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CONFESSIONS OF A WIFE DICK DRINKS TO FORGET AND I AWAKE TO REMEMBER Isn't the long arm of coincidence strange, little book? I have not seen Pauline Newton," 5r--Paula, as we used to call her, since we were girls, and just now, when I am thinking of writing her story, she pops in here and in her darling way tells me that I may write it all out "I want you to write it, Margie," she said, "for I feel so interested in the girl who earns her living. You know some of the awful experiences I had, but you don't know them all. I am sure my troubles, not only in getting a job, but in keeping it, must be the same troubles that every girl undergoes in the course of earning j her living. I want you to put down, without fear or favor, all my good j times and hard times." "That is very sweet of you, dear," : I said, "but do you know I feel very t timid about writing for publication. ; I am sure you could do better than 1 L" "No, Margie, I don't believe any ; one in this whole world with her j own pen ever put down all that con I cerned herself in a story or book." I thought of you, little book, and i wondered if I would ever have had the courage to write to you as I have, had I thought for one moment any one but you and I would see it But knowing that no one but you " and I will see it, I am going to write you of something terrible that came upon me yesterday. Dick, you know, had a very won derful special bed made for me, and ' although it can be moved most eas ily anywhere in my apartment, I never thought of having it put out doors until yesterday. My dear little nurse, Alice, togeth er with Mrs. Selwin, the gardener and chauffeur, rolled me out to the summer house behind the glorious : wistaria blossoms. The change was so wonderful that 1 I slept most of the afternoon. I re member thinking that I was surely getting better, and then I must have drowsed off again. I was awakened by voices which I recognized as those of Dick and Jim 4 Edie, who were smoking just outside the summer house. I heard Jim say, "Do you think Margie is any better?" and Dick an swered with a kind of groan, "I don't know. I don't know." "So that was the reason you went out last night and got gloriously drunk, and was brought into the station house at three this morning with two disreputable women, charg ed with disturbing the peace?"" ob served Jim evenly. "Oh! let up, Jim," answered Dick wearily. "I think if you were in my position you would perhaps do worse. I'ye got to have a chance to get it all out of my system occasionally. I tell you I am nearly crazy." "Yes, but what do these play spells do to Margie?" "She doesn't know anything about it, thank God! I am living over in the other wing of the house. Yester day was particularly trying to me at the office and all at once I just gave out, that is all!" "How long are you going to keep this up, Dick?" "I don't know, Jim," said Dick In colorless tones, and then he broke out vehemently. "I tell you I can't stand this. I'm a man, Jim, and I want my wife. I want a real home. I want children. I want to be respect- ") able, but fate won't let me." "Well, you never evinced any great desire for all this when you were having that affair with Eleanor Fair low," said Jim calmly. "Take care, Jim, there are some things even you must not say to me." "I'll say anything I choose to you, Dick Waverly. why don't you take.