Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-02-08

And they did, Captain Harding with
a fierce but gay determination, ana MS
wife with a beating heart and a huster-
ed face. but with a sort OF eager curl
ossty.
ITS jest ~tomfoolery," said her moth
Ell, with Il weary sigh, as she twisted
her sparse and hay colored hair out OF
the way. why amt they satisfied
with things as they are-the store an
the place an all! | don't b'lieve Charlie
Harding II ever grow up-Cap'n Hard
ing! What's he cap'n of, e~Xceptin' it's
GraceT"
Grace is cap'n, them" said her
grandfather.
Il can't tell where Grace got her am
bilious sperrlt," said her mother.
ooh, do know" said her husband.
Il was mos crazy to go to sea, fust
| v'y'ge. But one good wreck cured me,
an p'r'aps twill them"
Yes said the old grandfather,
laughing half to himself. II guess he'll
be glad to git back on to the land
ag'in."
IL wouldn't wonder if it all turned
out for the best" said Louisa, who bad
come down from the hill with her sew
ing
But Captain Harding had no doubts
on the subject. FIRST thing. some
clothes" said he. I've heard say
there's nothin' succeeds Ike success,
an so you've gotter look successful.
An I'll say thing-if there's any
body thatn be a credit to fine clothes
it's my wife,
Aud yet, as his wire walked through
the corridors of the Fifth Avenue hotel.
after returning from the far west, a
little awed by the velvet carpets, the
satin curtains, the gliding. the mir
rors, the splendor Of the other women,
she was conscious Of something about
herself not as it should be. her hus
band was all well enough, a bluff and
ready man Of business in a business
suit. But either she had on too much
or she didn't know how to put it ON.
She felt she was unlike these grandes
danes who talked and laughed and
moved at ease. Her hands troubled
her and made her uncomfortable; her
hair lacked the touch. But still she
knew it was only a matter Of time;
she would catch on. Charlie, anyway,
looked at her with admiring eyes when
he had any time TO look at her at all.
She was more lonesome than at first,
for her husband had become entirely
absorbed in his schemes.
Meantime she was seeing the world.
1t went by her in the beginning like a
Yet, although at last she was a part
OF it and az eager in the rush as any,
she was never quite at home in it.
Captain Harding had indeed had
some measure Of the luck he had hop
ed for, and he was floating the shares
OF the Nimble Dollar mine In a way
that made his wife hold her breath
when he reported his successes TO her.
Ee had been on the ground, he had
seen the mine, he knew what he was
talking about. he was not anxious for
too large a price, and he came out of
the transaction with a small fortune.
"Now,'' he said, IF | did what my
folks and your folks would approve
Of | should lay this down to grass
that means interest-and 60 home and
build a house with bow winders and
a French roof and be the rich man OF
the region
yes" said Grace.
"But you believe in me, don't your"
asked he anXiously.
Eyes" said Grace.
you'd like to see me one of the mil
lionaires? I've as good a right TO big
money as the best Of EN-, and I'm goin'
in for it. Im goin' into Wall street in
earnestg' And Captain Harding had a
sense Of assured success which made
him the happiest. best natured and
busiest man alive. ""Tain't luck" he
said to his wife. Its a long head. I'd
look pretty hldin' such a knack of bust
ness in the corner store. wouldn't /?
And as for you, I'm proud of you ey-
cry dayrl'
But Mrs. Harding was not proud OF
herself. She would not let her husband
know 1t, but she felt herself wholly
unequal TO meet the women of society
with whom her husbands affairs
brought her into some association, In
vited now and then to their houses, to
their opera boxes-women who had ac-
Quaintance with each other, with for
eign life, who knew what to do and
how to do II and who without the least
iii feeling often overlooked and ignored
her and made her feel herself out of it.
She sent home boxes Of gowns and 9th
er things to Louisa and her mother (of
which In their private talks they said
they would have preferred her own
things to make over for themselves
without dreaming how unsuitable they
would be-, and she sent grandma q
gray silk wrapper | n whose rufles and
lace she would look like a little ole
flower, as Grace pleased herself BY
thinking, and she sent her GRANDPA
Their a fur coat and a wonderful meer
schaum pipe. She had a feeling tina
such things were, as her HUSBAND
phrased II, 80 much to the good. Nov
and then she sent her father a httl
money, but she did not have mucl
money. Captain Harding needed al
Mt roodv nocnov Int aho had QouerOu