The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1906-06-01
One Hilarious Outing.
BY BLYMER CHAPMAN.


she looked it. The wife of the wealth
lest man in the city, who eagerly
gratified her every whim; beautiful,
possessed of fanltless 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?
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 a dungeon who saw the
golden CLEANS of the sun outside but
knew it never could be hers.
1t was one of her blue days-tha. is
about all there was about it--and yet
she had had so many blue days of late
that the sunlight did not appeal to her
worst of it was that the luxurious sur
roundings had begun to pail upon her
and she had fallen into a dreadful
habit of late of asking herself con-
tinually: Was it worth while?"
In vain did she shrug her patrician
shoulders and reply: of course it is
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 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?
thoroughly upon the Countrywide old
Genesee valley this afternoon and it
seemed to her that if she could not
get Whit of the sweet fresh air she
must stihe
OF a sudden she arose with deter.
mination and rang for her maid.
Pack one trunk with the simplest
things. l am going away for few
days. There will be no society, no oc.
casion for any clothes excepting the
most simple-do you understand"
Fellce understood-that 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 l 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 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, decisi,ely, II
want to go alone"
IAN right" he replied, indulgently.
Then pickering his brows "Where
you goin'? You know the old place
is-who the thunder owns the old
place, anyway-nobody | know"
Il do not intend to stop at the old
place." she said, calmly. II just want
to go down and see it all again-and
smell it. shall stop at the tavern .
He received this with a peal of
laughter. "Oh, get away" he snort
ed between his laughs. Not that old
implanted 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 it 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, well, as you please" he replied.
turning back to his market reports.
Then as she swept from the room he
looked up and sighed a puzzled sort
Of a 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 the platform of the
little red-painted station, day later
and negotiating with old Bill Simpson
to take her to the tavern. Already
had she got the fragrance of the coun.
try in her nostrils and she prolonged
the happy operation as long as posi-.
h1o hoconco Dill ,,,..