Show i tk n I t HIS WIFE 1 t i tl 11 L By MILDRED WHITE Ii i iJ J it J. J n m r t r. r Copyright 1313 Western Newspaper Union 1 I r- r Richards Richard's arms stretched de despairing despairing- i ly across his desk and presently his 1 head drooped to rest between them It ItT T f was all nIl over as far as heas he be was as concerned concerned concerned con con- and there was nothing to do but go away and ond leave Constance In her ber fathers father's care from which he Richard Richard Richord Rich Rich- i I ard ord should never have presumed to te taLe take her But love Io at that time had bad I seemed to be the greatest thing In the i world Wealth and all oU Its protecting con comforts Corts paled to nothingness besides I De lie had not realized In youths youth's dence dance to what length his ambition for tor t I his liis wife was leading him 1 Creditors had forced the fact act upon him him him-he he was In n debt hopelessly In n f debt How Dow tad had expenses been allowed J to exceed eed so completely his regular Inome In In- I ome 1 j Suret Surely the smart coupe had fuld 1 been een needful Connie perched on the arm arm of or his chair had bad delighted In la the 0 convenience convenience of ot her purchase The The beautiful bungalow with Its kept kept pt lawn had been Jeen her ber ate te setting The ne bungalow 1 must go this was now inevitable the servants engaged by his wife must most be dismissed sed h War condition might partially excuse ex cuse ruse his own lack of ot success cess In money matters matters He Re could bear the fathers father s I contempt contempt t It was of ot Connie he w was thinking How w would uld she look wh whon n n ii ha lie told her the truth What would woul d d she do But there was just om on thing of ot course that she could do She mus must t go 10 o back Jack to her fathers father's home I I White-faced White and with lines of offer suffer jag ing about his mouth he raised h his head reached head reached for tor the telephone telephone telephone-no no I he Le h could coald not tell her her yet He would d t write a n letter that would be the t t. t A He Be would place the sum of th lr r I I Indebtedness against that of ot his Income In I r come come Connie should draw her ow own n con conclusion and give gl him Mm answer I 1 N Not ot t once did U II occur to him that h his s merry little wife might have havo shared share d the blame yet It was she who had se se- plans for Cor the bungalow and aud it its Us s costly location When Then the te letter was sent on Its it s way Richard left town for for a bust busi business mess ness nes trip On his return he would woul d i learn his fate lute In Ills own street seemed d l as be he drove up to the bungalow tv door and ond the auto went for tor tho the last la laime st Ime I perhaps perhaps buck back to the sto stone stono Il The Tho rooms were empty as ho he passed pass eel from font one to another a n. sp speaking aking air of at desertion hovered everi everywhere where In Q i ConnIes ConnIe's own boudoir bureau drawers draw w ers era and closets stood Brood open she open she h had ad I been packing packing and and was gone RI Rich ard sank wearily Into a Q chair and rn rang n 8 for jor a n maid his fears tears were realized realize I yet ne ne' ne knew v that that he had b been n hoping a against hope allowing himself to fancy tancy the Impossible that impossible that Connie I might still have I I.-ed I. ed him enough to face with him a new beginning of at I things I I Mrs lUrs Byron started to pack Immediately Imme Imme- I d upon rec receiving his letter tho the maid informed him She uShe had left the 1 S I address of her destination 1 If he wished I I It t. t I Richard caught at the tho scrap of ot paI pa pa- per Willow dale he read In n Connies Connie's Connie's Connies Con Con- Conales Conale's I nies nie's writing and that was alL He HeI I I wrinkled his brow perplexedly then sighed No doubt was I I some new countr country place of ot her fathers They directed him JIm at the railroad station It was a n small suburban towel I he be learned not far tar from the city Tho The agent at shook his head i when Richard Inquired for the heme of at Constance's father That great mans man's name acme appeared to be unknown Mrs Irs Byron then Richard asked can you direct me to her The agents agent's face faco brightened visibly White cottage he replied across from the square Richard was still sun perplexed as he ho turned tamed Into the We garden path leading lending to the white cottage It was a very pretty li little hoary bouse with rambler roses climbIng climbing climb ing dg the veranda pillars pilings but he be could not ot understand what Connie Donnie should bo doing there there and and at the doorway sho she met him He paused breathless before her radiant face There were not re re- reproaches sure surely In n that evident hap hap- Come In said Connie She Sho laughed as he had not Dot h heard rd her laugh since those first Joyous days long ago Then at sight of her husbands husband's wan face faro she put pat up her arms to draw him down to her tier Dear Deor she murmured welcome this Is home at last Richard held her close You Ton mean he asked eagerly That I have ha never really had bad a ahome ahome home said Constance Always there were servants about to order things thIngs- gardens too well kept to enjoy Here there thero Is s but one small servant whom I 1 Ishall shall order Richard and a garden full tull of at flowers that grow alone atone I chose tho the place and und moved In n while you were e away Tho The rest of at our furniture shall be sold It has hns been such fun to plan plat things out Father wanted to help but I let him This Is ou our r home our home our very ery own awn and so ridiculous ridiculously y ry ly Iy cheap This time there tt will be a surplus on the Income side And dear Connie smiled tremulously you tremulously you u need not be worried and distrait an any anymore anymore Y more or give mo me anxious g I hours bours Wo We are free tree Richard we the shut shall 1 i reaU really live ll you and I I n In this little ren real 1 f home of ot ours With u a great eat content Richard gaze gazed brazed d I deep Into the eyes of or his wife who ha had hadnot hadnot I l not failed while clambering roses rose S 3 nodded promise to them from the dos door door- t way w. 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