The Washington herald., 1922-01-08

thing she could to be hts true partner and
helpmate. And to hear Of 1t from a stranger!
Yet so It had happened.
She had met Mrs Loring one afternoon at
little tea given by an old friend Of her
mothers, met her with a shy, young respect
for a woman so much older and Of wealth
and position assured, and wife Of the head
Of the firm that John worked for. Mrs. Loring
had smiled graciously, rather singled her out
TO talk to, offered her a drive home in her
limousine-the first that Eleanor had ever
stepped into. 1t was on the way home that
the revelation came.
II am very glad to have met you my
dear, the older woman said Now I shall
have something to tell my husband He Is
always telling me how much he thinks Of
yours"
Eleanor flushed, and found nothing to say.
But apparently Mrs. Loring approved OF that:
she patted the younger woman's hand.
when my John was the age Of yours, my
dear, he was no Junior partner, let me tell
your she said Wed have thought our
selves very rich with your income! But I'm
glad to see that you take 1t sensible. That's
the right way. my dear. the way that gets
on! One sees so much OF the other thing
nowadays
With what enthusiasm had she met John
that night, running to meet him with flushed
cheeks and throwing her arms about his
neck. John! JohnL When did it happen?
Isn't it glorious? o. my Johnny boy. I'm so
proud, proud, proud OF your
He had never before met her enthusiasm
with such unresponsive cainness. He kissed
her, laughed a little, tried to pretend that he
did not know what she was talking about.
Then he asked for Betty, asked how Alan's
cold was, said he'd tell her all about 1t after
dinner.
She had laughed at him teasingly; as II
Alan's sniff1es and Betty's rush down the
stairs into her fathers arms were more i'm.
portant thar his being great mani And he
wanted his dinner, did he? All right, then,
he should have it; but IL she had known
wouldn't she just have made it a celebration?
He had looked white at dinner. older than
she had ever seen him look; but of course he
was tired after the excitement Of the day
and no wonder. To have been made a part
ner in the firm of Loring Brothers. But she
was gay enough: and afterward when the
children had been sent of to bed and John
was in his usual deep chair near the lamp,
she passed behind him, kissed the top Of his
head where the hair was already growing
thinner, then stood in front of him. hands
clasped behind her.
Now, them! she said. i've waited Just
as long as can! Tell me all about it"
But he hesitated, not looking at her. Then
he said. How did you hear?"
She told him, then added, with little
laugh Of sheer happiness: Don't be stupid.
John! Tell mer t--.
Again he seemed to hesitate; then he rose,
went over to his desk, and opened the drawer
where he kept his business papers. When
he came back he put into her hands a small
brown book. -...
What on earth" she began; bat he
sank down into his chair again. wearily, and
said:
Its there" -.. ..r 49, -
Puzzled, frowning little over his strange
ness. she opened the book. 1t was a savings
bank book. and there were four entries in it.
The first was dated four months back
"But-but don't understand she had
said. What on earth has this got to do
with it?"
He moistened his lips. It's all there,
Eleanor" he said. I' s-- H'-.ss -
She looked from the figures In the book to