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Show I' r I LOVE and MARRIED LIFEj J Ijjj. the noted author ' !A Letter From John. As Charles left mo I caught sight, from the -window, of a messenger boy bringing a box of roses. This time 1 smiled as I pondered If John "was going go-ing to court tne all ovor again. It "was really so funny that I did not ask myself my-self If it were my money he was court-Alice court-Alice followed the boy into the room and looked at me -with apprehension. Sho seemed to be afraid that I was going to tear up the blossoms as I had $. done with the first ones John had sent, c "Oh, I am going -to be good," I said fe asfcI took out one of the largest blos- m N soms and then I gave an involuntary Ilii groan. I had pricked myself on a Up" -r . thorn and I found my hand bleeding profusely. I said nothing In explanation, explana-tion, but began carefully stripping the j thornu from the steins. "That Is a good idea," said Alice as K sho brought mo a tall vase to put my It roses In. jg $ Both Became Silent. E "Yes, I think so," and then we both K -were silent. I knew that we both fer, were, thinking that perhaps it ivas al- M ways a woman's place to strip the L . i thorns from her roses instead of allow- j Ing herself to be hurt by them. She E j ,J knows they are ,therc and by using k ' care she can avoid them, therefore E ho should find no fault if through JL thoughtlessness or lack of care her W hands are torn. . "Then you do not feel well enough." I, a.uu vhul', iis sue uuusl uiu iusl iua down tho vase, "to go and see Huth , ' "1 feel vell enough, but I do not I feel up to asking her to allow the 1 children to go and visit Helen and t "Well, you do not have to do It right on the jump." I V" v,, MNo, I don't suppose I do, but I I 4 shduld be thinking of it all the time. fjg I- would probabb mako me very un- I comfortable and possibly give Ruth an , impression that I was not interested in ; ' j the children or that I had grown par ' ticularly stupid since my marriage; .1 ' ; t think, however. I will go for a motor t f' ride, in fryu, I would like to buy a If , , motor." I ', "Oh goodness," said Alice, "how ' ' quickly you pick up the ideas of a t plutocrat. "Why don't you .send to f Jqhn for your electric?" V ' "I have never enjoyed that car since ;t I found one of Elizabeth Jloreland's -j gloves-in back of one of , the cushions." j , Alice Shows Scorn. "Oh that woman, that woman," said 5 Alice. "I wish she would become in- a fatuated with someone else and leave) I John alone." "Now, look here, my dear sister, you know that she Is no more to blame than John Is. You do not believe be-lieve any raoro than I that she would ride in my electric unless John invited in-vited her." "No of course, but you know as well as I, Katherine, that a clever woman can make a man invite 'her to do anything any-thing if she has really made up her mind that she wonted to do it. "Perhaps , but I still think that' John should consider' you a little. Whatever What-ever a man is before marriage is hi affair, but whatever he is after his marriage is not' only his affair but tho affair of his wife." ("Every woman who is married to a flirtatious or even a thoughtless man must bear the disgrace of any trouble that ho gets. into. I know today that among our friends' I am pitied and by some of them looked upon with contempt con-tempt because they know that John is neglecting me more or. less while all !the time he is playing around with Elizabeth Moreland." I "I don't think he will do it any more," said Alice as she indicated the roses by the turn of her head and then -she turned and picked up the box carelessly in which they had come. "Why," she saicft "here, is a note which you evidently have not read." Glances at the Note. This was true. Up to this time I thought John had sent the roses an-nnvnimiRlv. an-nnvnimiRlv. hut T hurriedly srlanced at the note. "Darling." it read, "you can not tell how lonely I have been without you. I hope you have already made up your mind to come to mo" very soon. I have been wondering all day if you would bo liappier in another home. There Is a very beautiful house on the drive that is for sale anW had a little talk with the broke: tills morning. We could let mother .stay in the old home and we would move over to the new place. Write mo immediately immedi-ately what you think about it and if you say so I will buy the place tomorrow. tomor-row. I made a splendid deal yesterday yester-day and I think It is about time that you had a little present. By the way is that diamond pin I gave you in the safely deposit vault? 1 do not believe you have ever cared very much for it. Suppose you send me the key and I will have it reset." , As usual John had spoiled it alL He knew that I had sold that pin to Alice and he was taking this way to find out if, now that I had money. I was going to turn coward and buy (Jie pin back from Alice. ' Tomorrow A Momentous Decision. |