Show I THE T E EVE EVENING G STORY L MARY Copyright 1012 1 by by W. W Wern Werner r. r WIlen Mary came up liP to the 1119 I. I Aty ity ty to flat fIat hunt with Jim a n. month before beCore their marriage mar mar- e and found that he Would rould not even look at apartments In the fashionable lo localities localities' lo- lo where she had been in the habit of visiting visiting that that as ns tho the cost of living was climbing climbing- nothing nothing- over 35 35 a a. month could be she considered considered she put her loot Toot down firmly on the housekeeping question Jim Tim lived JIved In a boarding house that was known In Ina a a neighborhood that was right and she sha figured that It Il would be much better botter to live there for a time even een If jr they only had two small rooms than absolutely to ostracize themselves by go- go going In ing Into Into- an unfashionable and to J. J Marys Mary's friends unknown neighborhood In all her hr twenty three three years years' she had breathed nothing except a fashionable atmosphere and she did not propose to launch her ber matrimonial bark barl In alien waters nor norto norto norto to ha have o the girls gIrls' from froni home up In the city Ity shopping think that her enthusiastic description n of or Jim's Jims circumstances circumstance had been wido of or the truth She had really been conscientious In all she had said al On all sides Ides ho lio had he heard rd of ot JI Jims Jim's ns n's splendid prospects prospect Now his talk of ot slow until business nas n ft firmly h established as as nil all nonsense i 4 Ho IIo glanced at her for tor a 3 moment O Of course she abc realized that for a time they could noL not Loop up the pace with the majority of or their friends but they could at nt least be In tho the running The first few tew months of ot life in the boarding house were verc cre delightful Jhn's Jims 1 frIends frienda seemed to vie with each cach other In little attentions attentions' to the bride It was as a constant round of ot luncheons at ble hotels hotel th theatre parties club afternoons after after- Mary Jary really began bean to feel teel that thai conditions were b better than if they had harl taken the elaborate apartment she had planned Then the change came I 1 The The invitations were cre not extended quite so 80 frequently She was not whirled here and there ono one day y in Mrs Irl Thompsons Thompson's electric tho the next in Mrs Sawyers Sawyer's limousine It suddenly dawned on her that she sho was as expected to reciprocate ate Well SWell go so ahead Jim had said when she spoke to him Mako Make a clean of or i H 1 then thel r refuse fuse further Invitations t Its It's all on too big bl a scale for tor us Just yet sot ot That was walS the man of or It she thought ht Never r stopping to consider consider- what consider what hat it meant to stay at home homo and view from tho window beautifully gowned women trippIng down from Crom the steps to 10 their walt waiting nJ cars to sit It through he afternoon afternoon afternoon after after- noon dreading tim the dinner hour hour when the gorgeous function Would he ho tIm the principal topic to hear bear the remark that was sas be becoming be be- coming so 10 monotonous with Its Ihl smile mlle Its ns too bad Mrs Jim you OU didn't accept all the time Urns knowing that there was no legitimate reason why she should not entertain and be entertained why sho aho should not have her own electric pull up to the curb Major Brownies was constantly telling her that Jim's Jims business was ws booming and he knew because he was really like a father to Jim Of course course he usually spoiled it by adding You and he have havethe tho the sensible idea and you want to Keep it No splurging yet awhile Ills HIli advice ad she tucked away as being of or no consequence but the tact fact that bu business was booming she he constantly kept to the front tron Nevertheless s. s Jim was obdurate obdurate- Ho no did not object to a n. quiet little theatre party Darty but he ha refused absolutely absolutely to sanction tho the costly entertaining Mary Iary claimed 1 was as necessary to hold her own Jim she said to him one night I 1 dont don't know that I would not Just a as soon go o back to to mother as M live Ue this way any longer H He lanced glanced at her for forS a. a moment loment over the tho top of or a m magazine then continued his hll tending reading You ou needn't look at me me that wa way The petulant vo voice e took on an n angry tone Its ItE the same samo performance here her ev every ry evening While others are going to something some some- thing that counts here you and I sit lit bored stupid stupid- I UI 1 heard Mrs Mr l Dudley udley ask you to go 10 godown godown down and have a a. game of ot bridge I lOr hate bridge el Yes calmly How about music Mrs Irs Peyton la Is singing She's SheI got a coo toed voice too and andi and and- II i dont don't care If It Calve is la l she ane cried passionately I tI want to get out I want to see things do things as I 1 did die before I was as married married- I I care whether you ou like It o or not not not-I I would rather rather rath rath- er be home I I had a better time Urns time His gesture as he threw tho the magazine on the table interrupted her His eyes flashed as he said Do you know Im I'm getting uncommonly tired of ot hearing bearing that It If youre you're not willing willingto to take things as they thoy are for a year ear or two two Ive Ive I've some somo hard digging ahead of ot me me me-It If youre you're unhappy unhappy un un- un- un happy here with me perhaps perhaps his his eyes narrowed as us he paused paused pl better go back to mother The 1 e announcement t o of ot Mrs Jim's Jims contemplated con con- visit home horns coming an on n top of or the slight though apparent coolness that had come between the young couple was received with quite an exaggerated amount of ot surprise Mary was tenably conscious that t. somehow Jims Jim's friends saw through her herlInd herand and did not al altogether al- al together approve Once sho aho was told by bya a woman old enough to be her mother Dont stD stay away too long Jong little gIrl Now's the time when hes he's at the struggling sling gling stage stag that your husband needs you near him hint Then with a a. little pat paton on the shoulder she sho had hadl added Make Maice a home for him my dear no matter no-matter matter on how small sinal a scale Timo enough for tor all aU these frills trills when ho he can afford It Major Brown Brown- Brownlee lee too their their best best friend Mary had como Come comoto Cometo to consider him said nothing but looked reproachful That was was' harder to bear than anything It was was 83 a few row days days' before beCore she was to togo togo too go o that ti the tho major proposed the theatre Just sort of or a a. little goodbye yo you know he had said I smilingly It It was the first time h he had referred to her departure He lie brou brought bl it up again when they thoy were waiting In his bo box for th the rise of or the tho curtain Going to br bf pretty lonesome In fn a a. few days eh oh Jim Jim had muttered something InaudiblY and the cold unapproachable look that had become become- habitual deepened I know how you feel the major went om oni Had a dose of ot It myself once once- once once-oh oh h years yea ago ago as II they looked at him InI in inquiringly In- In I but but mine was wall forever yours youra just Just a tow few ow weeks In tier her Or surprise Mary did not notice the significant pause But you wore Were never r married major she ventured No Yes Yell I was Wo We had about ono one year year year-of of happiness A faraway look came camo into his eyes Vp We V hadn't sense enough to keep It We Ve allowed dissatisfaction to creep in f then worse We re drifted apart until n sho she was living her life lire I I mine mine- The J I I 44 I Jim she sh said I I 1 I dont don't want to toto toto toto to to go home Inevitable happened and afterward who's she's another r mans man's wife witt now He Drought brought his hi glance to bear on the eager cager facca before him bin Youngsters ho said auld earnestly it was a a. hard pill pili to swai sWa then them Sometimes it hurts no now The curtain went up and he be turned turn the front of ot the box Tho musical comedy presented wai its zenith and Mary had thought would enjoy It If It anything could lYe rire pleasure Just then tIlen but she sat and audits sta staat at the stage and saw nothing She thinking of Major Brownlee what if should have his experience df lIt should forget her and some time should meet Jims Jim's wife Jim Jims Th The hideous thought brought the tho enD In hr a rush to her faco face A back choker scorned to strangle strang her She Sho She felt felt- smart of ot tears tean In her eyes Bravely tried to focus her mind on the th t Then a name her bel name caught her hauntingly sweet refrain retrain h held ld h her r.- r. voluntarily she turned to Jim I a as I words And well we'll all bo be longing Joy Jor 2 Mary Mar came CAme to her But be he was waa Ising Jc Is Ing at nt the stage and his face tace was c noncommittal She did not believe felt anything Ho He would not long her and soon soon soon- s She Sio o gave save up at last lust and eat sat far tin bIn t b in the box Tears were wore a a. relief they came thick and fast She wu the song Bong to cease Dont forget to toss a CI aback back home home- to her was such auch a mock No one would want her She could In and and and- i Suddenly Jim looked around A AI 1 1 of wonder leaped Into his bis eyes Thee smiled a a queer smile Il a a knowing ont ons chair was pushed back and his b found Marys Mary's down by her side 4 What Is It little girl he ha Jim sho aha said sald I I t I dont don't I Ito to go CO home Lets Let's find that flat A A. subdued laugh broke front from 11 a Lets was alt all he said 9 |