The Road to Understanding

er from her husband at two o'

thing it touched, soon spent itself, and left her weak and trembling. Dorothy Elizabeth, after her somewhat upsetting day, sank into a

rself had said. In a soberer moment she would not have spoken quite like that, certainly. But it had been so ha

y gowned wife welcoming her husband to the well-ke

n honeymoon.) Had she helped him? Had she been an inspiration, and a guide, and a counselor, and a friend? Poor Burke! He had given up a good deal for her sake. (With the consciousness of that vacant pillow by her si

Helen sat up

him

mes she had been fretful and fault-finding, and-and horrid. But she loved him dearly. She had always loved him. It only needed something like this

s she cried on convulsively. Then, with a tremulous indrawn breath, she op

t housekeeping. Besides, there was more money now,-a little more,-and she had some one to help her with the work. Bridget was really doing very well; and there was Mrs. Cobb, so kind and helpful. She would go to her for advice always. Never again should Burke come home and find such a look

eded to begin the carrying-out of her vows, by essaying the almost hopeless task (with Br

utterly weary and almost sick; but she was still i

he familiar writing, she began to read. John Denby's check

t have done it. But, do you know? I believe I'm glad I did-for it's taught me something. Maybe you've discovere

ick with my work, and we're always rubbing each other the wrong way. That's why I think we need a vacation from each other. And dad has made it possible for us to take one. He wants me to go to Alaska with him

if you should take the baby and go back to your home town for a visit. I know your father and mother are not living; but there must be some one there whom you would like to visit. Or, bett

e best way. I'll be frank. After last night, we might say things when we first met that we'd

my traps. Meanwhile, chicken, you'll be all right with Bridget there; and just you put your wits to work and go to planning out

ectionat

rk

ejaculation she turned the letter over and began to read it again-more slowly. This time she understood. B

ons and its heroic resolutions, she was so chastened and softened

o cry a lit

! It wasn't that. It was his father's idea. She knew. It was all his fault! But he was going-Burke was. He said he was. There would not be any chance now to sh

uld be-after

new hope in her eyes. Dorothy Elizabeth began to cry

n this little while-a single night of Burke's being gone-had shown her where she stood!-had shown her where it was all leading to! Of course it was

y, Helen dragged forth an oblong bit of crumpled paper. Carefu

! And it really was the best way, too, that they should be apart for a while. It would give her a chance to adjust herself and practice-and it would need some practice if she we

. For how was Dorothy Elizabeth to know that the spasmodic pressur

the baby with Bridget, had sought Mrs. Cob

way-Baby and I," she announced j

o! But you don't mean yo

twill be a good long one. You see, we need a rest and a change so muc

mphasis. "And I'm glad you're goin'. But,

u, too," beamed

ou goin' te

end, some, on Burke-I mean Mr. De

" An indefinable change c

," smiled Helen. "He

's he chasin' off to a heat

nowing why. "Heathen countries are-are always hot. Alaska's cold. Isn't A

th you," retorted Mrs. Cobb. In spite of the bantering tone in which t

father," answered Hel

ather!

bly evident that Helen flamed into prompt

't he got a right to go with his father, if he wants t

eet with so poor a welcome. "Of course it's none of my business, Mis' Denby, but it seems a shame to me for him t

ne else to do so. Besides, now, when he and his father had been so kind and generous-! She had not meant to tell Mrs. Cobb of the ten-thousand-dolla

ake. I don't think it's a shame at all for him to go away with his father who needs him; and you won

ousand-

so" air, as Mrs. Cobb's eyes seemed almost to pop

s her dazed wits began to collect themselves, a ne

er-yes," bowed Hele

instead of bringing it hi

ow, lest unpleasant truths be discovered, she

rise, I guess. And he wrote-a letter, you know. A lovely letter,

viction. An angry red stained her cheeks-but it wa

nd not try ter lift a hand ter help. There's somethin' wrong here. If you don't know it, it's time you did. If you do know it, and are tryin' ter keep it from me, you might just as well

back again to white. Still determined to keep her secret if possib

, it's nothing-

ploded into

don't know what that means. But I do! And he's tryin' ter play a mean, snivelin' trick on ye, and I ain't goin' ter stand for it. I never did like him, with all his f

dismayed, dumfounded wife; but

a measly ten thousand dollars, they shan't-and you with a baby ter try ter bring u

uld find her voice. "It isn't a separation. Why, we never thou

is it,

to cling to the remnant of her secret. "He said it was a p

n't he give it to you ter take i

s going with

Cobb grimly. "And he's goin'

n?" Helen's lips

ve an impati

have been gettin' along tergether?-or, rather, not gettin' along tergether? Don'

, you think he's-ashamed

again I've thought of speakin' up an' tellin' ye I jest wouldn't stand it, if I was you. But I didn't. I ain't no hand ter butt in where it don't concern me. But ter see you so plu

coming back," stammered He

coffed Mrs. Cobb; "but I ain't pullin' down my winder shad

't say it's fo

a fuss. He's countin' on bein' miles away when ye do wake up an' start somethin'. That's why I'm a-talkin' to ye now-ter put ye wise ter things. I ain't goin' ter stand by an'

en's voice was full

ain't goin' ter stand for no such nonsense. If he wants ter git rid of you an' the baby, all we

almost shri

on Mrs. Cobb, without apparently noticing Helen's horrified exclamation. "Now don't cry; and, abov

elen turned and fled down the hall to her own door. Once inside her apartment she

wife welcoming him to a well-kept home now. Never-never! I can't welcome him at all. He i

nd convulsively clutched in a pair of ne

child back and forth in her arms. "It was me-just me

wasn't; and I see it now. He's ashamed of me. He's always been ashamed of me, 'way back when Dr. Gleason first came-he was ashamed of me then, Baby. He was. I know he was. And now he wants to get away-qu

mewhere-anywhere!-before he gets here," she raved, buryi

or his journey, she was convinced. She told herself fiercely that she would take herself and the baby away-quite away out of his sight. He should not be shamed again by the sight of her. But she knew in her heart that she was fleeing because she

chin. Between her hurt love and her wounded pride, Helen was in just that state

e was going back there among her old friends to be laughed at, and gibed at? What if she did have ten thousand dollars to spend on frills and finery to dazzle their eyes? How long would it be before the wh

t it came again and again; and before long her fancy was playing with it, and turning it about with a wistful "Of course, if I could!"

the little Denby flat. It was Saturday

her husband's letters and papers until she found a letter from Dr. Gleason bearing his Boston address. Next, with Bridget to help her, she flung into her trunk everything belonging to herself and the baby that it

nd out to the street. She gave not one backward glance to the little home, and she carefully avoided anything but an airy "Good-bye" to the watching Mrs. Cobb in the window on the other s

en began