The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-16


ocrelessness that so many women nl-
low themselves. once they are safely
married TO a a they care COR.
Curious" thought !, that being
married To him should make her reel
secure enough of him to let herself go.
although her instinct is warning her all
the time that she isn't in the least sure
OF him. Her laziness must be ,ronger
than her lcVe-her ~laziness or her ya;-
ity."
While l was thus sizing her up. she
was reluctantly leaving. She didn't
ever give me the courtesy OF bow
whether from self-absorption or from
haushttness ! don't know; probably
from both. She was a western woman.
and when those western women do be-
come perverts to New Works gospel of
saohbishness they are the worst
snobs in the push. Lansdon re-
gareieAs OF my presence. looked after
her With a family amused, family
ecntemltuoUs expression that-weli
1t didn't fit in with my notion of
What constitutes a gentleman. In fact,
| didn't know which of them had come
on the worse in that brief in
my presence. 1t was my first glimpse
of a fashionable behind the scenes. and
1t made a profound Impression upon
me-an impression thai has grow,
deeper us / have learned how much of
me ::2ical there was in it. Dirt looks
worse N the mids of finery than where
one naturally expects to find it-looks
worse, and is Worse.
Wen We We're seated again, Lang
don. after a few reflective puffs al his
etGaret, said: S you're about to
:larry?'
u hope So" said 1. But as I haven't
asked her yet, l can't be quite sure"
For obvious reasons L wasn't so enam-
ofed OF the idea of matrimony as l ! had
been a few minutes before.
Il trust you're making a sensihla
marriage said he. IF the part that
MAJ be glamor should by chance rub
clean away. there ought to be some
thlng to make one feel he wasn't wholly
an ass
Very sensible" I replied with en-
phasis. Il want the ma 1 need
her" Neo
He inspected the coal of his cigaret.
lifting his eyebrows at it. Presently he
said: And sha?"
II don't know how she feels about it
AS 1 told YOU" | replied CURLY. In
spite of myself. my eyes shifted and nv
skin began to burn. by the way.
architect?"
Wilder & Marcy" said he. They're
fairly satisfactory, if you tell 'em ex-
actly VIVA o want and watch EN- all
the time. They're perfectly conyen-
tional, and so can't distinguish between
originality that's artistic and original
ity that's only bizarre. They're like
most people-they keep to the beaten
track and fight tooth ard nail gains
beirg drawn out of it and against
those who do get out of it,"
IN have q talk with Marcy this yerr
day said L.
oh, you're in q hurry,' He laughed.
And you haven't asked her. You re-
mind me of that Greek philosopher who
But does she love your And he said:
One does not inquire of the fish one
likes whether it likes one.'"
/ flushed. You'll pardon me. Lang
don" said /, but l don't like that. 1t
isn't my attitude at ali toward-the
right sort OF women"
He looked half quizzical. half apollo
getic. An, TO be sure" said he. II
forgot you weren't a married man"
II don't think Ill even lose the belief
that there's a quality in a good woman
for a man toto respect and loo!. up
to-
7 envy YOU" said he. but his eyes
We're knocking still. 1 saw he was "a
little disdainful of my rebuking him
and angry at me. too.
"NNoman's a subject Of conversation
that men ought to avoid" said / easily
for, having set myself right. felt I
could afford to smooth him down.
Well, soodby-good luck-or. if L
be permitted to say it TO one so
touchy, the kind of luck you're bent on
having, whether it's good or bad"
IF my luck amt good, I'll make it
aid | With q laugh.
And so | left him. with a look in his
that came back to me long after
when / realized the full meaning
of that apparently almost commonplace
interviaw.
That same day I began to plunge on
Textile, watching the market closely,
/ might go more slowly should !
there be signs of a dangerous break
no more than I-angdon did I want
a sudden panicky slump. The price
held steady. however; but I, fool that
l was. certain the fall must .some,
plunged on, digging the pit for my own
destruction deeper and deeper.
Continued Next Week.)