nie busied
herself with carrying in the dishes.

"No, thank you," laughed the doctor. "It's too early for me. I've only
just had breakfast. I dropped in to see how you were." Taking up his
bag, he said: "Good-by! Don't get up. I can let myself out."

But Annie had already opened the door for him, and smiled a farewell.
When she returned to her seat at the head of the table, and began to
pour out the coffee, Howard said:

"He's a pretty decent fellow, isn't he?"

"Yes," she replied absent-mindedly, as she passed a cup of coffee.

"He made a monkey of Captain Clinton all right," went on Howard. "What
did he come for?"

"To see you--of course," she replied.

"Oh, I'm all right now," he replied. Looking anxiously at his wife
across the table, he said: "You're the one that needs tuning up. I heard
you crying last night. You thought I was asleep, but I wasn't. I didn't
say anything because--well--I felt kind of blue myself."

Annie sighed and leaned her head on her hand. Wearily she said:

"I was thinking over all what we've been through together, and what
they're saying about us----"

Howard threw down his newspaper impatiently.

"Let them say what they like. Why should we care as long as we're
happy?"

His wife smiled sadly.

"Are we happy?" she asked gently.

"Of course we are," replied Howard.

She looked up and smiled. It was good to hear him say so, but did he
mean it? Was she doing right to stand in the way of his career? Would he
not be happier if she left him? He was too loyal to suggest it, but
perhaps in his heart he desired it. Looking at him tenderly, she went
on:

"I don't question your affection for me, Howard. I believe you love me,
but I'm afraid that, sooner or later, you'll ask yourself the question
all your friends are asking now, the question everybody seems to be
asking."

"What question?" demanded Howard.

"Yesterday the bell rang and a gentleman said he wanted to see you. I
told him you were out, and he said I'd do just as well. He handed me a
card. On it was the name of the newspaper he represented."

"Well?"

"He asked me if it were true that proceedings for a divorce were about
to be instituted. If so, when? And could I give him any information on
the subject? I asked him who wanted the information, and he said the
readers of his paper--the people--I believe he said over a million of
them. Just think, Howard! Over a million people, not counting your
father, your friends a