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The (Mown
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father; he was a husband without a wife.
them walking out of the room on uncertain legs, it seemed.
The months that followed were weary, dragging, interminable for the unhappy bride. In place of lover, father, mother, brother, she had only a man whom she had permitted to chain himself to her. In place of her beautiful home there was an endless series of hotels, mostly bad. even though Piffle's salary was large enough to enable him to procure the best that was to be found in the towns they visited. Not all her husband's tender solicitude could banish her deep regrets, and many a time all that saved her from
Mill i .11 rj mi: mil the plan w !.i. li Piffle had interrupted, w.is the thoughl of that othei little life, a link between her pr< Miii and her happier past, Hie season ended, the i in us went into winter quarters, and the son ol I >ick < >rdwaj ami Millicent LeRoy was born.
I N spite of everj thing, the 1 i low n was nut utterly un happy. True, he had a son ^2 of which he was not the father ; he was a husband without a wife. 1 >m at least it was the highest expression of his love for all children that focused itself in his a! I\i linn for little 1 >ick, and while he could not hope to win Millicent's love, at least he could be near her, help and protect her. Yet he knew that she never could be happy in the sort of life he had to lead, and even her joy in motherhood could not keep her from pining for her own people.
Then the thought came to him, that a year might have caused the heart of the judge to soften. He must love his daughter. Who could help loving Millicent? And now that Millicent had a baby. the judge might be willing to let her bring his grandson home. Secretly, so as not to arouse vain hopes the clown once more offered himself as a sacrifice. He wrote to Judge LeRoy. and sent a photograph of the mother and child.
"Just let her come home with the baby," he pleaded. "She loves you more than she ever can love me. It is for her own good, and the good of your grandson, and I am willing to give them up. Don't think I am trying to get out of my responsibilities — but I don't want them to suffer for my selfishness."
"For my selfishness!" He wrote it with all the innocence and sincerity of his simple heart, and because he was sincere his letter touched the stern father's heart.