to him, to his peace of mind, to his comfort. Not
only did she fill the house with her youthful enthusiasm and girlish
laughter, but when business cares weighed heavy on his shoulders and
he came home tired, glad of someone to whom he could confide his
troubles, he found in her the most sympathetic of listeners. In the
evening she would sit at the piano and play for him his favorite
music. Ah, how divinely she played the Schubert _Serenade_; its
sad, mournful melody was even now ringing in his ears, perfectly
attuned to his present mood. Insensate fool that he had been! He had
enjoyed all this and yet had deemed it of such little value that he
had spurned it and driven it away. This woman, his wife, who had
brought sunshine into his life and home--this loyal, faithful
comrade--he had insulted beyond all forgiveness. When it all came
clear to him, he thought he would go mad.

Ah, if she would only forgive him and come back! His first impulse was
to go after her, humiliate himself, go on his knees if necessary, and
beseech her to return. A dozen times he sat down and wrote her a
letter, but they were never sent. His pride forbade it, and caused him
to go about wearing a mask of indifference which he was far from
feeling. No, he could not go after her. All through his life, he had
prided himself on his strength of will. It was the keystone of his
character, both in his relations with his workmen and also in his
domestic life. If he were to weaken, no matter what the circumstances,
after once taking a determined stand, he would forfeit not only the
world's respect, but his own as well. He was as proud and self-willed
as she. He had told her that he would never go to her unless she sent
for him. If, therefore, she was as proud and determined as he was,
they had said good-bye for ever. They would never see each other
again. If she did not write, it was because she had tired of him and
did not want to come back. Perhaps she had found someone for whom she
cared more, and no doubt one of these days some lawyer would be
serving him with papers in a separation or divorce suit. Thus, his
brain conjuring up all kinds of possibilities, he began to nourish
feelings of anger and resentment. Suppose he had been a little rough
with her, it was far worse for her to abandon him and expose him to
all kinds of slanderous rumors. Thus, steeling his heart, he tried to
forget her.

For a time he went back to his old style of life, leading ag