The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-11-15

careicssness that so many women al
low themsclv-s. once they are safely
married TO n man they care for.
Curious" thought I. that being
married TO him should make her feel
secure enough OF him to let herself no.
although her instinct In warning her all
the time that she isr;'t In the least sure
OF him. Her laziness must be stronger
lty."
While I was thus sizing her up. shc
was reluctantly leaving. She didn't
even give me the courtesy of n bow
whether from self-absorption OF from
haughtiness i don't know: probably
from both. She was n western woman,
and when those western women do be-
come perverts To New York's gospel OF
snohbishness. they nre the worst
snobs I'm the push. Langdon, re-
gardless OF my presence. looked after
her with family amused. family
contemptuous expression that--weli.
IL didn't NJ In with my notion OF
what constitutes n gentleman. In fact.
! didn't know which OF them had come
on the worse In that brief encounter in
my presence. IL was my first glimpse
or fashionable behind the scenes. and
IL made profound impression upon
mean impression that has grown
deeper as have learned how much OF
the typical there was I'm Il. Dirt looks
worse In the midst OF fincry than where
one naturally expects to ind it-looks
worse. and In worse.
When we were seated again. Lang
don, after few reflective puts nj his
cignret. said: SO you're about 10
Martyr
II hope So" said I. But rs haven't
asked her yet. can't be quite sure"
For obvious reasons I wasn't 30 enam-
ored OF the idea OF matrimony m I had
been few minutes before.
II trust you're making n sensible
marriage" said he. IF the part that
may be glamor should by chance rub
clean away, there ought 20 be some
thing TO make one feel he want wholly
an ass"
Very sensible" I replied with en-
phnsis. II want the woman. I need
her"
lie inspected the coal of his eigaret.
ufting his eyebrows Mt u. Presently no
said: And she?"
II don't know how she feels about n
-aa ] told you" I replied curtiy. In
spite OF myself. my eyes shifted and my
skin began TO burn. by the way,
Langdon. what's the name OF your
architect?"
wilder & Marcy" said nc. They're
fairly satisfactory. II you tell 'em ex-
nctly what you want and watch 'em all
the time. They're perfectly conven-
tional. and so can't distinguish between
originality that's artistic and original
lily that's only bizarre. They're like
most pcuplc-they keep TO the beaten
track and fight tooth and nail against
belrg drawn out OF II and against
those who do yet out of IT.
''I'li have n talk with Marcy this very
day." said I.
"Oh. you're In n hurry" He laughed.
And you haven't asked her. You re-
mind me OF that Greek philosopher who
was IN love with I.ais. They asked him:
But does she love your And he said:
One does not inquire OF the fish one
likes whether II likes one"
flushed. ''You'll pardon me. Lang
don" said I. but I don't like that. 1t
isn't my attitude nj all townrd-the
right sort OF women"
He looked half quizxicai. half apollo
getic. "Ah. TO he sure" said he. II
forgot you weren't n married man."
II don't think I'll ever lose the belief
that there's "A quality I'm n good woman
for n man toto respect and look up
to-
IT envy you" said he. but his eyes
were mocking still. i saw he was n
little ilsdainful OF my rebuking him
and angry Mt me. too.
"woman's subject Of conversation
that men ought to avoid" said i easily
for. having set myself right. I felt
could afford TO smooth him down.
'weil. goodby-good iuck-or. n
may be permitted to say IL to one so
touchy. the kind OF luck you're bent on
having. whether IT'S good or bad"
III my luck ain't good, I'll make n
good" said / with a laugh.
And On n iaft him with "A l00f y, hts
eyes that came back tn me long after
ward when ] realized the full meaning
OF that apparently almost commonplace
interview.
That same day I began To plunge on
rextiie. watching the market closely.
that i might go more slowly should
there be signs or n dangerous break
for no more than I.angdon did I want
Il sudden panlcky slump. The price
held steady. however: but I. fool that
was. certain the fall must come.
plunged on. digging the pit for my own
destruction deeper and deeper.
Continued Next Week.)
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