Show 1 U4IJJ th to t Aili J 6t A j A Marriage of Convenience By H H LERSNER I f I Iff I111f1 VfiJ1 if JV ff I I J 19 Copyright by Joseph U Howies It wns ficnurnlly cnncodml Unit Hub Leslie was I ho Imntlsnmust girl within t with-in her circle but vain to a degree never making any attempt to Interest I those with whom she came In contact boclnlly relying ubsolutoly on her i oxtromo good looks to court popularIty I popular-Ity NovertliolcsB she hail an ardent mini i mi-ni I rcr lames Lyle u tine manly fellow j fel-low young stalwart anti possessed of I u genial nature not BO situated how over us to ho able to glvo her a home I t such as Hho anticipated Dab hold a remunerative position With H largo corporation In an otllclal capacity and although sho derived an Income far In excess of the work demanded I de-manded of her uho was discontented with her lot probably duo to tho tact that nho had too much leisure giving her ample time to conjure foolish notions no-tions She longed to ho mistress of a fine homo with all tho charming accessories acces-sories that accompany luxurious environments en-vironments James loved Dab dearly and urged I her to become his wlfo I can see no future but tho care of a homo donning a wrapper and apron for tho convenience of performing per-forming household drudgery and I never showing my good looks to advantage ad-vantage she languidly replied t James coaxed and pleaded but of no avail Dabs vanity excelled her discretion James was compelled to accept tho Inevitable and discontinued his courtship Through meeting many gentlemen In a business l capacity Dab was much admired Gifts of value were lavished lav-ished unremittingly on her and unusually un-usually extravagant amusements 1 were thrown In her path Tho homo ii of her parents was fading rapidly d from sight Dab was traveling at a rapid pace tho road that is bright and luring while youth holds sway but tramples ono under foot when tho l lines of care and dissipation have I deepened Into noneffaceablo wrinkles I She was saved In tlmo from tho unseen q un-seen hand in tho precipice that was rapidly beckoning her to its unfathomable un-fathomable depths when Mr Thorn Fl UilAI I i I You Here James at This Hour 1 a prosperous merchant past middle I I ago sought her hand Sho eagerly accepted his offer and in a very short tlmo was wed and established in a magnificent homo Sho moved In a different sphere and her ambition ambi-tion was gratified After seven years of incessant pleasure and excitement Dab became a widow with three little ones to lovo and care for on a reduced income in-come She had spent money with a lavish hand and friends were numerous c numer-ous but all too late realized how empty her gay life had been Sho was compelled to curtail expenses r move to a small apartment and was able only to employ ono maid I Belle tho now servant proved to I bo a jewel Educated and with moro than the ordinary amount of attractiveness at-tractiveness Too proud to work In a factory and preferring a home to store employment sho made every effort to please Ono of her many I duties was to take tho children out each pleasant afternoon tho outing giving them all a rosy healthy color which poor Dab no longer possessed she remaining indoors doing tho duties du-ties Incumbent upon housekeeping rather than walking out with tho perambulator per-ambulator and exposing herself to tho gossip of past friends It was a summer day weather was humid children were fretful and Delia exhausted from the strenuous labors imposed upon her Mrs Thorn was observant enough to notice her maids indisposition and knowing t full well her invaluable services and how sho could HI afford to part with her sho called in a friendly tone Belle you may go out for the remainder re-mainder of tho day Tho change will no doubt do you good Thank you Mrs Thorn Delia gratefully answered I am quite m tired today I shall take a short trip out of town to visit a cousin whom I have not seen for a long time but I will return before you retire In a very short space of time Delia appeared ready for her journey really looking worry Slit worn a simple frock of pink and white muslin mus-lin caught hero and there with tiny bows of pale pink ribbon She could boast of a fine clear complexion and n mans of wavy reddish brown hair Which she had today nrratiguu artistically In a cull at the napu other ot-her neck with a black bow entwined and resting lightly on her head a soft white chip hat which her deft fingers hail gracefully maneuvered until I It I conformed very attractively I tho contour of her oval face Tho raw I was partially bidden by small white and pink blossoms and harmonizing har-monizing ribbon i sho presented a pie turo of rellnoincnt and simplicity that many a girl In her station who affected af-fected tawdry raiment might envy and Indeed a lass of far loftier station sta-tion would perforce of her daintiness dainti-ness give her more than a passing glance Mrs Thorn recalled her girlhood and sighed as she bid Delia a pleasant pleas-ant afternoon It was evening of tho day In question ques-tion Children hud been put to bed after much coaxing and promises prom-ises of goodies on tho morrow they fell fast asleep Tho dinner dishes having boon disposed of and all Irk sonic duties performed Mrs Thorn prepared to discard her wrapper and I apron and rearrange her hair which had become disheveled but before I she had been able to doanything tho 1 boll rang she hesitatednot having I tlmo to make herself presentable the ringing of tho boll again caused her to hasten to tho door You she gasped James Lyle Whatever brought you to visit mo hero I oh Ive called to visit you and your husband ho managed to stammer stam-mer Como In James and make yourself at homo I am practically alone just now my maid Is out Think of it you find mo so Sho blushed for sho recalled all too well her reason for refusing him James Im a widow now Hadnt you heard Indeed responded James I didnt oven know tho name of tho man you married Ho not realizing what a stupid blunder such a reply was Dab however was so embarrassed embar-rassed and mortified at the condition ho so surprisingly found her In that hIs remark passed unnoticed Tho evening went all too quickly for Dab Sho felt a certain amount of discomfort attired In such habiliment habili-ment but In her inmost heart hoped sho might yet win James back to loo her forgetting in her nowfound hap plncsft sho was handicapped by three very young babies Seven years of unrolaxcd gayety and her present cares had aged her most perceptibly James was dumbfounded dumb-founded at tho change time had wrought In her Ho was restless and ill at ease not being able to om pllmen her and fearing each moment mo-ment ho might commit himself irretrievably irre-trievably lie begged to bo excused telling Dab she looked a trifle tired as 1m modestly put It But James sho pleaded ynt will surely call soon again Now dont say no said Dab toaslngly ns sho observed his hesitancy think I over and I will anxiously wait tc hear from you I nm very lonely and your presence will cheer mo and give mo courage With a half promise James writ about to depart when Delia opened the door You hero James at this hour Della almost screamed and took his hand What can havo happened Bella was scarlet with excitement Sho certainly looked enchanting James looked from Della to Dab Such a contrast There was joy In his eyes Bab saw it In a twinkling Her Indignation know no bounds She resented tho deception of his visit in a flro of speech Turning to Della sho snapped You may look for another an-other position when your month sup s-up and you James Lyle dont ovor cross my threshold Delia said James addressing icr gently you will leave nt once and you shall have a position as mistress of my heart and homo |