The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-10
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
AN ULTIMATUM.
CHAPTER So.

AN
CHAPTER So.
| You must take Mr. Williams away.
His lungs are affected and he must
live. at least for time. in different
climate" l
you mean
Just what 1 say-no more With
climate. Here. well, in olden times
they would call it quick consumption.
Now don't let what have said make
you lose your grip on things. You
asked for the truth. I have given it
TO you. But if he goes to Southern
California. lives quietly out of doors
as much as possible. he will outlive
both of us. perhaps
isn't it terrible to think his sick
ness is the result OF a good deed,
doctor? His life. perhaps. for that of
tenement house child
THE ways of God are inscrutable.
Your husband is a fine man, brave
man He will fight to get well. and
tell him as much or as little as will
persuade him to get away, then good
luck to you. I'll run in this evening
ande hear what he has to say
Il am afraid it VIII be hard to get
him away. He is already talking of
getting back to- work
1T is always hard to make a man
give up working. Don't get discour-
aged, little woman. You must take
matters into your own hands for a
time. A sick. man is not the one to
decide matters, vital not only to him
self, but to his family"
left the doctor. struggling to keep
PACK my tears, my emotion. But 1 did
not dare to go directly home. my heart
was too full. Dick, my big, strong
husband had couldn't bring myself
to even whisper the dread word. He
cost!
1 walked for half an hour. then
turned toward home L had again
scourged myself as being to blame, as
being the cause of Dicks Illness He
wouldn't have saved that child. and
SO exposed himself if had done right
| prayed silently for forgiveness and
Tor strength, as I walked home.
Where in the world have you been.
dear! Dick asked when 1 went in
Il have been horribly lonely. 1 should
nave started for the bank in min
ute. don't understand how any one
can be contented with nothing to do
This hanging around the house is
awful
You won't hang around much
longer Dick, we are going away
Nan?" IL
The doctor told me. 1 have been
| to see him, Dick, that if we went to a
warmer climate where you could be
out OF doors most of the time you
would get well quickly. While if we
stayed here you wouldn't be able to
work for some time"
On, indeed! Well, where are we
solng? There was a querulous note
IN ms voice as well as sarcasm. You
know 1t costs money to travel SUD-
pose, and that the bank can't be ex-
peeted to go on paying me forever"
know, dear. But the shop las
made money. We have some saved, a
little, but some way it will be enough.
we VIII go to Santa Barbara, and you
can roam around among the flowers
instead of walking back and forth in
these little rooms"
His eyes frightened longingly, but
only for a moment.
Don't talk nonsense. Mani" he said
| more sharply than 1 had heard him
speak for some, time.
| 1T isn't fonsense. We are going"
Very well, Mrs. Fixit.' He turned
away. Then: Forgive me, Nan, I
didn't mean to speak so Grossly. But
yet so attractive, I couldn't help it,
He bent and kissed me.
1T isn't impossible: it shall not be-.
1t will take few days to arrange mat
tiers, but, Dick, please don't oppose
anything do. Promise me?"
''All right" he said YEARLY in a
hopeless sort of voice that said more
plainly than words that he had no faith
in my idea, no hope that we could get
away.
He lay down, and closed his eyes.
As 1 looked at him in the light of
what Doctor Hill had told me his thin
face took on a different look. I
thought I already saw signs of what
the doctor had said might come did
/ he not get away. His eyes were ter
ribly sunken, and the dark circles were
SO heavy they looked almost black. His
hand lay on his breast, hanging down
a little, and noticed the ring he al
ways had worn, hung loosely on his
long thin finger.
He shall go.'' I said to myself
| I Knew only too we'll how hard it
would be to get him to go without me.
But he must. I knew also that if he
went alone it would take him much
| longer to get well. His was a nature
that required human companionship.
Not that of strangers. but of someone
he loved I had a hard task before
me. 1 must keep brave and cheerful,
must not let him see my heart-break,
! and 1 must find a way to make him
go to California without me.
! (Tomorrow-Dick leaves in search OF
| healthy