River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-11-03

skips and understand where most neu
would have been utterly at fault. Had
enjoyed this next to the ready sympathy
that comforted all his bothers. So he
looked at her carefully as she lay back
in her swivel chair, her hands inert
upon the arms of it, a cigarette dropping
from one corner of her well-made
mouth, the serenity of her brow, the
fire of her soul-lit eyes the grim courage
of her chin, and asked kindly: "Tired?"
Daisy reused instantly. why, did
you want anything?"
Madison was too Injured to the doc
trine that a woman should always be
ready to serve mans purpose to notice
the unconscious sarcasm of her re-
Spouse. Besides, he did want something.
1t had occurred to him many times
that it would be well for his work and
well for him if Daisy Dunbar should
come to be counterpart of his life, a
handmaiden to Feep trimmed and
tended the lamps of his genius. But
while he craved her comprehension he
shrank from the thought of marrying a
woman who made such scant sacrif ces
to the gods of his temples. He shud-
dered at the thought of introducing as
his wife a woman he could not control.
A woman who would say what she saw
fit to say, and do what she saw fit to do,
whether the powers that be approved
or disapproved. Hitherto he had
counted Daisy Dunbar a hard>headed
woman. But her present patience under
the first reproof he had ever admins
tered quickened Madison to sweeter
dreams. If she loved him she would be
eager to bow her high head beneath his
caressing hand; to forego her cigarettes
for the deep kisses of mans great love;
to yield her splendid spirit to his mould
ing. He would be ever so patient and
gentle, he promised himself in glow
of tenderness. He would make submis-
sion sweet to her. He would condone
her bad breaks and forgive them. He
would not expect her to change instantly
from the untamed thing to the tanned.
But he would teach her-ah, how ten
derby. A pleasant moisture welled to
his lids. His lips trembled. He took his
hands nervously from his trouser
pockets and turned to her. She was still
absorbed in that study Of green and blue,
and the tenth hung half-forgotten from
her fingers.
what are you thinking OFF," he asked,
tenderly.
"Of the deep joys of moving"
Moving! You are not going to
move?"
Daisy bethought herself of the cigar
cite and coaxed it gently. aye" she
said through the smoke, 81 move out
tomorrow"
''But Daisy, you mustn't do that"
Excuse me, Mr.. Madison, but when
did I give you the right to my first
name?"
Wont you give me the right to your
first name if l give you the right to my
last one? Won't that be a fair trade?
Dear, did it never occur to you that you
and I were made for each other?"
"Why, yes. In way, we are"
Don't you think we would be very
happy if we belonged to one another?"
''Do you think it would be pleasant
to belong to somebody else?"
81 think it would be very pleasant to
belong to you, dear"
do you? Do you know what belong
ing means? To be bridled. and bitted, to
come at call and go at touch. If you
belonged to me I should require you to
do as did; to accept my judgments and
bow to my decisions. Do you think that
would be so PLEASANT"
"But, dear, used the term in a deeper.
more sacred sense"
Rather, you used it in more fem
mime sense, fancy. 1t was that was
to do most of the belonging, wasn't it 2"
She got up, negiigently busting the ashes
from her long tie and smiling at him in
goOd-natured amusement. Too strong
for bitterness; too fearless for falsity:
her words came quiet to gentleness:
"Well, dear sir, the chances are that "a
or even one hour ago, should have
been glad and proud to do the belong
ing-I've dreamed my dream and fed
my soul on things that seemed, for quite
an infatuated while. Luckily YOUR
wanton insult walked me from my dream
ing; and albeit the waking was rather
rude, I thank you for it in that it was
so timely. So fancy now, that will.
as l said, move out to-morrow-her-
after pin my faith to the things that are. {"
Madison forgot how he was to teach
her in all tenderness and with great
gentleness. His voice rang rude with
Impotence:
"But, Daisy"
miss Dunbar, you mean?"
Whereupon Madison whirled upon
his heel and went out, slamming the
door after the senseless, explosive
manner of men. eff she was so dead
set on the things that are she might
have them on broken hinges for all he
cared"
But he never knew that it was in
deed thus she had them. That because
of his weak indulgence in a silly
spleen a strong woman's life swung
ill-hung through all the mornings and
outgoings of her after years.