The Sunday Morning Herald. (Amarillo, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 13, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 24, 1910 Page: 10 of 12
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THE SUNDAY MORNING HERALM. SUNDAY AJ'KIL. 2S iviu.
; : 1OQ)
vi
;qiARLES. KLEIN.
A irrm iDinrawm nw
TTXfolRATIONS BY PAY YVALTEItf
CHAPTER I.
j "I'm N. O. Unite a cltirh! Tha
ooner I chink It the boiter!'1
Caught tu the swirl of the busy '
ally's midday rush engulf! In Hro .d -
way's twtft niovln flood of lumTrg
kumantty JohiIoiI tiiicererwmlou .y
fcy the careless; Indifferent rro-il:t
discouraged frpin stemming further
the t)d a of puntilDR. elbowing men nut
omen who hurried up and down il
fJlV hro""hfnr"' "f " J':ffr
tired and hungry and thoroughly IU-
guutud w ith hlnmrlf. stood Hi 111 nt Hi )
corner of Fulton street corking llio
lank which bad brought him to his
grresent plight.
i It ii the noon hour the Importcit
alma of day when nnturo loudly cluiti'S
Star dua. when business affairs 10
austter how pressing muit be teu-
Borarlly Interrupted 10 that the bu-
sman machine may lay In a fresh store
M nervous energy. From under" the
nwrtals of prerlpltoua ofllce building
namm'oth hives of human Industrie
iwhlch to right and left sosred dirtily
from ttreet to iky swarmed thou-
and of employee of both sexi-s
Ierks atenographert- ihop girls mcs-
pemger boy all moved by a common
Impulse to eatlafy without further de-
laf Uie animal cravings of their phys-
ical natures They atrodo along wlili
ulok nervous step each chatting and
laughing with his fellow lnterented
tor the nonre In the day's work mil-
king plans for well-earned recreation
(when fire o'clock should 'come and
the uptown stampede for Harlem and
Jbome begin.
The -young man sullenly watched
the scene envious of the vnerky and
activity of all about Mm. Karh on
In these hurrying throngs he tlmuflit
Utterly to himself waa a valuable
ainlt In the pronperl-y and welfare of
t-ke big town. No matter how humble ;
W h'rwPV Mon''uch v nynil tt
Dart in tbo business IK of the great :
city each w-as ah nnen knuw n.
et Indlapenkfthle-Wfift fn the whlrlln;;
rompltcated merhawlsm . of the- vnai
world metropolis. Intuitively he f It
that be was not one of them Unit hi
had no right even
i leK 'tiler
lilmAtlf
their equal.
He wir rfvierly ' nh'elefH
to anybody. wqs wlOtout ponitlon
or money. He Was destitute even of a
bred of aolf respect." ' Hadn't he
promised Annie not to touch liquor
gala before he found a Job? Y t ho
ad already imbibed all t o whh ky
rblob the Jlttle money left In !" '
pocket .would buy.
Involuntarily. lUHllncllvnly he
whrank back Into Uie ahudow of a
doorway to let. the crnvda pafs. . The
pavements were now tilled to- ovnr-
flowing and each motrrot newi uiut'ia j g0.-g cll)U( d no scruple In show-
ftom the side atreetn came to awe'1 ' )ll(t )t
the human stream. lie tiled to hvoIU Thin ftt co n ud mct Rubrt
observation fearing . tha for.. u ( v d d - t
might recognla. him l.luklnK nil who hadiprofe.Md to take a
could read on hla face hat he was to h(m tBd
a sot a aolf-confesaed fallunt. ime of .. ' .. i
l'fe's Incompetents. In bin p.ilnful
. . . .
elf-eonsclousueHS ho bl!evul hltiiBelf
the eyhoeure of every' eye mul he
winced as he thouRht he delcclcil ou
certain faces side gluticea of curiosity
ommlieratlon and eontempr. .
Nor was he altogether ml.-taken.
.More than one piuHerby tvinnd to
look in his direction aCracted by
Lis peculiar appearance. Ills was a
type not seen every day in tlm com-
suerclal; district the po-.t ruminate
college man out at elbow e. He was
emaotb-faced and appnrcntly about "6
ears of age. Ills complexion was
fair and hie face rellned. It would
Jiave been nandnonm but for a droop-
ing Irresolute mouth which denoted
Wore than average weakuenH of char-
eter. ? he face was thin chalk like
in Its lack of color aud deeply seamed
with the tell-tale lines of dissipation.
Iark circles under his eyes nnrt a
peculiar watery look suggested late
hours and' overfondness for nlcoholio
refreshment His clothes bad the cut
of expensive tailors but they were
Hhabby tnd needed pressing. Hie linen
waa soiled and his . necktie . disar-
ranged. Hla whole' appearance was
arelesa and auegested that reckless-
tec of tnind which conies of general
demoralisation.
Howard Jeffrfea knew that he waa a
tf.Uure jret like most young men
mentally weak be Insisted that be
could not be held altogether to blame
jfiecretly too he despised these sober
(Industrious people who seemed ton-
tooted with tha crumbs of comfort
thrown to them. What he wondered
idly waa their secret Of getting on?
lif ow were they able to lend such well
regulated lives when he starting out
with far greater advantage!) had
failed? Oh he knew well where the
trouble 'lay la his ijamnitble weak-
ness of character his love for drink.
That was responsible for everything.
(But waa it hla fault If he were born
itreai? Theae people who beUuved
ithemaelvea and sot on he sucered
jtrei-e calm commonplnce tcrnpera-
fitwnts who found no diffl cully In con-
ftrftllnj jthelr baaer Insilnctn. . Th"y
414 rleht elmply because thi.-y iuuml
tx aWr than to do wrong. Tlata- vir-
tue we.nr nothing to brag about. It
Wita oa7 10 le 'tfood when pot
poied to temptation. Hul fur (hone
Imrn with the dtvll In them It came
haul. It ft.t all matter of heredity
ami influence. On"' vlci a w-MI at
en" virtues ire handed down to us
1 r.dy .ll(1.. r lttd no douot (htl
in the .Ii fTrl' ti family somewhere In the
i.:: -inory pa.t there had been a weak
!iuii-4 aincftor from whom he had
lnli rlifd all the trait which' barred
h'n wiiy to success.
! hr every minute. Kvcry one waa
elbowing hla way Into neighboring
restauruuts crowding the tables and
buffets all eating voraciously aa they
tnlked and laughed. Howard was
rudely reminded by Inward pangs t hat
ho. too wan fauilHhed. Not a thing
had pussed hla Hps since he had luft
home In llurlmi at eight o'clock that
morning and he had told Annie that
be would be borne for lunch. There
wan no use staying downtown any
1ohkt. For three weary hours Tie hud
trudited from office to office seeking
employment answering advertise-
ments awklng for work of any kind
r-Hdy t do no matter what but all to
no purpose. Nobody wanted him at
any price. What was the good of
man being willing to work If there
whs no one to employ him? A nice
lookout crrialnly. llnrdly a dollar
left mid 'no prospect of getting ny
more. H burdly bud the rourage to
return hoinn and fane Annie. With a
muttered exclamation of Impatience
lie vpjit from tni mouth the half con-
Kiimeil clgiirette which was hanging
from hla Up and crosalng Hroadway
wallixl llr.tlciu.lv In the direction of
I'ark place.
lie Inn) rcrtiiluly made a mere of
Millies yet nt one time not so long
oV". whut a brilliant future life
Mfmitil lfi hiVM Iti MlrirM fnr htm' Md
)t:wl . Kv11 ft BlUer
gart . r.n.mUer(d tB day u
left home to go to Yale; he recalled
falhr.g kmJ wori)a f tnpur.
h nt .. (.Hri; Ah f
mtt;f hj( 0 ()v(;d! T1
v.-ryttolnir would have been
Hll .. h
frcslimuu y..r cnrrled off suddenly
by heart failure" His father mkrrled
ap'.ln a ynimg 'woman 20 years his
Junior and that' had started every-
thing off wrong. The old home life
had gone forever. He had felt like
an Intruder the first time he went
home and from that day hla father's
r(jof had dlsUstuful t0 nlm Tm
lnia w he beginning of his' hard
i(k W cmM nc9 h mlsfor.
tunes buck to that. He couldn't atand
for stepmother a haughty iflffmh
supercilious ambitious creature who
hud lltfle sympathy for her prcdeces
ii i-niiMiiii vr un uni hi eiii a 1. 1 1 1 u u
the friendship of the dashing fasolnut-
lug sophomore and thus commenced
thnt unfortunate Intimacy which had
brought about the climax to hla trou-
bles. The snare amiable Underwood
whom he soon discovered to be a gen-
tlemanly scoundrel borrowed hla
money and Introduced Mm into the
-sporty" set en exclusive circle luto
which thanks to his liberal allowance
from home he was welcomed with
open arms With a youth of his pro-
clivities and inherent weakness the
outcome was inevitable. At ae time
overfond of study he regarded resi-
dence In college aa a most desirable
emancipation from tbe restraint of
i mm
He Waa a Type Not Seen Every Day
.. k In the Commercial District .'
home life. The love of books .he con-
sidered a pose and he 'scoffed at tha
men who took their readlng'seriously.
Tbe university attracted Jiim(kmostly
by Its moat undesirable features Ha
iorts Its secret societies. It. petty
digues and Its rowdyism. .The broad
spirit and the dignity of tbe alma
mater be Ignored completely. Directly
he went to Yale be. HUrtc-d In 'to en:
joy h!ruKe!f and wltlj the sophisticated.
I'ndcrwoiHl as guide went to the
devil faster than any mau before blih
In the entire history of tha university.
. Reading attendance at lectures
Hiiiiisaaaiii u min f . immm
cme! eaiy a cc:ivn::lnt cloak to r.ii.
real his turpi! ill!'' 'l'okr pl:ir. T.
auioinnhile Joy ri1i hard drinking
became the dally curriculum lu
town row and orgies of every dewrlp-
tlon he waa snnn a rrcornlsed leader.
t
Rcandul followed 'ndnl until le rse
thiatned wi'h expull.on Then I is
father heard of it and there wee a
trnbe scene. Jeffries. r. went lm-
mediately to New ITsvrn 'and there
followed a stormy Interview In which
Howard promised to reform hut once
the parent's hack was pureed thlnrs
went on pretty much aa before. There
were freh scandals -die smoke of
. which reached a far as New York.
. This time Mr. JeTrlee tried the plan
of cutting down the money supply and
Howard found hi:uef fitiHiirisliy ene
: hurin:med Pot this htid not i;ul!e
the effoct denlreil by the father f.ir
rendered despersto by his InaMll'y
to secure funds with which to t.vy
on hla s(.rees the young man etiiri.'d
In to gamble heavily giving: notes for
i his losses and pocketing the reedy
money when be won.
Then tame the supreme scandnl
which turned his father's heart to
steel. ' Jeffries Sr. could forgive ninth
In a young man. He bad been young
himself once. None knew better then
he bow difficult It la when the Mood
Is rich and red to keep oneeelf la
control. Jut there was one offence
which a man proud of 'his descent
could Dot condone. He would never
forgive the staining of the family
name by a degrading marriage. The
news came to the unhappy father hike
a thunder-clap. Howard probably In
a drunken apree bad married sferetly
a waitress employed la one ef the
"sporty" restaurants In New Haven
and Lo make the mesalliance worae
the girl was not even of respectable
parents. Her father Silly Delinora
the poolroom king waa a notorious
gsmbltr snd hsd died In convict
stripes. Fine sensation that for tha
yellow prees. "Banker's Bon Wed
Convlct'a Daughter." So' ran the
"scare hands" In the newspapera.
That was the last straw for Mr. Jeff-
ries Sr. He sternly told his soa'that
ho never wanted to look npon hlsj face
again. Howard bowed his head to
the decree and he had never seen his
father since.
All this the young man was review-
ing In his mind When auddtfnly hln re-
flections were dlsturbtd by a friendly
ball.
"H"llo Jeffries old sport! Don't
you know a fellow f rat when yon see
him?'"
Ho looked ap. A young man of
athletic build with a pleasant frank
face' waa standing at tbe news stand
under the Park place elevated station
Quickly Howard extended his bund.
"Htllo Coxe!" he exclaimed. "What
on earth are you doing ha New York?
Whoever would have . expected to
meet you In this howling wilderness?
How's everything at Tale?"
The athlete grinned.
"Yale he hanged! I don't care a
i . - You know I graduated last June.
I'm In business now In a bTokera of-
fice in Wall street. Say It's groat!
We had a semi panic last week. Prices
went to the devil. Stocks broke 20
points. You should have seen tha ex
citement on the exchange floor. Our
football rushes were notblag to ft. I
tell you It's 'great. Its got college
beaten to a fraszle!"-. Quickly ha
addrd: s"What are yoti doing?"
Howard averted his eyes sad hang
his bead.
"Nothing" he answered gloomily.
( oxe had quickly taken note of hla
former classmate's shabby appear-
ance lie had also heard of hts es
capades..
''Didn't yon hear?" muttered Bow.
art. "Row with governor marriage
and all that sort of thing? Of
course" he went on "fathar'a damn
ably unjust aetnated by absurd pre-
judice. Annie's a rood girl and a
good wife no matter what her father
was. I n It this Is a 'free country!
A man can marry whom he likes.' All
these Ideas about family pride and
family honor are old world notions
forelrs to. this soil. I'm not joint
to give up Annie to pleaee any one.
I'm as fond of her now aa ever. I
haven't regretted ' a moment that I
married her. Of course It has boen
hard. Father at once shot down
money supplies making my further
stay at Yale Impossible and I waa
forced to come to New York to seek
employment. We've managed to fix
tip a small flat la Harlem and now
like Mlcawber I'm waiting for some-
thing to turn up."
Coxe nodded sympathetically.
"Come and have a drink" he aaid
eheerlly.
Howard hesitated. Onee mora ha
remembered hie promise to Annie but
as long aa he had broken It once ha
would get no credit for refaalng now.
He was horribly thirsty and de-
pressed. Another drink would cheer
him up. It seemed even wicked to
decline when It wouldn't cost hire
anything.
They entered a bar conveniently
close at hand and with a tremulous
hand Howard carried greedily to his
lips the Insidious liquor which had
undermined hla health and stolen
away hit manhood. .
"Have another?" said Coxe with a
amile aa he saw the glaea emptied at
a gulp. V
' "f don't care' If 1 do" replied How-
ard. Secretly ashsmed of hi weak-
ness be shuffled uneasily on bis feet.
"Well what are you going to do
old man?" demanded Coxe ss he
pushed tha whisky bottle over.
"I'm looking for a Job" stammered
Howard awkwardly Hastily he went
on: "It Isn't so easy. If It waa only
BarseU JL wouldn't mind.'. I'd get alone
roi'.fhc.w . I'll '!' 1iie l'i!f Ri.
'i " miu i.' ( wi'i'k ifici i won t
i. Mr of It: (l iw.'Vi-siiid tor tha:
yo j know " . . .
Coxe feared a "touch " Awkwardly
he weld: ' '
"I wish I rniild'help you old man.
As It Is. my. own salary bsrely serves
to keep me In neckwear. W.ill afreet's
great fm but (t deei. h l pay murhj
..- '
that Is not iinle ew you j!:iy the game
journelf."
Howard aniilell fetdy'a he re-
plied: .ii-
"Nonaer.se-f wouldn't -accept hlr
of that rfrt ! pot reduced lo
llclrlnr itri;y yet. 1 GiUms I'd pre-
fer the river to that. Hut If you bi-r.r
l of aiililBJ Ve--p me In i. u.l."
j The athh f tiled') no it spouse. He
i ws apparently lo-.t in thoi:cht when
i suddenly he blurted out:
"Say Jeffries jou taven't got ar.y
noney have you say a couple of
i tlioimaud dollars'.'"
Howard stared at the questioner as
if he douhtid his sanity.
"Two thousand dollars!" ha gssped.
"Do you suppose that I'd be wearing
out shoe leather looking for a job
If I had $2(100 T'
Coxe looked disappointed as he re-
plied: '
"Oh. of course I understand you
haven't It on you only I thought you
might be able to raise It."
"Why do you ask?" Inquired How-
ard hia curiosity aroused.
Coxe looked around to see If any
one waa listening. Then In a whis-
per be said:
"It's a cinch. If you had $3000
you and I could make a snug llttla
fortune. Don't you understand? In
my office I got tips. I'm on the Inside.
I know In advance what the big men
are going to do. When they start to
move a certain stock up I'm on the
job. Understand? If you had $!000
I could raise aa much and we'd pool
our capital starting In tbe business
ourselves on a small scale of course.
If we hit It right we might nuke a
nice Income."
Howard's mqutb watered. Certain-
ly that was tbe kind of life be liked
beat The feverish excitement of
gambling the close association with
rich men the promise of a luxurious
style of living all this appealed to
him strongly. But what waa the use?
Whore .could ha get $2000? He
couldn't go to his father. He shook
his bead.
"I'm afraid not old port" he said
as ibey left tha aalooa and he held
out hla hand to say good by. "But I'll
bear It In mind' and If things Improve
I'll look you up. So long!"
Climbing wearily up tbe dirty stairs
of the elevated railroad be bought a
ticket with we of tbe few ntckela re-
maining in his pocket and taking a
est In a north-bound train started en
his trip back to Harlem.
The day was overcast rain threat-
ened. A pall of mingled amoke and
mist bung over the entire city. From
the ear window at the train wound
tts serpentine course la and out tin
mate of grimy offices shops and tene-
ments everything - appeared drab
dirty and squalid. New York was
een at Its ugliest. Ensconced In a
cross-seat his chin leaning heavily
on his band Howard gated dejectedly
out of the window. . The depressing
outlook was In keeping with his own
state of mind.
How would the adventure end?
Reconciliation with hla father waa out
of tha question. Letters sent home
remained without response. He
wasn't surprised. Ha knew hie pater
too well to expect that ha would re-
lent so toon Besides If tbe old man
wst so infernally proud he'd ahow
him he had soma pride too. He'd
drown himself before he'd go down on
hla knees whining to be forgiven. Hla
father was dead wrong aayway. Hit
marriage might" have been foolish;
Anale might be beneath him socially.
Bbe waa not educated and her father
waan't any better than ha ought to
be.- She did not talk correctly her
maanera left much to be desired at
times ha was secretly ashamed of her.
But her bringing up waa her misfor-
tune not her fault. : The girl heraelf
waa straight aa a die. Bbe had a
heart of gold. She wat far more In-
telligent far more likely to make
him a happy home than tome iturk-
up Idle society girl who had no
thought for anything save money
dress and show. Ferhapt If he had
been lets honorable and not married
her hit father would have thought
mora highly of bint. If he'd ruined
the girl no doubt he would have been
welcomed home with . open arms.
Pshaw! He might be a poor weak
fool but thank God they couldn t re-
proach him with that. Annie had been
loyal to him throughout He'd stick
to her through thick and thin.
. Aa the train awept round the curve
at Fifty-third street and started on Its
long straight run up the Went aide
hit mind reverted to Robert Under-
wood. He bad aeen hla old associate
only once since leaving college. - lie
ran across blm one day on Fifth ave-
nue. Underwood wat coming out of
a curio shop. He explained hurriedly
that he had M Yale and when asked
about hla future plant talked vaguely
of going In for art Hit matter wat
frUid and nervous the attitude of
tha nan who fears be may be ap
proached for a small loan. He waa
evidently well awara of tbe change In
hla old associate'! fortunes and bar-
ing aqueestd all he could out of him
had no further use for him. It waa
only when' he had disappeared that
Howard suddenly remembered a loan
of $250 which Underwood bad never
repaid. ' Some time later Howard
learned that he. occupied apartments
at the exclusive aud expensive Aa-
wlir li w.vi
It- w-cp'
. I n grant
e: " M:ted tn
.vn.y hut
tM'.k ' not at
Mm snl de'.l.fl:".
tho'taid alway ea..i
hnrae." ' -
Underwood hsd always been a royt-
tery 1o Howard. He knew him to ha
an Inveterate rmher and a man en-
tirely without r-rinf !pl No one knew
who hit famllv iwi or where he
raine from.' Ills ouree of Income
mo always a purtle. At coli
i he "vi. always h.trd . up borrowing
I right vl left r.n.l foruetllrg t pay
j yet y .tlwsys succeed" In llvleg on
i the fnt of the land. Hie apartments
in the A'rurla co-t a small fortune;
I he dr..ied well drove a smart turn-
out and entertained lavishly. He wst
! rot Identified wiih any parttcc!ar biisl-
' nes.i or profeHnlon. On lenwng col-
! I"8 hv became Interested In art. He
frxiuented tho Important art aalet
and eoon got his name In tha news-
paper as on authority on art matters.
UU apartment wat literally a museum
of thuopean aud oriental art. On all
ide were palntlnrt by old masters
beautiful rugs priceless tapestries
rare ceramics enamels statuary
antique furniture brontet ete. He
ptiaed for a man of wealth and moth-
era with marriageable daufihtma con-
sidering blm an eligible young bach-
elor hastened to Invite him to their
homes none of them conscious of the
danger of letting tbe wolf slip Into the
lambs'fold. . .'
What a atrange power of fascina-
tion mused Howard as tbe train
Jogged along men of Underwood's
bold and reckless type wield espe-
cially over women. Their very darlnt
and unscrupulousness sesms tc-rendor
them more attractive. He himself at
college bad fallen entirely under the
man's spell. There wst no doubt that
he waa responsible for all hla trou-
bles. Underwood possessed the un-
canny gift of being able to bend po-
ple to his will. What a fool be
bad made of him at the university!
He bad been hit 'evil genius ' there
was no question of that. Tint for
meeting Underwood he might have ap-
plied himself to terlout ttudy left the
university with honors and be now a
respectable member of tbe community.
He remembered with a smile that It
waa through Underwood that he had
met bis wife. Some of the fellows
hinted that Underwood bad known
her more Intimately than he had pre-
tended and had only paased her on to
htm because he waa tired of her. He
had nailed that aa a lie. Annie he
could twear was aa good's girl as
ever breathed.
He couldn't explain Underwood's
Influence over him. He had dona with
him what ha chose.' He wondered why
he had not tried to resist. . The truth
wst Underwood exercised a strange
subtle power over him. He had the
power to make him do everythlag bo
wanted him to do. no matter how fool
Ion or unreaaonabla the request Every
one at college used to talk about It
One alght Underwood Invited all his
classmates to his rooms and made htm
eut up all kinds of capers. He at first
refused point blank but Underwood
got up and standing directly In front
of him gased.ateadlly Into hit eyes
Again he commanded him to do these
ridiculous degrading things. Howard
felt himself weakening. He was and
denly seised with the feeling that be
must obey. Amid rears of laughter
he recited tbe entire alphabet stand
ing oa one leg he crowed like a
rooster be hopped Ilka a toad and
be crawled abjectly on hit '.belly like
a make. One of the fellows told him
afterward that he had been hyp
notised. Ha had laughed at it then
aa a good joke hut now he came to
think of It perbapa It waa true pos-
sibly be waa a subject Anyway ha
waa glad to be rid of Underwood aad
hit nnrtnny Influence.
The train ttopped with a jerk at hia
station and Howard rode down In tha
elevator to the ttreet. Crossing Eighth
avenue he was going etratght home
when suddenly he halted. The glitter
trur.u.
r'vle
and tempting array of bottles In a
corner saloon window tempted htm
He suddenly felt that If there waa one
thing he needed In the world above
all otbera It waa another drink. True
be had had more than enough already.
But that wat Coxe't fault: He had
Invited htm - and made blm drink.
There couldn't be any harm In taking
another. He might as well be hanged
for a sheep as a Iamb. By the time
he emerged front tha talooa ' his
speech was thick and hla step uncer-
tain. A few minutes later "he was
painfully climbing np the rickety stairs
of a cheap-looking flat house. At ha
reached the top floor a cheerful volet
ailed out:
"It that you Howard dear!"
CHAPTER II .
A young woman hnrrled out of one
of the apartmenti to greet Howard.
Ehe waa a vivacious brunette of 'me-
dlffm helgbt Intelligent looking with
good features and fine teeth.; It wat
not a doll face but the face of a
woman who had experienced early tha
hard knocks ef tha world yet In
whom tdverslty bad not succeeded IA
wholly subduing a naturally buoyant
amiable disposition. There was . de-
termination In the Ithes above her
mouth. It wat a face full of character
tbe face of a woman who by aheer
dint of dogged perseverance might ae-
compirah any task the cared to ml
herself. A smile of welcome gleamed
In her eyea at the Inquired eagerly:
"Well dear anything dalng?" .
Howard shook his bead Tor all re-
sponse aad a look of disappointment
crossed the young wife's friee.
"Bay. that'i tough ain't It?" aha
exclaimed. "The Janitor wis hero
again for the rant." He say tkey'll
' t: " :X ' .'.I
I ern us with s cispostioe i told nm
' to chei h'ms'lf l whs tr.at mad-"
I tmtes vm Minify ai emphntlr
rather than cholre knt'rviy without
education she mid no pretense nt
blng w hat the wis sot and there n
revhaps lay her chief charm. ' '
I Howard slipped kiM her she
1 rejiv srhfulty :
i "You've been diiiikief sam.
j ard You pro it leed me yon woilil'. t".
The' young mnii made r.o repi .
"Wlth'ir. 'impatieqi R.t n.
oi inin the f( and fiuue htm".
! down n a fhair In the d;itws mo
Frora trie adW'ilni! kitchen came i
we'coiu mini of conking.
"PlnHer ready?" lie demanded. "I'm
devi'lsh htinnry"
"Yes dear Jum a minute" replied
his wife (nmi the kitchen. "There's
some nice Irish stew Just what you
like." .
The box like hole where Howard
tat awtltlng his meal waa tbe Urgent
room In a flat which boasted of "five
and hafh." There was a bedroom of
equally diminutive proportions and a
parlor with wall paper so loud that It
talked There was seaicoly enough
room to swing a cat around. The
thin walla were cracked the rooms
were earpetlnes. Yet It showed the
care of a good houeeket per. Moors
and windows were clean the eover'on
tbe table spotless. ?The furnlnhltigs
were as meager as they were Inpen-
Uxis. With their slender purse they
bad been able to purchase only the
bare necessities a bed a chnlr or
two a dining room table a few kitch-
en ntendlls. When they wanted to v!t
in the parlor they bad to carry a
chair from the dining-room; when
meal times came the chairs Imd to
travel back again. A soap box turned
upside down and neatly covered with
cbintx did . duly as a dresser in the
bed robin and with a few photoptraphs
and tacks they had managed to im-
parl an aesthetic appearance to the
parlor. ' This place cost the huge sum
of 2: a month. It might Just as well
have coat $100 for all Howard's ability
te pay it. The past month's rent was
loag overdue and (hs Janitor' looked
more Insolent every day. But they
did not care. They were young and
life wsa atll! before them.
Presently Annie came in carrying
a steaming dish of ttew'' which she
la'd on the table. Aa the helped How-
ard to a plate full she said: "So you
bad no luck again this mornlnr;?"
Howard was too busy eating to an-
swer. As he gulped down a huge piece
ef br-sad be growled:
'"Nothing ae ususl same old story
nothing doing.".
Annie tlghed. She hsd been given
this answer ao often tbat-lt would
have aurprlaed ber to hear anything
else. It meant that their hard hand-to-mouth
straggle must go on.' Shi
said nothing. What was' the use? It
would never do to discourage How-
ard. She tried to make light ef It
"Of course It Isn't easy. I quite
understand that. Never mind dear.
Something will turn up aoon. Where
did you go? Whom did you see? Why
didn't you let. drink alone wbea you
promised me you would?"
"That wis Coxe's fault." blurted
out Howard always reedy to blame
others for his own shortcomings.
"Ton remember Coxe! He wss at
Yale when I was. A big fair fellow
wtth blue eyes. He pulled stroke In
tbe "varsity boat race ou remem-
ber?" ; "I think I do" replied hla wife In-
differently aa she helped him to more
staw.v "What did he want? Whaft
he doing a New York?"
"He's got a floe place In a broker's
oaTiea In Wall street. I felt ashamed
to let hint see me low down like this.
Ha said that I could make a good deal
of money If only I bad a little capital.
Ha knows everything going on In
Wall ttreet. If I went In-with him I'd
be on Easy street."
"How much would it require?"
"Two thousand dollars."
The young wife gsve a sigh as she
answered:
"I'm afraid that's a day dream. Only
yotir father could give yon such an
amount and you wouldn't go to him
would you?"
"Not" If we hadn't another crust In
the house" snapped Howard savage-
ly. "Tou don't want ma to do you?"
he'aaked looking up at her quickly.
"No-dear" ahe answered calmly.
"1 have certainly ao wish that you
should bumble yourself. At the same
time I am not selfish enough to want
to stand In the way of your future.
Your rather and etepmother hate me
I know that 1 am the cause of your
separation from your folks. No doubt
your father would be very willing to
help you If yon. would consent to
leave me."
Howard laughed as he replied: -
"Well If that's the price for the
$1000 J guest I'll go without It. I
wouldn't give you up for a million
timet $2000!" . . -
Annie stretched her hand across
the table.
. "Really r she said.
"Yon 'know I wouldn't Annie" he
said earnestly. "Not one second have
I aver regretted marrying you that's
honest tq Qod!'V r :
A faint flush of pleasure lit up the
young wife's face. For all her as-
sumed llghtheartedness she waa badly
In nt4 of this reassurance. If she
thought Howard nourished secrot re-
grettf tt vvould break ber heart. She
could stand anything any hardship
bat not that ; She would leave blm at
oner .' ' .: :
In a way aha held herself respon-
sible for hit present pred.tc.tme nt. Sbe
VarJ felt a deep sent of guilt ever
''
Since tkat afternoon tn New Haven
wh3" llttenlag te Howard's . Impor-
tunities and obeying an Impulse she
aru jrowerltu tt resist tee hid lung
Mid her wiltreu sproa. furtive. y
left the restaurant and nuirn'i i"
Cm !i the-tulrlier who declared
' m mau and wife.
i-eir unrrlnee wis a mistake of
' '- Howard wss In no poeltlon
-erry They should have walled.
l.qih realized their folly r.t w.
111st wsa done could not he un-
She realized too that It was
' fur Howard than it was lor
It had ruined bl proMcrts tt
'ciue of his career nnd threat-
il he an Itrepershle blight on
ntlre life. Bhe resllred thut she
lirrt'y t0 Ini. Sue hsd done
o . to marry biro and at timet aba
nached herself bitterly. There
v ie days when their union aisumed
i In her eyes tbe enormity of a crime
i Bite should have seen what a social
g.ilf My between thera. All ueae
taunts and Inmlta from hla family
which she now endured the bad fool-
lah!v brought upon her own hoad. But
h. had not been able to reelst tha
temptation. Howard eime Into her
life whep the outlook waa dreary md
hopeless. He had offered to her. what
teemed a haven against the cruelty
and selfishness of the woild. Happi-
ness for the first time In her life
senied within reach and the had not
Hie moral courage to any "No."
If Annie had no education she wss
not without hrslns. Hue hd sense
enough tn resllre that her bringing up
or the lack of It wa an unsurmount-
able harrier to her ever being; ad
mltted to the Inner circle of Howard's
family. If her huihsnd't father had
not married again the bresrb mlaht
have been crossed In tltne but hia
new wife was a prominent member of
the smart set. a woman full of aristo-
cratic notions who recoiled w-lth hor-
ror at having anything tn do with a
girl guilty of the ermrmlty of earning
her ovq living. Individual merit in-
herent pohlllty of character amiabili-
ty of. disposition and a personal repu-
ts'lion uiltourhed.bv srsndal all thla'
went for hot hlng because unaccom
panied ny weeitn or social position
Annie had neither wealth nor -position.
! She hsd not even .education Thoy
considered her cqmrnon1 Impossible.
They were ever ready to lend an eir
to certain unly stories regarding her
past none of which were true. Aftr
their marriage. Mr. Jeffries. Sr.. snd
his wife absolutely refused to receive
her or hsve any communication with
her whatsoever. At long therefore.
ss Howard remained faithful to her
the brearh w ith his family could never
he healed.
"Have some more stew dear" slje
nald. extending her hand for ber husv
oena n piste.
Howard shook his head and threw
down hla knife and fork.
"I've bad enough" he said despond-
ently "I hayen't much appetite."
fbe looked at him with concern.
"Poor boy you're tired out!"
Aa sbe noted how pile and dejected
he.' appeared her eyes filled with
sympathetic U.vs. She forgot the
appalling number of cigarettes he
smoked a day nor did she realire
how abuse of alcohol had spoiled his
stomach for solid food.
"I wish I knew where to go and get
that $2000" muttered Howard bis
mind still preoccupied wtth Coxe's
proposition. Lighting another elga
rette he leaned back In hit chair and
lapsed Into silence.
Annie sst and watched blm wish-
ing she could suggest some way tn
solve the problem that troubled him.
She loved her husband with all her
heart and soul. His very weakness
of character endeared him the more
to her. She was not blind to hia
faults hut she excused them. Hie
vices his drinking cigarette smoking
and general shlftlessnest were she
srt'ied the result of bad associates
lie was self-indulgent. He made many
good resolutions and broke them. But
he xvss not really vicious. He bad a
good heart. With some one to watch
him and keep him In the straight path
lie would still give a good account of
hlumelf to the world. Bhe waa con- .
f.ilcnt of that. Bhe recognized- many
excellent qualities In Mm. They only
w .tntcd fostering and bringing out
That was wby tbe married him. She
was a few years bit senior; the felt
lh.it sbe was tbe stronger mentally.
Sue conaldered It was her duty to
ilrvote her life to him to protect him
f-"-n himself and make a man of him
I1 r ns not her fault ahe mused. If
s! ags not a lady.. Literally brought
i:- in the gutter what advantages bad
rV had? Her mother died In chlld-
'' ih find her father a professional
hler abandoned tha llttla girl to
.-' tender merclat of aa indifferent
slibnr. When aha waa about eight
: Old her father waa arrested. He
- -is-srd to pay police blackmail waa
t illi ted railroaded to prison and died
iti-: arter In convict stripes. Thera
v: r.o provision for Annle't maln-
tei'.uice to at the age of nine ahe
foi nd herself tolling In a factory a
1- 'i lent victim of tha brutallitng sys-l-
i of child slavery which la spite
r prohibiting lawn still disgraces tha
1 i lied States. Ever tinea that time
t.' ' had earned her own living. The
" it had often been hard there war
- e when the thought the would
to give up tha fight; other girls
' had met bad hinted nt an easier
' of earning one't living hut aha..
l.m: kept her courage refuted to listen
to evil counsel and always managed
to keep her name unsullied. She left
the factory to work behind the coun-
ter in a New York dry goods store.
Then about a year ago aha drifted to
New Haven and took tha position of
waltrtst at tha restaurant which th
college boys patronized. 1
(Continued next Buadar)
a
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The Sunday Morning Herald. (Amarillo, Tex.), Vol. 22, No. 13, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 24, 1910, newspaper, April 24, 1910; Amarillo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth288999/m1/10/?rotate=90: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .