Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-04-27
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going out this evening, love?"
"Of course l am"
I looked down c~omplacently at
my dress Of pink Grape, dew
dropped over with crystal, and the
trails of pink azaleas- that caught up
its folds here and there. A diamond
bracelet encircled one round, white arm
and a little cross blazed fitfully at my
throat. I had never looked better. l
felt a sort of girlish pride as my eyes
met the fairy reflection i'll the mirror.
Come, Gerald, make haste: Why,
you have not begun to dress YETI"
Where were my wifely instincts that
I did not see the haggard, drawn look
in his features-the fevered light In his
eyes?
81 can't go tonight, Madeline am
not we'll enough"
You are never well enough to oblige
me, Gerald; I am tired of being put
of with such excuses"
He made no answer, but dropped his
head into his hands On the table be-
for him.
'Oh, come, Gerald" I urged, petu-
lantly. at is SO awkward for me to go
alone, alwaysr"
He shook his head ~listlessly.
II thought perhaps you would be
willing to remain at home with me this
evening Madeline"
Men are SO selfishr' I said, plain
lively "andsI am all dressed. Claudia
took half an hour for my hair. | dare
say you'll be a deal quieter without
me-that Is, If you are determined not
to 60"
No answer again.
We'll, If you choose to be sullen, I
can't help It," l said, lightly, as l
turned and went out Of the room, adj
justing my silver bouquet holder; the
tuberoses and heliotropes seemed to
distill incense at every motion.
Was I heartless and cruel? Had 1
ceased to love my husband? From
the bottom Of my heart I believe I loved
him as truly and tenderly as ever wife
did but l had been sc spoiled and
petted during my brief, selfish life that
the better instincts were, so to speak,
entombed alive. I went to the party
and had my fill Of adulation and hom-
age, as usual. The hours seemed to
glide away, shod with roses and winged
with music and perfume; and it was
not until, wearied with dancing, I
sought a momentary refuge in the half
lighted tea-room, that I heard words
awakening me, as 1t We're, from a
dream.
Gerald Clenl"
1 could not well be mistaken in the
name, 1t was hardly commonplace
enough for that. They were talking,
two or three stout, businesslike looking
gentlemen, In the hall without, and l
could catch now and then a fugitive
word or phrase.
Zine, enterprising young fellow
great pity'-"totally ruined, so Bees
McMorken says!areckless extrava-
gance OF his wife,
All these fragments I heard; and
then some n said:
what Is he going to do nowy"
"What can he do? Poor fellow! I
am sorry but he should have calcu-
lated his income and his expenses bet
ter"
.Or his wife should. Deuce take
these women; they are at the bottom
Of all a mans troubles! |"
And they laughed. Oh. how could
they? I had yet to learn how easy it
is in this world to bear other peoples
trouble!
/ rose hurriedly, with my heart beat
Ing tumultuously beneath the pink
azaleas, and went back to the lighted
corridors Albany Moore was waiting
to claim my hand for the next redowa.
Are you Ill, Mrs. Glen? How pale
you look"
.I-I am not very well. / wish you
would have my carriage called. Mr..
Moore"
For 1 felt now that home was the
place for me.
Hurried by some u~naccountable im-
pulse. I spran9 out the momen the
carriage wheels touched the curbstone
and rushed, up to my husbands room.
Tbe-dcor was locked, but I could see
! light shining family under the thresh-
0ld I knocked wildly and persistently.
Gerald GsraldI tor heayen's sake
~ me u r
oeastlias ~ . tlepesbls hsesss-