s municipal
bonds? How wonderful it would be if he could go with her to the
station--his securities in a grip, his other possessions turned into a
bank draft! But this woman lying at his side--the law gave her such a
large share.

Cataclysmic changes were taking place in the soul of Martin Wade. The
very thing which, without being able to name, he had dreaded a short
week ago in the garage, was hovering over him, casting its foreboding
shadow of material destruction. His whole system of values was being
upset. He felt an actual revulsion against property. What was it all
compared to his Rose? He would throw it at his wife's feet--his wife's
feet and Bill's. Let them take every penny of it--no, not every penny.
He would need a little--just a thousand or two to start with and then
the rest would come easily, for he knew how to make money. And how
liberal that would be.

He could see himself as he would go forth with Rose, leaving behind the
woman he had never loved and all that he had toiled so many years
to amass. It seemed fair--the property for which he had lusted so
mercilessly left for the woman with whom he had lived so dully, left
as the ransom to be paid for his liberty. So he and his Rose of Sharon
would walk away--walk, because even the car would be surrendered--and he
would be free with the only woman for whom he had ever yearned.

Would she be happy for long? His pride answered "yes," but against
his will he pictured himself being dumped ruthlessly into the pitiless
sixties while Rose still lingered in the glorious twenties. This was
a most unpleasant reflection and Martin preferred to dismiss it. That
belonged to tomorrow. He would wait until then to fight tomorrow's
battles. His mind came back to the property again. Wasn't it rather
impetuous to surrender all? Wouldn't it be unfair to Rose to be so
generous to his wife? She had Bill. In a few years he would be old
enough to run the farm. Until then, with his help and good hired hands,
she could do it herself. Why not leave it and the goods on it to her and
take the mortgages and bonds with him? Rose was joy. He could hold her
more securely with comforts added to his great love. Her happiness had
to be thought of, had to be protected.

He could tell that his wife was still awake. He might begin to talk and
maybe they could arrange a settlement. But he was getting too tired for
a discussion that might invite tears and even a fit of hysterics, like
the one