Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-02-10

as seldom as possible, and had inter.
views. David was tenderly considerate.
He went into the most tiresome busi-
ness details trying to simplify them and
make her understand. She scarcely lis.
tened. He knew that by the expression
Of her quiet eyes. He urged the need Of
economy. She shrugged her shoulders
with a tolerant smile, but offered no
resistance when he spoke Of selling the
country house on Long Island and the
eccentric stable. Secretly she was tired
Of them both.
1T seems immensely stupid to let
your affairs get SO muddled." she said
in her soft voice, "but you'll pull out
all right. Men always do"
lyon don't understand, Olga. This
is no passing breeze. We are in the
midst Of storm, and how it will end
God alone knows The Citizen is SAFE
am the heaviest stakeholder there,
and if the worst comes can sell my
interest,""
but the worst won't come" she
said slowly and looked up at him from
under her shady hat with an express
sion not unlike hatred.
You'd better face what might be
now. hardly know where stand"
He spoke coldly. He was antagonized
by her tranquil selfishness when he re-
membered his nights of suspense
but you'll come out Of it all right, "
she quietly insisted. Fortunes 60 up
and down. Other men have been in
awkward places lots Of times. but they
have managed to escape unhurt. and
you must do the same. BERTHE Ogden
was telling me only the other day that
when things were lively in Wall street
and some men failed it was the time
for others to seize the opportunity and
make money. He said it was like vul.
lures battening ON q wounded bird.
Suppose you batten little. David? Or
are you too conscientious? wish un-
derstood business. I'd tell you what to
do"
She stood up and shook out her
mauve, lacy skirt. He saw she was pale
to the lips. After the kiss Of greeting
she had not touched him or spoken one
word Of comfort or courage. And be
hoped for these things still from her,
though since she bore his name she had
taken no pains to cheat him.
Zone needs money to seize the chance
of standing in fallen mans place, u
he said. trying 70 be patient. "What il
have none? If ! paid our tremendous
debts which few months ago it seemed
only consistently fashionable to accumu.
late, I'd have scarcely anything but my
interest in the paper left. Do you quite
realize now. where we stand? Do you
know what it costs to live as we've
been living? I've been very generous
with you, Olga. You can't say I've de.
MED you anything even when I should
perhaps"
"Generous?" she said, her eyelids
falling insolently. II don't like that
word. It's out of fashion between hus.
bands and wives. When you married
me, half Of all You had became mine.
spent it as my right. If you'd interior
ed, you'd soon have understood that
held this view"
She looked frivolous and winsome as
she stood in the soft light striking a
long stemmed rose against her skirt as
she spoke. David felt q mixed sensation
OF tenderness, pity and amusement seize
him at the thought that the right to her
husbands purse was the only advanced
problem Olga had been interested enough
to attempt to solve. Despite the crisis
Of the moment and his sore heart, he
was disposed to question her further.
He leaned forward. letting his elbow
rest ON his knee, and, Selling the head
OF the rose she toyed with, held her SO.
but don't agree with you," he
said quietly.
"Oh. I suppose you'd have doled me
out dollars If you dared and made me
keep an account" she said. "Perhaps
that's your view"
mo. AS I said before, although Won
do not like the word, am generous. I
would give you half my income, or
more perhaps, but your right to it I
deny"
II can't argue with you. only know
what I think"
Cant you tell me why you think
"Well. I married you. I've given up
my freedom for you, made your life
mine; therefore everything you possess
should be equally mine," she said inso.
leptly.