her had peculiar and, to my
mind, wrong ideas of social position and money. Well, poor Cynthia is
paying the penalty now. She was really forced into this marriage
which, to say the least, must have been distasteful to her. But I
don't suppose more than two or three know that."

The colonel did not disclose the fact that it was no news to him.
Aaron Grafton's statement was being unexpectedly confirmed. He
remembered that Cynthia and Grafton had once been in love with each
other.

"Well, when Cynthia came to me, in my capacity as lawyer as well as old
friend, I could hardly believe what she told me about her husband,"
went on Kenneth. "She said he had struck her more than once, and she
could stand it no longer.

"She wanted to apply for a divorce, but when I showed her that this
would bring about much publicity, and necessitate taking testimony on
both sides with possibly a long-dragged out case, she agreed merely to
ask for a separation now, on the accusation of cruel and inhuman
treatment. On those grounds I went before the vice chancellor,
prepared to prove my case by competent witnesses. But they were not
needed."

"Why not?"

"Because Larch made no defense. He let the case go by default, for
which I was glad, as it saved Cynthia from telling her story in open
court. Larch, by refusing to appear, practically admitted the charges
against him and did not oppose the separation.

"Then came the matter of alimony, or, rather, I should call it separate
maintenance, as it is not alimony until a divorce is granted, and that
has not yet been done, though we may apply for that later.

"I was prepared to ask the vice chancellor for a pretty stiff annual
sum for my client, for I know Larch is rich, when, to my surprise, she
would not permit it. She said if she left him it was for good and all,
and that she wanted none of his bounty. She had some means of her own,
she declared, and would work rather than accept a cent from him.

"So I had to let her have her way, and we did not ask the court for
money, though I had no such squeamish feelings when it came to my
counsel fee. I got that out of Larch rather than his wife."

"Did he pay it?"

"No; but he will, or I'll sue him and get judgment. Oh, he'll pay all
right. He'll be so tickled to get out of paying his wife a monthly sum
that he'll settle with me. But I can't understand her attitude any
more than I can the change that came over him. For I really t