Page:Man's Country (1923).pdf/269

 excuses that occur to you, I just had to light out, that's all.

"Yours forever, "George."

"Why, how white you look, Fay!" noticed Eleanor, who was standing by her, and Fay immediately contradicted by looking red.

"And who wouldn't?" demanded Fay hoarsely, and stared at Eleanor, white and dumbfounded.

"What is it?" gasped Eleanor.

"That husband of mine!" ejaculated Fay, disgust and anger mingling. "He has bolted—run away—sneaked back to that dirty old factory of his. Abandoned me to—to—" She checked herself. "Abandoned me, Eleanor!" and her eyes grew large and teary with indignation. "Invited me to shift for myself like any common—common—" Feeling the imminence of tears, she dashed through the opening in the tent and flung herself upon one of the cots. Eleanor followed her sympathetically. She had no fortune of her own, and although her husband's circumstances were easy, he still pursued the dollar. Being of a thrifty nature, she aided and abetted him. She had the utmost respect for such husbandly activities and no great patience with wives who affected not to have.

"I wouldn't be too hard on George just now,