Evening star., 1925-10-04

| nothing when we married-you were
wealthy. Our friends know that we
have not been happy. If I were to d.
vorce you now-when you have lost
everything-can't you imagine what
people would say? Don't you know
ithey would say I remained with you
only so long as you could indulge me,
| and that when things went wrong l
quit? Can't you see 1t is an impossi-
BILE situation from my standpoint?
Can't you?"
'Mmm! I don't know that I care
particularly what people say"
We'll. l do And l shan't divorce
you-not now"
He stared at her quizzically. and.
| as he watched. she did very pecu-
liar thing; something that was not at
all in keeping with her aloofness and
indifference of the past year. She
sprang to her feet and ran from the
room. He fancied, as she mounted
the stairway, that her handkerchief
was at her eyes.
Long into the evening he sat before
the fire, smoking innumerable cigars
MISUNDERSTANDING. At hand-grips
enced an unaccountable tightening of
spirit. The feeling defied analysis, yet
it was undeniably there.
AT length he rose and went to his
rooms. He slipped out Of his dinner
Jacket and donned a lounginge robe.
There came IA knock on the door. Sur
prised, he said: Come in
x X X
nORIS was vivid in brightly en-
- broidered japanese kimono, a
dark blue thing with embroidery Of
impossible birds and cleaning flowers
He eyed her curfouS1y; this was the
tjY,1a Sh ha6 xrfsf ia
in months. He wondered; but she was
grave now. and impassive. All trace
Of emotion had departed. Her voice
was limpid and casually converse
tional.
Il want to talk with you, Donald"
Very good"
'In a practical way. Tell me: Just
how embracing is this-reverse-you
have suffered?"
Quite matter-of factly he made his
report. He was virtually bankrupt
barely enough money to pay off his
creditors. The home must be sold,
and the cottage in Miami. Your
jeWelry-that'S yours. No-dont offer.
1t really isn't needed; 1 have suffi-
cient to pay my debts. 1 own pecu
liarily enough business-or the pos
sibility of one"
You own business?"
He grinned. but it was not a sar-
donic grin. Yes. A year or more
class garage. The place failed-too
much overhead. 1 foreclosed. 1t is
now mine. But that is all l do own.
Figures are horribly embarrassing.
and close figuring on my own position
indicates that l am as close to being
broke as man can be. And l don't
understand, Doris. your attitude about
the divorce. II seems unreasonable"
1T isn't. Oh. don't misunderstand-
L want the divorce as much as
you do. For us to continue living
mean nothing to each other. If this
thing-if things-hadn't occurred. 1
would have been anxious to go ahead.
Now it's impossible
Il see. And what do you propose?"
Just this She leaned forward.
tense and earnest. I'VE wish to di.
vorce each other. We can't do 1t now
because it wouldn't be fair to me.
People would say that I left you be-
cause you lost your money. All right
i refuse to give them that ammuni-
ton to use against me. But that
doesn't change my feelings-our feel
ings. And l have g. proposition to
make"
She was silent for a moment. Her
face was lighted with interest; Donald
found himself regarding her through
new eyes. What Is 1t. Doris?"
II shall earn my divorce"
You will what?"
Earn my divorce"
I'm afraid I don't understand"
Let me explain" She spoke quick
ly, the words fairly tumbling over one
another Beneath all your austerity
I've never doubted that a man lurked.
1 don't believe you're the type to sit
back and let fate hit you with never
an effort to hit back. I believe that
you are a fighter"
Thank you. Doris" An hour before
that remark would have been freight
ed with bitter sarcasm; now 1t was
simply spoken, meaning no more and
no less than 1t said.
Il don't believe that you will accept
position from one of your friends;
you've too much pride for that,
haven't you?"
Quite"
"And you must work. Now, why
not this; the idea clarifies as I speak.
For two years you've had hobby
automobiles. You've also had a pet
topic Of conversation; personal. guar
anteed, high-class service. You tell
me that you own a garage, that it