The Road to Understanding

ptember that Mr. and Mrs. Burke Denby ar

e in the Denby Mansion. He had argued with himself that she would find it out soon enough, anyway, and that there was no reason why he s

banishment from the home, she did not know. She had been planning, indeed, just how she would win her father-in-law over-just how sweet and love

nd beauty. And although this feeling had, perforce, been in abeyance for some eighteen months, it had been very rapidly coming back to her du

her now, therefore, when Burke said to her, a

elen, for a few days, till we get the apar

, Burke, aren't we goi

ng to have a home of our

." Helen's lips sh

just wait and see." The man s

ur old home, Burke. I know what tha

dry lips. "Er-you know, dear, dad wasn't exac

re-to show him, you know. Why, Burke, I'd got it all planned out lovely, how nice I

re discerning bride, his face would already have finished his sentence. "Er-but-well, anyhow, dear," he stammered, "

e mean o

el

owed a frown as

mean, if he is your

el

he gazed at her husband with reproachful eyes. Then her chin began to quiver, he

Burk

d and distracted young husband, promptly capitulating at the awful s

that to me b-before," chok

stop," he pleaded desperately. "See, we're just pulling i

urke Denby's heart swelled with love and pride as he watched her. If underneath the love and pride there was a vague something not so pleasant, the man told himself it was only a natural regret at having said anything to cast the slighte

been welcomed by that father's eager smile and outstretched hand. He missed them both now. Otherwise he was relieved to see few people he knew, as he step

fore, the somewhat embarrassed and irritated bridegroom hurried his bride

fast and very tenderly of the new

g? I'm going to rent one of the Reddington apartments. You remember them-on Reddington Avenue; white stone with dandy little balconies between the

hired girl, too, you know," fluttered the new wife, in quick pan

fully wondering how much his father paid for the maids, anyway. There would have to be one, of course; but he wondered if his allowance would

t. I never did at home, you know, and I should hate it, I'm sure. It's so messy-sticky dough and dishes, and all that!" Again she laughed and showed all her dimples, looking so altogether bewitching that Burke almost-but not quite-st

beamed anew, and the remainder of the drive was a blissfully happy

lock Burke Denby came into their room at t

t," he flung out, dropping h

do you

cut off my

gone to work. Th

there are

ne sent a swift sus

aren't so big as

rtain

it wasn't mean enough for him no

u say things like that about dad. Now, for heaven's sake, don't let us quarrel about it,"

t I

don't! Crying won't help; and I tel

tered the young wife, too thoroughly frighten

saw B

Maybe he do

knows everything. They say at the Works that he knows what

who i

s and father's right-hand man. He came here t

ly angry, then?" Her eye

it. He's cut off my allowance entirely. He's raised my wages-a l

the opposite wall. His whole attitude spelled disillusion and desp

elen Denby's heart. Scorn and anger had left her co

r objected so to-to me?" s

ly conscious of what he wa

d you weren't suited to me;

lly half a minute she watched him, and in her shrinking eyes was mirrored each eloquent detail of his appearance, the lassitude, the gloom, the hopelessn

nd see. And we'll show him. We'll show him we can do it! He told you to make good; and you must,

shrill crescendo of his wife's voice. His next was to shrug h

, don't be a goo

ayed by the exaltation that had mastered her. "And I'm g

o'll everybody else, if you don't l

be hurt or vexed. Obediently she dr

eems as if I must shout it to the world. I want to go out on the street here and scream it at the

n!" shivered

rried on f

good. Do you hear? We'll show them. W

t-b

ay 'but' and hang bac

d the man, stirred into a show o

, but we're g

t be-hardly

t along-

eap little hole somewhere-we ca

t want

ll have t

er chin was stil

't be any-

" She drew in her breath with a hyste

ulsion of feeling that was as ardent as it was sudden. "Only I'll

nse

ld me i

ere saying about me. Burke, they ju

ey shan't,

?" she regarded him with

will-with you

amed into r

it-I'm going to help you," she breathed f

's arms, at the moment, the world looked, indeed,