The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-03-28
CHAPTER XIV.

gone, gone without even waiting to say 10
him "Good-by and thank yOu. he looked
grieved. but neither surprised nor angry.
"We will not judge her." was all he
said. "We ought Motive that are so
happy"
"But there is something beyond both
happiness and misery-the question OF
right and wrong
Nevertheless, I still say, Judge not,
thatye be not judged especially in a qucs-
ton of husband and wife. Each indl-
vidual case has its different aspect, when
no outsider can quite understand. My
darling, let us say no more about IT..
And she knew by his manner that he
was determined to say no more about IL
so, being Il wise woman, she also hcld her
tongue.
But all that evening they seemed to
breathe frecr-cortainiy he did-thor-
oughly enjoying the empty house ana the
cuiet tireside. where there was no need to
make conversation, but The two sat to-
cether in the sweet unreservc and com
pletc rest of married life. rs free as being
alone, and yet without any of the drcari-
ness of solitude.
Nevertheless, ! mean you to go out in
w IC hOIlh h'S"'' F"''
Silence. "have you forgotten the dinner
at S~ymington?"
This was the New Years eve party
which they had discussed before Bella,
and which Silence had urged him to ac-
cept as it was half pleasure. half bust
ness. A certain IMAM of letters good
old-fashioned words. and very appropriate
in this case. as contra-distinguished from
s..... e x....,'I ,.Io k,l t,1l-a1 ,n,,,l,
with Roderick at the first dinner, had
been rash enough to express n wish to see
the rejected novel. now lying. forlorn and
dust-cnshroudcd. on the top shelf of the
old oaken press. Silence made her huS-
band lift it down. and watched his eye
brighten rs he turned it over.
Nothing venture. nothing win, said
she, as she rearranged it tendcrly and tied
it up afrcsh. AS you say in this very
book, dear. Take the world at its best,
and it will not give you its worst: believe
in it, and it will believe in YOU.
II convict me out of my own mouth,
you traitor" said he. laughing. He had
been half inclined to hide his head at
home. having grown very weary of late
in body and mind. but the light in his
wife's eyes lighted up his own courage
once more: he consented to do as she
wished. But you, my darling?"
Il shall be glad to get rid of you-I have
plenty to do at home"
"Only too much" said he. signing. Tel
me honestly, was your visitor Il trouble
to YOU
"Yes, in some ways. But she could not
help it, and | did not mind"
'Why did you not tell me?'
She smiled in his face with that half
playful, half-tendcr. yet wholly deter
mined look she had at times. Frederick,
ii you think | shall inform you of all my
little household affairs-you, a man with
quite enough cares of your - are
greatly mistaken: | never shall. We will
have fair division of labor you
the brcad-winncr, | the brcad-dis-
pcnser. Did YOU not once tell me
lady was a Saxon word and meant loaf
giver? which implies that the wife should
manage the house and take care Of the
money. intend to do il. | cant do your
work, but | should be ashamed of myself
il | could not do my W without laying
the burden Of it upon you, who arc-slight-
ly incapable"
Roderick laughed outright. My queen,
as | used TO call you-you are beginning
TO govern in good earnest. But your hus-
band is not afraid"
"Ee need not be- she said, softly. TAX
ing his hand and kissing it. "IIc will al
way he stronger and wiser than |. in his
Owl way. And now go to your grand din
ner at Symington."
Though he had not liked going. when
he really was there Roderick found he
EEnI il vary. rn,tah IVn bnJ nJ,.,.. -
that best type of his seX-a man whom
men appreciate, even as the woman whom
women are fond of is certainly the
noblest kind Of woman. And now that
his fate was settled, his wife chosen. his
home made. taken his place among men
as a man and n citizen, ready to help on
III the world's work, without doubts or
drawbacks, he found his position both
pleasant and honorable. Sure of if and
of himself, and finding himself among peo-
pie who evidently neither knew nor cared
how much he had a year, and whether he
Kept two servants or twenty, the young
mans spirits rose. and he enjoyed himself
heartily-so heartily that it was not until
Lady Symington said something about n
New Years gift to his wife, that he re-
membcred what night it was, and how
Silence was sitting alone at home. All
the party were To wait NJ together,
Scotch fashion, to see 1.-THE old wear ont
and the new year in," but he hastily made
his adieus and walked off, rather veyed
with himself, and yet not much, since he
had good news TO bring home. And he
knew his wife was not one of these foolish
women who exact endless outside obScry-
anccs; she was content to lie safe in his
heart, knowing that she was as complete
ly Il part of himself as that true heart
which went or silently beating. keeping
fresh all the springs Of life, whether he
ever noticed it or not.
Walking rapidly through the starlight
ed night, strangely mild and still, as often