The Road to Understanding

enby or of Helen, his wife, had demonstrated this fact for them. Quite unprepared, ther

unpleasant feeling of helplessness assailed both husband and wife. Yet with a gay "Now we'll go house-hunting right away so as to save paying

rs, they would prefer a house. "For," Burke said, "as for being packed away like sardines in one of those abominable little cheap flat-houses, I won't!" So a

t," she exulted. "For it's just

es;

t's a dear! Of course it isn't like your

tt, Helen,-we can't exp

e, what do

ear,-in this neighborho

economize somewhere else. Come

Burke, with a despairing glance at her radiant, eager face, followed her. There was, indeed, no other course open

oom to room was a series of delighted exclamations. She was just turning to go upstairs w

we can't!" he was exclaiming

to quiver. "And when you

a dozen houses like this if I could-and you know it. But we can't afford even thi

e can economiz

sixty all told. We can

ate would cost us that! I don't care for meat, anyhow, much. We'll cut that out. And

nd interrupted with

ow-what-all coming from? Why, great Scott, Helen, I smoke half that in a week, sometimes,-not that I shall now, of course," he added

I shan't! I know I should c-cry right before her!" The next minute, at sight of the abj

. "Come, let's go quick!" she exclaimed, pulling herself away, and lifting her head superbly. "I don't want the old place, anyhow. Truly, I don't!" And, with a dazzling smile, she reached out her hand and tripped enti

experiences. Not, indeed, until the weary, distracted pair had spent three days in time, all their patience, and most of their good nature, did they finally arrive at a decision

on; for Burke, thankful that at last something within reach of his pocketbook had been found to bring a sparkle to his beloved's eyes, had stifled his own horror a

its winding, tree-shaded streets clambering all over the slope of Elm Hill, where old colonial mansions, with an air of aloofness (borrowed quite possibly from their occupants), seemed ever to be withdrawing farther and farther away from plebeian noise and publicity. There was, of course, the mill district, where were the smoke-belching chimneys and great black buildings that meant the town's bread and butter; and there were the adjoining streets of workmen's houses, fitted to give a sensitive soul the horrors, so seemingly endless was the repetiti

eyes had glistened, and because his wife's lips had caroled a joyous "Oh, Burke, I'd love this place, darling!"-and because, most important of all, if it m

ight did there come to the young husband the full

despairing ejaculation. "But I just didn't think; that's all. Our furnitur

"You see, we'd always had our furniture, too, I guess.

Denby

d the money to pay. Heaven only kn

y, haven't you? You took a big ro

r a scornf

ishing a home? Of course I've got some money-a little left from my

't have to buy any furniture. And I think I'd like it better anyhow; and

smile. The frown only de

siped about, as it is, without our planting ourselves right under the noses of half the tabby-cats in town for them to 'oh' and 'ah' and 'um' every time we turn around or don't turn around! No, ma'am, Helen!

aughed

e minded a little staring! I rather like it, myself,

! He

sort of-er-important. But I won't say 'board' again, never,-unless

I shall love everything you do-just because it's you that do it. The only tro

ng his arm a surreptitious squeeze. "But, really, you kn

here did yo

I went in and bought it. 'Twas two dollars, so it ought to be a good one. And that makes me think.

plemented by the embarrassment of this new experience of being asked for money by the girl he loved, plunged his hand into his pocket and crowded t

r little handbag. "I shan't need any more for ever so lo

ou're going to be a l

thing if we're only to

e that would have been a kiss had it not been for the annoying presence of a f

te they reach

forth to buy the furniture for their "tenement," as Helen called it, un

igious amount of money. But, to offset this, and to make life really worth the living, after all, it seemed that one might buy a quantity sufficient for one's needs, and pay for them in ins

mere matter of color or texture. And how any one with eyes and sensibilities could wish to select for one's daily companions such a mass of gingerbread decoration and glaring colors as seemed to meet the fancy of his wife, he could not understand. Neither could he understand why all his selections and preferences were promptly dubbed "dingy" and "homely,

e one might spend-on sixty dollars a month. True, at the beginning she did remind him that they could "eat less" till they "got the things paid for," and that her clothes were "all new, anyhow, being a bride, so!" But she had not said that again. Perhaps b

sigh of relief, yet with an inward shudder at the reco

see them much. I'm away days and asleep nights." Nor did it occur to him that this was no

not nearly so pretty as usual), brought to him some borrowed tools, together with innumerable curtains and rods and nails and hooks that simply must be put up, she said, before she could do a thing. But Burke, after a half-hearted trial,-during

ke banged out of the house and

only meet his fellow employees, and take his place among them, but he must face his father. And he was dreading yet longing to see his

that he was going to make. Then he would come back and cry: "Behold, this is I, your son, and this is Helen, my wife, who, you see, has not dragged me down!" He would not,

would then be all the more glory in the winning. Besides, to leave now would look like defeat-would make one seem almost like a quitter. And his father hated quitters! He would like to show h

and curtains. And he had been such a brute to snap her up so crossly! He would not do it again. It was only that he was so dreading this first meeting with his father. After that it

ck, therefore, Burke Denby wa

n, instantly, voice and manner changed as he took a

probable looks or actions of any other member of the cast. He was quite unprepared, therefore, for the change in the man he now saw before him-the

ll!" exclaimed

ld out his hand. Yet Burke, who took the hand, felt sudde

? No, I'm not ill at al

s, very well-

good. I'

ue; but nothing found voice except another faltering "Er-yes, very well!" which Burke

ave come to work, I dare say," he observe

moment he found himself alone, white and s

of an apology or the like to patch up the quarrel. Then he would tell him how he was really going to make good-he and Helen. After that they could get down to one of their old-time chats. They always had b

s over. And he had not said a word-nothing of what

y toward the closed door. Then, with an impatient shrug, he whirled a

tered his father's office he would have found the ma

ings that had not been said. There was only a shuddering relief that things had not been said; that he had been able to carry it straight through as he had planned; that he had not shown his boy how much he-c

changed appearance. (Why could not he keep those abominable portions of his anatomy from being so wretchedly telltale?) But he had remembered in time. Did the boy think,

had s

s whole life had been bounded by his boy's smile, his whole soul immersed in his boy's future? What if he did know that all the power and wealth and fa

ip of a devoted father at the beck of an almost unknown girl's hand. Should the father then offer again the once-s

himself into the state of apparently cool, courteous indifference that

t have meant so much, but that did mean so little, to him-now. Then slowly he raised his

the wages were really very liberal, considering his probable value to the company at the first. He would begin at the bottom, as had been planned years ago; but with this difference: he

so harsh, so uncompromising. As if it weren't tough enough

ffice. Twice he turned toward the door as if to leave the room. Once he reached a hesitating hand

had been himself, the boy would only have had to look his reproach-and his wages would have been doubled on the spot! Fifteen dollars a week-Burke! Why, the boy could

fted about in his hand the letter which for three mi