The Dolores star., 1924-05-16
May
and October
By JUSTIN WENTwooD

t0. 1874. Western Newspaper Unlon.I

&c. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.J
r vERYBODY said it would not last
and that man Of fifty had n,
business marrying young girl of TWEEN
~. There was, however, one fact IL
mitigation, namely, that Henry Spend
er had known May Ronalds since sh,
mad sat on his knee as child. He hat
been u friend of her fathers. too. TO,
many years.
Then when Ronalds died suddenly
ana May, totally unequipped to earn q
livelihood, was left alone. what more
natural than that Henry should ask
her to be his wife?
Gratitude ought to have bound heI
to him-only marriage cannot be based
on gratitude. They found that out
They found out many other things in
the first months of their married life
For Instance, the old. affectionatt
feeling that had existed SO long be.
tween them, seemed utterly to vanish
The estrangement which grew more
and more pronounced, seemed to have
no tangible basis to it. Ii Just was.
Then the other man came upon the
scene-the inevitable other man.
Clownes was young lawyer who had
recently opened an Office in the town.
lie began calling. The couple were
attracted TO each other at first sight.
And then began one of those desper-
ate moral contests between three, In
which two must be the victors and one
the vanqulshed.
Not word was said. If Henry
Spender was aware that his wife was
the subject of town gossip. he made no
reference to it. II he was aware that
MS wife had been seen in car with
Ciownes. he made no reference to that
either. What was he to do? His was
II ridiculous postion-and he was
hfty. SO he waited for the inevitable
with sinking heart.
II think | ought to pay a visit to
mother" May said one day-and then
he knew the worst was at hand for
him. He quietly assented. He still
preserved friendly relations with
Clownes, who, In fact, handled some
law business for him. He was In
Clowne's office about this time, grave,
steady. quiet, as If nothing had hap.
pened when Clownes turned to him
with an agitated look.
"Mr. Spender, I can't take any more
business of yours" he said. 81 am CIV
Ing up my practice here. l am going
West"
I'm sorry to hear that" answered
Spender quietly: and then he was
quite sure. The blow had already
fallen.
He went home and said not a word
to his wife. She was already packing
She was to leave In two days time. On
the evening before her departure they
were sitting together In a constrained
fashion. and, glancing up. Henry saw
tears In her eyes. It cut him to the
heart. After all, what right had he to
be thinking of himself? She was q
girl, and he was--fifty.
He handed her an envelope. "a lit
tie extra money for your expenses" he
said quietly, and left the room.
May opened 1t. Inside was n check
for fifteen thousand dollars.
She was running after him. what
does this mean, Henry? It's absurb-
fifteen thousand!"
Half my possessions, May"
"Half your-but why? What am
to do with it? Spend it on months
visit to my mother?"
He looked at her, and suddenly his
heart began beating wildly. He con-
trolled himself. He put his hands on
her shoulders
MAY, my dear, when I married you
knew the time would come when
things would be jeopardized. It was
my idea that. however strong another
attraction might become you would
realize that a home and quiet. love
were preferable. WE'LL was mis-.
taken. Let there be no mlsunder-
standings between us. shall not see
you again"
She was clinging to him. "Henry,
answer me now If you never speak to
me again. Did you think l was-going
away with him?"
Anu ne iookeu ut Her Will tndt
glance that always hurt her so.
Listen He and l did care for each
other. There was hard struggle be-
tween love and duty. Duty won.
knew no good man would have asked
what he did Of me. grew to hate
him. He is leaving for the West and
I shall never see him again. Nor do
I want to. I know now what I have
thrown away. Take me again and
trust mel love you, Henry. as I
never did before. Trust and forgive
me-"
And in the look in her eyes he saw
his dreams fulfilled.