The Road to Understanding

at the start, if they diverge ever so slightly and keep straigh

-miles apart in tastes, traditions, and environment. In one respect only were they alike: undisciplined self-indulgence-a likeness that meant only added differences whe

still, nor to talk when he wanted to read; especially as the one who wanted him to walk and to talk happened

d them magically restored to their proper places, as in the days of his boyhood and youth. Burke abhorred disorder. Helen, accustomed from her baby

indows wide open. Helen, trained to think night air was damp and dangerous, wanted them shut. And when two people ar

of thing he had pictured to himself. He had supposed that life, married life, was to be a new wonder every day; an increasing delight every hour. It was neither. Living now was a matte

e was actually almost untidy at times. He hated those loose, sloppy things she sometimes wore, and he abominated those curl-paper things in her hair. She was willful and fretful, and she certainl

veryday happenings of her work? A fellow wanted to hear something, when he came home tired at night, besi

gs, or an irritating, wailing complaint of everything under the sun, chiefly revolving around the point of "how different everything was" from what she expecte

y the newspaper account of the latest murder; and then she wou

p so much: dad, his home, everything. She didn't appreciate it-Helen

aditional "two bears," "bear" and "forbear." The marriage ceremony had not meant to him "to be patient, tender, and sympathetic." It had meant the "I will" of self-assertion, not the "I will" of self-discipline. That Helen ought to change many of her traits and habi

decided that that was impossible-on sixty dollars a month. She was tired of being a martyr wife. Even the laurel wreath of praise had lost its allurement: she would n

Once, the first thing he wanted when he came into the house was a kiss and a word from her. Now he wanted his dinner. And he was so fussy, too! She could get along with cold things; but he wanted hot ones, and lots of them. And he always wanted

nted to read or study. He said he was studying; something about his wo

twice. But Burke said she must not do that. It was not proper to return your own calls. If they wanted to see her they would come themselves. But they never came. Probably, anyhow, they did not want to see her; and that was the trouble. Not that she cared! They were a "stuck-up" lot, anyway; and she was just as good as they were. She had told one woman so, once-the woman that carried her eyeglasses on the end of a little stick and stared. That

s running in all the time, and the boys every evening on the porch, or in the parlor, or taking her buggy-riding. Nothing there was ever complete without her. While here- Wel

And of course she was a little unreasonable and childish about keeping that account-book. But that was only at the first, when she was quite ignorant and inexperienced. It was very different now. She kept a cash account, and most of the time it came right. How she wished she had an allowance, though! But Burke utterly refused to give her that. Said she'd be extravagant and spend it all the first day.

re on wastefulness, just because he happened to find half a loaf of mouldy bread in the jar? Just as if he didn't spend some

it was only because he hated so to have her pinching and saving all the time that it

with sickening force that maybe Burke was thinking that, too. Was he? Could it be that he was sorry he had married her? Very well-her chin came up proudl

e would know. But, after all, she was not going to worry. She did not believe that really Burke wished he had not married her. It was only that he was tired and f

dinner one evening with a radiant face

e," he explained, in answe

for

well, Brett says.

s time! I wouldn't go

ot go to

the fire in her husband's ey

treated you like dir

him. That's enough for me to know-at present," retorted the m

umor that seems to follow a bath and fresh garments as a natural consequence. "Come,

Helen jealously. "I should think y

y. "Dad was my best girl-till

outed, and her eyes burned sombe

Then, with an eager stride that would cover the distance in little more than half the usual time, he set off toward Elm Hill. There was on

vain had he haunted office doors and corridors for a glimpse of a face that never appeared.

es of some day seeing the old look of love and pride in his father's eyes? Then it would, indeed, be the end of-everything,

reception, had almost determined to go himself to the old home and demand to see his father. Then, just in time, had come

then; and dad wished to

of Denby Mansion, two at a time. The next minute, for the first time sinc

had in it all the flattering deference of the well-trained servant, and

shining eyes-and swallowed hard before he c

s glad I am to see you, Master Burke. This w

im. He could not himself have defined it; and he certainly could not have told why, at that mo

ear familiar object to another, in the great, softly lighted hall, and leaped ahead to the open door of t

e, my boy,

had heard them on both occasions, they were as different as darkness and daylight. He could not have defined it, even to himself; but he knew, the minute he grasped the outstretched hand and looked into his father's eyes, that the hated, impenetrable

for Burke, the whole world h

r even one of his assistants', to speak of it. But the President of the Denby Iron Works took it up point by point, and dwelt

ment of dismissal, John Denby turned, as if casually, to a small clay tablet on the desk near him. And Burke, following h

pressure of his thumb, then, John Denby switched off half the lights, and the two, father an

ios, bringing out here and there a bit of gold tooling behind a glass door or a glinting flash from bronze or porcelain. With a body at ease and a mind

rose to go. John Denby

hand. For the first time that evening there was a faint touch of con

med, shocked instant it had come to him that he had forgotten Helen-forgotten her! Not for a long hour had

crossed John Den

, bring your wife,"

e next moment he found himself in the hall with Be

t quarreling did not pay? Did this mean the beginning of the end? Was he ready to take his son back into his heart? He had not said anything, really. He had just talked in the usual way, as if nothing had happened.

used to talk-except that never once had he mentioned-mother. Burke remembered this now, and wondered at it. It was so unusual-in dad. Had he done it purposely? Was there a hidden meaning back of i

t and questionings, Burke thrust his key into t

ill under the spell of Benton's solicitous ministrations, jerked off

was sitting at the tab

k with his lips. "I told you not to; but maybe it's just as well you did

" Helen's voi

sband

tinge of sharpness. He was wondering why Helen always managed to take the zest out of anything he was going to do, or say. Then, w

r! Only t

Great C?sar, Hele

jump and run and be so pleased over just a dinner, when it ou

ned, and became not quite steady. "That maybe he's forgiven me. That he's going to

fe interru

hink there was anything to forgive, either. There wouldn't have been, if h

very white and stern, had got to his feet,

was-giving in?" as

s very

d you te

do you

e dinner,

yes, I think. I meant it for yes-then."

ence. A dawning shrewdness

go," she murmured. "It might mea

was no

ink he was

no r

n sc

nk you might have enough thought of my interests to want us to go to live with your father, if there's any chance of it. And while 'twouldn'

p there to live? It's enough for me that dad just looked at me to-night with the old look in his eyes; that some

ldn't miss it for the world-under the circumstances." And Hele

f resigned, half rebellious, for the second time that

tle of his old eagerness. They had, to be sure, nearly a quarrel over the dress and hat that Helen wished to wear. But after some argument, and not a few tear

ake a good impress

returned her husband significa

eing nauseatingly flattering, pert, and inquisitive. John Denby, at first very evidently determined to give no just cause for criticism of his own behavior, was the perfection of courtesy and cordial

wo before him, each passing minute was, to Burke, but a greater torture than the one preceding it. Long before dinner was over,

leading to the street. "But dad-dad was a brick! And he asked us to come again. Again! Good Heavens! As if I'd go through that again! It

alk,-"and well over! Still, I didn't enjoy myself so very much, and I don't believe yo

evidently sure of her ground, did not

d your father, things always taste especially good when you don't get mu

l si

ly and peered into

e demanded suspiciously

ing another scene such as had followed Glea

smile, and succeeded. "I'm stupid,

way so early! You suggested it yourself." He

f it! I want

ce. The unmistakable sincerity in his vo

kind of scared when you proposed it. I didn't suppose 'twas proper to e

to have escaped the threatened scene, wa

ave wanted him to mind. I tried to

mly; but Helen's eyes were turned away; and after a moment's