The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-06-01
One Hilarious Outing.
BY BLYMER CHAPMAN.

Il /.
Copyright. 1906 by Daily Story Pub Coz
She was esteemed the most FORUM
ate woman in the, world. And indeed
she looked 1t. The wife of the wealth
lest man in the city, who eagerly
gratified her every whim beautiful,
possessed of faultless taste and the
means to minister unto it; courted,
admired, acknowledged the social
leader; with every avenue of pleasure,
travel, dress, society, philanthropy
everything open before the magic
touch of Manson's millions and Man.
son more than willing to use the magic
of his millions for any purpose she de-
sired--what more could any woman
want? h
And yet Margaret, Mansfield sat in
her blue and gold boudoir with leaden
heart and looked out into the SHIN
mering sunlight and shivered as might
a prisoner in dungeon who saw the
golden CLEANS of the sun outside but
knew it never could be hers.
1t was one of her blue days-that is
about all there was about it--and yet
/
that the sunlight did not appeal to her
as it used to in the old days. The
worst of it was that the luxurious sur
roundings had begun to pail upon her
and she had fallen into dreadful
habit of late of asking herself con-
| tinually WAS it worth while?"
In vain did she shrug her patrician
nj 6nv.e w.. 10
worth while: what else could have
done?" Ever and again came back
the question: Was it worth while?"
This afternoon there was upon her
the smell of the new mown hay and
the smell of the new milk in the
clean little dairy and the smell of the
grass and all the growing things-aye,
and the smell of the barnyard and all
| the living things therein, including
Jake, the hired man. And these smells
and the visions they inspired carried
her back to the old place out in the
| Genesee valley and to all the happy
| days OF her youth when she trailed
ever in the wake of a mighty star
whose name was ideality and over
which towering SO far into the heav-
| ems as almost to be lost sight Of rose
| her castles in the air
| All, finally these castles had been
reduced to One-but that one castle
| had been SO much more splendid than
all the rest that they all looked cheap
beside it. And then--but why pursue
vain regrets and drag back the skele
tons of the past?
Anyway the mind of madame was
thoroughly upon the country-the old
Genesee valley this afternoon and it
| seemed to her that if she could not
| get whiff of the sweet fresh air she
must stifle.
or a sudden she arose with deter
mination and rang for her maid
Pack one trunk with the simplest
things. | am going away for a few
| days. There will be no society, no oc-
casion for any clothes excepting the
most simple-do you understands"
| Felice understandable was why
Felice had lasted SO long in madame's
| service.
| In the meantime Mrs. Manson had
descended to the apartments of her
liege lord.
| IF you have no objections, sir, she
said, Il think will run down to the
old place for day or SOL am hun
CRY for Whit of the old Genesee air."
| why, sure" he replied. heartily
turning from his market reports to
devour his handsome wife with his
| eyes. awful sorry l can't go along
but that p. c. T. & l.. B. deal is COM
ing off in the next few days and
daren't take my eye of the gun. Take
the maid with you?"
NO" she replied, decisirely, Il
want to go alone"
"All right" he replied, indulgently
Then puckering his brows: "Where
you goin'? You know the old place
is-whO the thunder owns the old
place, anyway-nobody l know
Il do not intend to stop at the old
place." she said, calmly. Il just want
to go down and see it all again-and
smell it. shall stop at the tavern
He received this with peal Of
laughter. "Oh, get away" he snort
ed between his laughs. mot that old
unpainted barn in the town. Why,
woman alive, you are not thinking Of
| going there alOne?"
Exactly" she replied. There is
no danger nor any disgrace possible
as 1t is most respectable place. The
| only thing that could possibly happen
to me would be little discomfort
| and that can't hurt me much in a few
| days"
| "Oh, WE'LL as you please" he replied,
turning back to his market reports.
| Then as she swept from the room he
looked up and sighed q puzzled sort
| Of q sigh.
And she might go to New York and
stop at the Waldorf and see the opera
| just as well. The women certainly do
beat all time"
| Hence it was that Margaret Manson
fOund herself on fhe nlaffOrm Of tho