Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17
BY Owen Oliver

plague. I'd be good to him-now. Try. Neen
If you could put the idea Of making 1t up into
his head? It's natural to him to do the kind
thing II he thinks of 1t. You could say it's
pity we squabbe, because can be nice and
you could say you know I like him.
VIII you. Neen? We never had sisters, you and
I; only each other"
"Ill try" / answered
That lie. did not try to lead him
back to- her. I tried to ALLEVIATE him. warned
him against being fooled by her.
Margaret's affectionate mood soon passed
knew it would Their dissension became
sharper and more in evidence They never
went out together; and whenever one dined
at home the other dined with friends, or Sin
town." 1t was generally she who out; but
Robert was "at the club" more than he used
to be. He abstracted and silent very often
when talked to him. l had always been able
to rally him into interest before.
spoke to him frankly one evening when
Margaret had gone out and I had dropped in
Bob" l said, you look upon
pretty trusty friend. 1 think"
Indeed" he assured me, 81 dol I'd trust
you blind, Nina"
"There's something on your mind, know.
Would 1t help you to tell pal?"
He leaned back in his chair and opened
his cigaret case.
no." commanded, "a cigar! One Of those
you keep for special occasions It will unruff1e
you. Ill get one. GlV0 me the Key OF tne CdDl-
net" took the key from him and fetched
him one Of his "extravagances," he called
them.
"There, old pal; the precious red band. See!
Now you talk
"Good old Nina! How you know my ways
and study me. You see there are
things that one can't talk about; things that
concern other people,"
l nodded.
Talk about man you know" suggested,
land leave out peoples names; and I'll advise
you in the abstract"
He shook his head.
"Tm no good at acting, Neen I'm talking
about myself. 3. Eight years ago I mar
ried Margaret. Nobody blamed We ap-
peared to be just suited We didn't really suit.
Neen: not even on the honeymoon. I remember
bah! I'm gossiping like an old lady. Well,
wherever the fault lay, we drifted away from
each other Possibly she didn't mean much
harm by her flirtatons but they were sufd-
ciently in evidence to humiliate her husband.
I was too proud to own my hurt. just gritted
it out till didn't care a hang Well. not much
Anyhow, was very lonely for a long
time, and then I found very won
derful woman. . O.! very wonderful
woman!"
"You thought her So" I said. I sighed.
"She was, and is There has never been
a word Of love between me and her, Neen;
but we know"
Both of you?" asked unsteadiy. caught
sight of my face in the beveled mirror of a wall
bracket just then; and it wavered Pale. and
with the young bloom gone, and never beaAti-
full; but it looked loving, thought. All! loving!
''Both Of u.s." he said unhesitatingly. Eyes.
Sometimes we have been near to the word;
but we have paused in time. 1t Is not my
strength that keeps we are. but the
strength that I get from her: my reverence
for her goodness and daintiness. She is above
all women. She
$o1lz nf
her. but Of you. This is your story. which
you are telling to your friend So truly
your friend, Bob. you know"
"I know. don't want to sink In
your estimation, friend. I will tell you how
looked at it. There is wrong to Mar
garet, I said. For years she has not wanted
me; and she has not scrupled to f1irt with
others. I do not say that she has been untrue
to her marriage vow. as the world estimates
it. do not know"
II do not know" said in a faint whisper.
If I did shameful damnable thing from
first to last it was when said that. Margaret
was an honest woman then. had not the
slightest doubt OF 1t.
There can be no wrong to myself For
love Other whom love-I am better man;
and our love is innocent and pure.
The question was about the girl I kept out
of her way for some years. for fear that her
love for mel knew it-would spoil her 1ife
Then I saw that she meant to die maid Tor
love of me. Why should not she as well as
have the comfort of friendship. argued.
Well, we have 1t. think life is just the hours
that we srend together. Is 1t very
wrong, Neen?"
"Only unwise," I said, still very family. i
IFS that all?"
mo" He put his cigar to his lips. but t
saw that 1t had gone out.
"I'll light it," offered.
1t was growing dusk, and when the match
Jared up / seemed to see the Red Fisher in
t. laughing triumphantly in the flare.
Hook me, then!" my mind told him fercely I
expected Roberts arm to go round me as I
stood beside his chair, offering him the light t
held his wrist with hand to steady the !