Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-06-18

was, indeed, delightful to listen to him
and she could never forgive herself foi
having once fallen asleep during his dis
course. But then she had been so yer,
tiredl He had been mortally offended
and no wonder. He had not spoken /,
her for three days afierward. and sh,
had cried and upbraided herself unit
he finally took pity upon her, and CAV,
her his views upon the complication il
European politcs.
III.
The day when Halstead came home
with his diploma as bachelor Of Law.
was a great day in the annals of the
family. Rose sat at the window and
cried for very Joy. She had grown Sc
pale and haggard and red-eyed Of late
that IL was not TO be expected that he
should come up and kiss her, as he
would have done in days of old. He was
so absorbed in tho weighty affairs OF
life now that Il would be absurd to ex-
pect Of him that ne should think Of such
triies as kissing his wife. And vet il
he had happened to think of Il, il
seemed TO Rose that her cup of happi-
moss would have been full. Now Hal
stead was at last in his right niche and
their trials would soon be over.
He hired an Office downtown and had
his name inscribed upon his window
pane in neat git letters. Rose and
baby took a trip across in the ferry to
see how it looked from the street She
was a little surprised when she found
her husband alone in the Office. She
had expected to walk proudly through
a throng of clumorous clients. He ex-
planned to her, however. that until he
had his first chance to appear in court
he could scarcely expect any rush OF
clients She blushed at her own folly
and thought that Halstead was right,
~ always. When she got home she
had TO sit down and cry. though she
could not for the world have told what
she cried for. She had. to be sure.
only twenty cents in her purse, and that
would be scarcely enough to get dinner
for Ha stead when he should get home.
She had given him the last dollar she
had 10 pay his Office rent in advance.
In sheer desperation she sat down and
stribbled OIL a story. which she mailed
TO well-&nown story paper in the city.
When Halstcad came home at six
O'Clock and found only bread and ch cese
for dinner, he sco'ded like 1urk.
Poor fellow, he did need something
Strengthening, II she had only had il 10
TO give HIM. The next day sh, pawned
her shawl for three dollars and he ate
his beeisleak with relish, and rewarded
her with discourse on civil-service re-.
form. II was wonderfully fine dis
course, she thought, and she only wish.
ed all the world could have heard it. IL
was, tndee /, pity that man like
Halstead should be staying here and
wasting his genius on an ignorant Great
uro like herself. OF course she was han.
py TO listen to him, but others. no
doubt, would have given much for this
privilege which she was daily ENJOYING.
She ventured to suggest this idea to
him. and he took it up eagerly.
The fact is, Rose said he. pacing
up and down the iloor with a cigar in
his mouth, that | have Oftel thought
that very thing myself But. to be frank
with you. there is n great deal OF ieal-
ousy in our profess on, and when a man
OF exceptional talent makes his appear
ance, the others combine to keen him
down. | should have had a dozen cases
before now, and securely founded
my fame. II miserable clique of envi-
Gus intriguers had not conspired TO keep
me out OF court 1h3ir only chance OF
success, you see, depends upon their
making me invisible"
Rose could so perfectly well under
stand that! Human nature, she had
heard her pastor say, was enyious and
de sperately wicked. She learned pres
emily that It was Mr.. c.. one Of the
acknow edged leaders Of the New York
bar. who, trembling for his own laurels,
had organized the clique against Hal
stead She had always admired this
mans wit and oloquencc, and was heart
ily sorry to hear anything so bad about
him. Yet she doubted not that Hal
stead, with his indomitable energy ami
power OF speech, would in the end pre-
vail
1t was a week Of miserable suspense
until she heard from her story. When
the manuscript was returned to her she
came near falnt.ng. The editor wrote
her kind letter in which he told her
she had unquestionable talent If she
would only turn it to right account. He
could not use such quiet stories: but If
she would write something sensational
with murders and oiher crimes, he
thought she could be of use 90 him.
She went 10 work at once. She wrote
out one narrowing scene after another.
half frightened at her own terrible fan
cies. She wrote about polished and
yillainous deceivers and brilliant mur-
derers. But through all the desperate
wickedness which she conjured up her
own innocent voice sounded. like that
of a canary that was trying 10 initiate
thunder. 1t was she who was In the
wrong niche, being compelled 10 sacri-
ice her conscience for bread. But there
was no help for il; this contempt bic
plot against Halstead compelled her to
disregard her scruples s-temporarily at
east-until he should have conquered.
everything depended upon his being
able to keep his head above water until
no could get a chance 10 appear i'm
court Her eyes swan and her head
vas dizzy strange pains sho. through
Ter brain. But she wrote on dcspcra G.
y. heaping horror upon horror. When
he heard Halstead's step upon the
'iars she hid away the manuscript and
'ose to meet him. But her feet suddenly
eiused 10 support her; she reeled acros.
he iloOr, stumbled over n chair and
truck her head against the edge of the
loor. As Halstead entered be found
Ter unconscious. Blood was flowing
rom an ugly wound in her temple.
Now no capers, my dear" he
lrawlod, as he stopped over her II
m too old a bird 10 be deceived by
hose faintlng tricks. II Is what women
.lways resort TO when they want 10 ex.
te sympathy"
She opened her eyes, after awhile
Yearly. Perhaps IL would have been
.,etter for her if she had never opened
hem.
".
The story about the wicked people
'ers cutting innocence troubled Rose a
'ood deal after she had dispatched il TO