The Washington herald., 1922-01-08

her husbands face "But-John! The nrst
date-it's four months ago! I don't under
standr
He said nothing, but looked at her, pain
o, undoubtedly there had been pain-in his
eyes. Suddenly she understood. She gave a
little cry.
But Johnl Four months and you
haven't. told me-"
He stood up and moved toward her. but
she shrank away. 90, I Idon't-understand"'
she whispered.
Dear, it's all there" he said. every cent
I've received. And it's all yours. dear-you
know that"
didn't want me to know! Why-but-Johnr'
".Darling-please! Eleanor.
But she was in his big chair now. and
sobbing. 20, John, don't understand
don't see how you could. how you-could!"
He was on his knees beside her. Eleanori
Dear heart! Please, please! Don't you know
that didn't want to hurt you. Eleanor
20, of course I know that, Johni But-O,
why? And how could you?-a partnership.
and so much more money than we've ever
had! And we've always shared things, every
thing, good and bad! Why?"
He arose, and his voice sounded miserable
from across the room. IL wanted to
save it. I Didn't want to spend It It's all
there"
He had not come back to her-not dared
to. she told herself, bitterly, afterward, and
presently she had laid the little book on
the table and gone upstairs. He had not told
her because he wanted the money-in his
own name-so that she could not spend it
IL she
And that was the way It began. Since
then-O. since then! o. that dark spot on
their life together, on their >love So hard
to believe 1t could be there at all. so hard
to watch it grow!
For a time, after the first shock Of 1t, she
had tried to meet him with understanding.
Not altogether with sympathy; that was be-
yond her power, remembering she must
all their dreams together OF bye-and.bye,
when he should be making more when they
should be able to have things, to do things,
together. But at least she could have under
stood that he wanted to save money in order
to make more, other men did, with in
vestments; but there had followed no invest
ments, or at any rate none that might bring
quick increase. He showed her the savings
bank book every month. When the total in
II was large enough sum was always With
drawn-for bonds, safe and sure and only
moderate interest bearing bonds. He always
showed her those. too, before he took them
to the safe deposit. Nothing. as he always
said, that wasn't safe. Safe! She had come
to hate the word!
Many times during the years she had told
herself that she could have understood thrift;
heavens, hadn't she always been thrifty and
careful? Could any one have managed bet
r. ter than she had? Had she ever demanded
anything that was in the least beyond their
means? Or would she ever? John must
know that And yet he stiH kept that saw
ings bank book in his own name, still re-
tanned every penny of the increase In salary,
putting 1t by month after month-and for
whatf
She could remember instance after in
stance, time after time, when her rebellion
had made itself known in words-yet not
mere rebellion had it ever been. but sense.
plain sense and reasonableness. There was
the CHASTITY time when Alan had append
citis-their first real fright about either Of
the children. Dr. Mercer, John's closest
friend and their family physician. had said
that he was almost sure there need be no
operation. but the sight Of the boys suffer