Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-11-08
The Experiment Of
It's. Rard.m3

t.siOD 1IUlOiGtulie
BY NELLIE CHAvEY GILMORE.
copyright. 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Mrs. Eardiman was trembling VIC
lently when sic reached the top OF
the stairs, to the left of which was
the door opening into the anteroom
| of Trenner;s office. Several persons
passed her, and one or two looked
back half-curiously into the woman's
white face and rell-tale eyes. It was
the supreme hour of her life, she felt.
1t was to be the elimination of months
of al almost too daring experiment;
but if through the risk, her art should
| triumph, she might count as nothing
! the breath of gossip that was already
| beginning to stir insidiously.
The office boy was not on duty.
She knocked timidly on Trenner's pri-
vare Office door. There was no re-
spcnse, and she raped again. Still
no answer, and the blood tided to her
face. Here was an unlooked-for diff
Guilty. She dropped into a chair and
slanced about the room a little be-
wildered. What if she should be de-
feated after all her pains!
There were number of amateurish
sketches done in oil with which Tren-
ner had chosen to ornament his walls,
and Mrs. Hardiman amused herself
by walking about from one to the
other, trying to decipher the subjects.
In hn ~ no irit TO- o
r. H. T. His wife, in all probability.
She remembered having heard that
Trenner had married some years ago,
but that for an as yet undiscovered
reason, he was not living with the
| woman at present. Half the people
said it was because she was crazy;
the other half said they were not sur
prised that she was unable to live
with a husband like him. Mrs. Hardi-
man confessed herself supremacy in
different upon the question.
Presently shadow cut across. the
light in front of her and she turned
with little startled gesture that was
unavoidable.
Trenner came into the room with
his customary air of elaboration and
stood drawing off his gloves placidly.
will you be busy for the next half
hour" Mrs. Hardiman asked, as he
questioned her with his uplifted brows
II am never busy-with the prospect
of your company before me-" he an.
sWered, laying his hat on table and
moving toward the door of his Office.
Mrs. Hardiman dismissed his trite-
ness with little gesture of Impotence
and followed.
began without preface, the belliger-
ence of her attitude at once unmis.
taxable.
She hesitated moment, scrutiniz-
ing him through half-shut lashes, her
lips compressed.
Trenner endured her eyes for
awhile, but presently began to be I'M
comfortable and prompted her. IS,
''Well?" he said.
Have you been misinformed in re-
card to me-" she asked, in cold
voice.
at ALL was the stiff reply.
Then I was personally responsible
sor your act of Yesterday"
We are all personally responsible
for what happens to us, are we not?"
The woman was silent for a mo-
neat. Her wits, usually keen and
quick, threatened to desert her in the
tour that she wanted them most.
.'.fter pause, she spoke again:
Il am afraid, though, that you have
made a mistake. "A miscalcula-
ton"
81 think not A man seldom does
under certain conditions"
Mrs. Hardiman felt the blood flame
to her face in a scorching wave.
Men are profound egotists," she cut
"a sharply, and l demand an apology
for your conduct toward me-"
Trener smiled, uncrossed his knees
and sat up quite straight in his chair.
my dear lady," he said, with great
Difference, IF I have offended you, I
most humbly beg your pardon"
IF. You are sure of it, are you
2ot?" She bent toward him excitedly.
'1-well, perhaps 1 ought to be, but
IN not" he returned, candidIy, his
iemeanor netting the woman almost
beyond endurance.
You took advantage Of me-of-
# the situation" she cried. :,
How is that?" he questioned, with
show nf int
''The Office boy was-there-in the
lext room. was obliged to keep
silent, lest there should be a miscon,
struction," she cried.
II was net aware that 7 did any.
thing to- occasion your indignation, y
he persisted, imperturbably.
THAT is not true" she jerked out
struggling hard to keep her mastery
Trenner shrugged AMI laughed soft
~.
"Again I beg your pardon he re
peated, with mock humility.