Ellsworth American., 1924-07-30

had been such an amenable tiancee-
what whim of perplexing womanhood
caused her to change her nature with
marriage Bob could not uhd 4rstand. =,
Every evening, just as both were
companlonaDly installed in the pleas
ant living room, CHLOE would be sure
to stir uneasily, glance at the wedding
present clock and presently voice her
intention OF running over to Hilda's-
or guess She d go TO the movies" with
her Sister-or some other excuse to
leave the home fireside.
AT first he had conceitedly thought
that his adoring little wife was trying
to get even, in a childish way, for his
own necessary desertion.
1t was a never-ending JOY to be with
Chloie, to watch the wltching change
of expression in her piQuant face, to
listen to the voice that thrilled him.
Bob, after a boresome and hotly in
dignant third evening of solitary con
tinement, decided to leave the house
promptly upon his Wife's return at ten
o'clock, and not to come in himself un
til well past midnight, which resulted
in weary hour for him at the club,
filled with troubled musings concern
ing the way Chloie might take it, and
a homecoming tense with misgivings,
to find his pretty wife placidly sleep
ing. .-4,~------.e~= ;,.,.~-.. r.,
Thereupon Bob became alarmed. Not
that he feared CHLOE might take to
hirtatious ways; she was above such
idling. But her Indifference to his
absence brought a heart-chilling fear
of Indifference in her affection.
Pale in apprehension, Bob the next
evening took unusual care with his
toilet, much as discouraged wives of
newspaper were cautioned to
take-and he brought home with him
new thriller to read aloud to Chloie
II Chloie might be kept spellbound
She might be persuaded to learn again
the old habit of evenings at home
Directly after their cozy dinner Bob
got the book and settled himself in the
Hreside chair.
When ChlOie came into the room he
arose to get his pipe then hastily re
placed it, as an impediment to reading
aloud. ChlOie stood Il moment uncer-
tainly; it seemed to Bob that he had
crown to know that quick questioning
glance of her dark eyes; it usually
preceded casual remark concerning
-"Going out somewhereW He laughed
shortly, then resignedlX replaced his
book. "Where tonight?" he asked,
keeping the disappointment from his
voice. a
Il thought" CHLOE faitered, that
I'd just go over to Hildas; ii few of
the old crowd there. You were going
out, Bob?"
YES" his pride forced him to an
swer quickly-"over to the club, as
long as you are not going to be here"
Chloie caught up her cape from the
living room closet. "Oh, | won't be
here,' she replied. She glanced back
over her shoulder with a smile. Don't
forget to fasten the door, bob l have
my key"
When Chloie WAS gone he dropped
into the 1freSlLe cH&ir, desolate with
the ISOLATION oI homeSick school
boy His dream had been SO different
their plul ming for this home together
so sweet. What had got into Chloie,
the domestic little CHLOE of their en-
gagement? Tears coursed down his
cheeks. He might talk the thing over
with her, yet, what use to talk, when
her one urgent desire was to be away
from him.
Bob snapped off the light and sat,
Ais darA bog .SA head in his arms, Civ
ing away to his grief. In the darkness
the door opened someone was coming
across the room, the thick rug muf-
fling the steps, the sound of silken
skirts alone betraying the trespasser.
Bob, in tine shadow, raised his sorrow
ful eyes-it was Chloie In her white
lined cape who erter2u-came gr0ping-
ly toward the closes to replace her
cloak, then sank, q snail huddled OBJ
jeCt, on the tOor before the dead fire.
Chloie crying silently, her slim shoul-
ders shaken by soundless sobs. Bob
was there beside her, holding her close
in his arms. Dearest" he murmured,
what is it? Tell Me-you came back
from the party-has something gone
wrong?"
"Something?' sGsped Chloie, You
ask me that. Everything has gone
wrong, Bob. Everything we planned
out so beautifully has" Chloie's
sobs choked utterance. Il read in the
paper" she Went on shakily, that
when a man started 10 leave the home
pvenings-so scon after marr., ge-it
was because he was growing indiffer-
ant. And you had to make lin inter-
rsted all over agh"H--tO not let him be
50 sure of you, rob. And you know
you did start out terribly-four nights
the second week. And you didn't get
interested even when l kept staying
away. You let me go to movies with