II was Dick. nicknamed the Faith
full" who suffered the most and com
planned the least He loved ROyana.
But perhaps nothing tried his pa
thence and good temper more than
RoXanaS curiosity.
II was 10 her mother that In des-
peration he appealed. What can |
doE he asked dejeCtedly Last
night she unwrapped a box had with
me when | called"
And" prompted RoXana's moth.
er.
"Oh, pshaw." blurted Dick, ut con
tained some underwear had just
bought" Dick fancicd he saw RoI-
ana's eyes twinklinG merrily at him.
What can l do7" he repeated
RONana's mother glanced up, lips
twitching in a smile she could III sup.
press. IN tell you, Dick" she finally
answered in an encouraging tone,
you can either give her up-Or marry
err"
III marry her 2"
And marry her he did.
Already on this fine July morning
har hn,tn,rrynAV ,f IA. -,V
weeks seemed Ike a beautiful dream
Just that week a roll of films had
been ruined by exposure to the light
when RoXana could no longer resist
the temptation 10 learn If il contained
six or twelve exposures. But Dick
was big enough 10 realize ne must not
permit this failing of his wife TO mar
the placid and unruffled tenor Of their
existence, and he gradually ceased to
resent the tampering with his mail.
There was no more the unconscious
act OF ripping open the envelopes as
ROxana handed him each night his
letters in exchange for a kiss.
Red summer had merged into a fall
III a EdldAN VI NfllONS anu
browns. and Dick trudged home from
the depot through the cooler atmos-
phere so pleasingly refreshing after
the long hot day just over. The days
work had been particularly and de-
pressingly enervati1g and he looked
down the road toward his home as
he shifted the heavy satchel he car
ried from hand to hand.
Wonder what's In it," ROxana's Gu
riOsity danced excitedly high as she
saw her husband coming up the gar
den path carrying the grip,
Making all sorts of pretty fuss
about him, Roxana finally gave verbal
vent to her thoughts. Dick what
have you in that gripf"
But his words did not carry effec-
tive weight. This Satchel," he said as
he laid the small valise against the
wall. contains material for q suit"
"Oh. do let me see" interrupted
Ro1ana, I'm SO anxious to look II
over. I'll bet it's beautiful"
mo, 1t isn't, and that's Just why
don't want you to look at It." ROxans
froWned. Its an off-color PROPOSE.
ton" Dick continued. land It's just az
well you know nothing about IT,"
Indeedl ROxana was quite dis.
pleased with her husband and firmly
decided that II he was getting materi'
al for suit she ought to have beer
consulted.
There the satchel lay on the floor
against the wall, its black leather
surface seeming to aggravatingly tan
talize her with the secret it concealed
The echo of his footsteps along the
garden walk had hardly died away
when Roxana, with no Qualms of con
science, sat herself on the floor be
side the valise and with hairpin and
scissors commenced operations upon
the lock.
Not a note Of vexation escaped her
as tools of feminine inventivenes'
bent beneath the unusual task allotted
them, and as she applied herself with
patience wOrthier of a better purpose
Not until the debris of two pairs OF
manicure scissors, one pair of tailor:
shears and an easy gross Of hairpins
lay broken and bent before her die
results reward her efforts.
At lastl The lock was pried. In 8
moment she would know all. Tht
catch was slipped and the sides Of the
satchel flew open, reyealing-a mas:
of papers!
Roxana's surprise of disappointment
angered her. "Oh, that Dick SHOULD
have told me an untruth," she sobbed
and smarting tears sprang to her eyes
Roxana squatted Indian fashion be
fore the bag overflowing with lega
looking letters and greedily read.
A puzzling expression was succeed
ed by one OF deep interest, and as {
young girl with her first romantic
novel, Roxana read on, Oblivious 4
everything save the sheets before Re.
And then understanding dawned
"Why-why," she gasped, "Dick did
tell the truth. 1t is off-color materia
for a suit-evidence for an ugly Law
case" And then came penitent con
triton. "Oh, how unjust have been.
And Dick, arriving that night tiret
from q strenuous day at court, wa
too happy to see his lovely wife
dressed in her prettiest gown Of rose
tinted wolfe. to notice the tears glisten
ing so suspiciously in her eyes.