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gain counter consignment Harte felt
that the time had come for a decided
stand. The result was a quarrel
which grew to such alarming propor
tions that Annabel insisted he was
still in love with Mamie Beck and
firmly announced her intention of
getting a divorce.
Harte flung out of the house, non
plussed, angry and thoroughly mis-
erable. He felt he could not any
longer stand his wife's unreasoning
folly, he could not live with her and
he was forced to confess he could
not live without her. He walked
wildly, irresponsibly down the street
All at once he found himself face
to face with Mamie Beck. She no
ticed the white, set face, and though
he made an effort to go on, she de
tained himr
"Harry, what is the matter?" she
asked.
"Why, nothing," was the evasive
answer.
"Yes, there is. Can't I help you?"
The question was so full of good,
wholesome sympathy it began to
melt the barriers he had set up be
tween them. He had not meant any
one should know, but the desire to
be understood, when a soul is floun
dering In deep water is often so
strong as to sweep away the bars of
discretion. Harte let her know some
thing of the reason for his unhap
plness. "Come home with me. Let us talk
it over," she said.
The two walked on for several
blocks and entered Mamie Beck's
home together. j
Meanwhile Annabel, the moment
Harte had left the house, had felt a
sudden pang of remorse, and deter
mined to dry her eyes, rush out and
get something she knew Harry es-
pecially liked for dinner. She meant
to have it all ready for him when he
came back and try to. make amends
for what she had said. She dressed
and started for the shop to make her
purchases. Thank heaven there was
no bargain counter there! Turning 1
a cbrner, she gave a start! There
was her husband with Mamie Beck,
the two walking slowly, in earnest
conversation. They were on the op-
posite side of the street and they did'
no$ see her. She found herself fol
lowing them. It was a fine thing to
do, not even very decent or honora
ble. But was she not his wife? That
seemed to her to excuse it all.
She saw them enter Mamie Beck's
home. Th then was the solution!
He did care for this other woman!
He was tired of her so soon! Not
yet married five months, and it was
all over, the happiness, the love upon,
which she had built such wonderful
castles of delight!
She did not go to the shop. Whati
"was the use? He might not even;
come home to dinner. She went
back, flung herself down and wept
and sobbed as never she had done-,
before.
After a time she heard his latch
key in the door. She rose' quickly
and tried to bathe away the traces of
her tears. She did not mean he
should see how she had suffered or.
thal she had seen him with Mamie
Beck. She meant to find out how
far things had gone. If she could
prove that he did love this other,
woman she would have good ground
for a divorce. Divorce! It seemed
now to mean the wrecking of her
whole life!
She met her husband with an icy
reserve that left him very little op
portunity for attempts at reconcilia,
tion. The next morning, havings
thawed a little, he met her more than,
half way. But as fate or some other
phychological factor would have it,
that very day she again saw Harry
with Mamie Beck. They stood out
side of a shop, and, oh, horrors! she
saw him iand her money. There
was no mistaking it, for Mamie
opened her purse and put it in and
both laughed heartily as they parted.
No wonder, she, his wife, was be
rated for spending foolishly when he
was giving money to other women.
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