Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-09-02
The Test of
Life
By JUSTIN wENTwooD

SecSSSSScSSSSS SSSSSSSSSSSSS<SSSSSSs$
Copyright. 1872. Western Newspaper Union
She was a nice little thing, but al
together unsuitable for Tom. That
was the banker, Charles Routledge's
first impression as he looked at his
sons flancee.
There was nothing In the world the
matter with her. She was the sort Of
girl whom millions Of American men
marry and think they are entering in
to Paradise Charles Routledge sighed
a little as he played with his paper
cutter
He did not mind Amy's beng what
his wife would have called socially be-
meath them. Anne had been the daugh-
ter Of poor clerk when he just
made a partner in his fathers bank
ing business married her. Anne had
made their position in the social
world, and there was no family in
Boston too proud to feel honored at
an invitation to the fine house on Lea
cock street.
No. 1t was not that Routledge
wondered. thinking Of his own disap-
pointment, whether he could make
Amy understand And after all, 1t all
rested with Amy. Tom was cipher
"a happy goIucky fairly Industrious,
typical young American. II was the
woman who counted.
so you think you and Tom are in
love with each other" the banker
asked studying the girls shy face
as she watched him confusedly.
IL think we shah be very happy"
Amy answered.
MY dear" said Routledge, Il Won
der If you understand just what mar
riage with Tom will imply P'-he
was unconsciously speaking out of the
book of his own life-"I wish all girls
understood how wholly their future
happiness depends upon themselves,
and how little upon the men they
marry.
"Of course you viii be loyal and
affectionate; but there's something
more than that Amy. How much Will
Toms life become your own?"
an every way" answered the girl.
Il was thinking" said the banker,
slowly, "of man l once knew. He
wasn't like Tom in disposition, but all
men are more or less alike in ways.
only this man married with that sort
, OF purposiye intention that often
proves a trap He thought, I am TAX
ing this girl to myself, l shall mold
her in my own ways. | shall make her
everything that | desire her to be-
But it didn't work, my dear
You see, a man has 70 be very
faithful TO his ideals if they are to
work out, and married life is a pitfall
for the nwary He found his wife
cold aloof They drifted apart. AT
first he was puzzled to find that she
appeared unwilling to share his inter-
ests. Then, when it was too late he
came to the conclusion that she, too.
had been trying to mold him"
Go on" said Amy in low voice.
There should have been an under
standing between them from the be-
ginning Both were to blame, but the
woman should have set to work 70
make her husbands life her own She
erred in thinking only that she was to
be the mistress Of her home. She
should have set herself the task Of
becoming the mistress of her hus-
bands heart"
lie watched the girls face keenly,
Men want so much more than
home. my dear, and womeu-of often
] don't understand. Do you?"
IL think SO" answered Amy,
Routledge studied her again before
speaking u believe YOU do ne an
= swered And, after all, he mused
that's the stuff that lfe's made of
It's only out of our disappointments
| that we strike the spark Of character
perhaps immortality.
My dear" he said TO the girl, Il
: hope you aud Tom viii be happy"
lie Kissed her ana watched her de-
part. And the memories of the past
held him SO that it was some time be-
fore he turned 70 his work again.
How different things might have been
II Anne had understood If be him
self had undrlSJood--uh he had
been trying to tell Amy.
But, after all. ms he had said one
leayned only by experience one ham.
mrred out ones character upon the
aUvij of disappointmeuS
The door of his room opened, and
Anne stood ou the threshold Az the
sight of her Routledse instantly he
came himself again cool. self.pos-
Se~sed aud quiet