ecided to interview the man,
if possible, to see if through him any clue to the situation might
be gained. The first step was to gain the confidence of a former
fellow-workman and friend of his who now maintained his own small
shop. This was done after several visits, the deserting husband
consenting to an evening meeting in his friend's shop.

A most illuminating interview followed. Mr. Williams was found to be
an intelligent though melancholy and self-centered man. The couple
had married somewhat late in life, it being Mrs. Williams' second
marriage. She had been strongly influenced by her mother to marry
him and had never had any real affection for him. It became very
evident from his story that the strongly developed egotism of both
the husband and wife had made a real marriage impossible between
them, and the visitor became convinced of the genuineness of Mr.
Williams' protestations that he endured the constant abuse and
ill-treatment of his wife as long as it had been possible to do so.
As her drinking habits took more hold upon her and he had realized
that the break was coming he had endeavored to place the children in
homes, and had once had his wife taken into court. There her
plausible story and good appearance resulted in the case being
dismissed with a reprimand to the husband. He then left home, but
continued to send her money at intervals, although as he got older
he was able to earn less at his trade. Socialism was his religion,
and it was his preaching of this doctrine in season and out to his
fellow workmen which had earned him the ill-will of his employers.
He defended his present mode of living, vigorously putting up a
strong argument that it was a real marriage, whereas the other had
only been a sham. He spoke in terms of affection of the woman who
was giving him the only real home he had ever known, and only wished
that the state of public opinion would permit his taking his young
daughter into his home. The boy, he realized, had grown entirely
away from him and they could never mean anything to each other. It
was his habit to make frequent trips back to the region where his
family lived in order that he might stand on the corner and watch
his children go by. He gave readily much information about his own
and his wife's past connections, including the addresses o