The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-06-15

the meal. lie knew, as wen as ulu HIS
wife, sitting on the opposite side of
THE table, that one Of his difficult
spells was upon him--and that It
would be days before he could hope to
shake off its influence. He was absent
III scrawling on the linen cloth with
the prongs Of his fork, his food scarce
N touched,
Dallas watched him narrowly. She
knew when she married Tharpe that
she had undertaken tremendous
proposition. She loved him, and that
bridged every prospective mental
hardship she would probably be called
upon to endure. So-notwithstandin
her thorough knowledge OF his former
career, and her keen insight into his
present character and inevitable tenn
perament-she slipped quite willingly
into the yoke
Presently he looked up from his
plate and encountered her eyes with
curious. ironical glance.
Il am going away, Dallas" he said;
"you know why
"Going-awayl She dropped her
knife and fork and stared at him In
hurt silence.
When shall we start, Douglas?" she
asked.
I'VE! / said that was going
but / thought naturally" she in
terpolated swiftly, and broke off,
disappointed look creeping into her
eyes.
Tharpe shook his head. his eyes
averted stubbornly from her pleading
gaze. After a little, he ventured to
look up.
1T is just this, Dallas The devils
got his claws in me again, and-and
I've got to do something I've got to
get away, by myself. and fight him
1own- strangle him for good and all
Iif I can. You've put up with this sort
lof thing long enough, and I'm deter
lnined-don't try to dissuade me, dear.
lin in earnest fearful earnest"
Dallas said nothing, though her eyes
filled with tears.
Would you wish me to have your
Things packed, or would you rather at
tend to it yourself? hope YOU viii
not be long away, dear
I'll see about packing. Are you
going to miss me?" he demanded
Iabruptly
Am /? Oh, Douglas!" She rose
and went up to him, laying one of her
hands, cool and slender as a white
billy. on his shoulder.
He took her suddenly in his arms
land crushed her against him.
God knows wish he stopped
|half way the sentence held her off
|from him. searching her eyes deeply
|lealously
"Dallasl" he cried. after moment,
"tell me; If should stay for-say
years. and then come back-would it
be just the same between us?" He
was trembling visibly
His wife paled, but controlled her
self BY an effort
Always, She said. Her heart con
tracted
BY the way, he remarked, present.
M. in a changed tone. whatever be-
came Of the man. Ashton vlliers?"
Dallas caught her breath sharply.
When they we're first married, she had /
made clean breast of her affair with |
and the subject, by tacit con-
sent. had been closed forever. 1t was
some time before she replied
Il had forgotten that such a person
existed
He regarded her quizzically for an
instant
u am afraid it is a pity you did not
choose him-insteaf Of me- he pur-
sued. tentatively n suppose he would I
have made you happier.
When you talk in that fashion.
there is really no answer ]
can make Anything might say
would tend only to make matters
worse. she said wearily. /
sudden reyulsion of feeling seized 4
him
FORGIVE me sweetheart am a
miserable brute That is Just why
want to get away-to beat it to death
the iend that is eating up my very
vitals"
Dallas lifted her head and looked q
him bravely.
You trust me. Douglas?" she ques-
toned wisdully.
"You know Il" But even as he
snoke She caught his tell-tale flush.
bis shifting eye.
few words more and they separ
ated for the day. At six. Tharpe came
home with the announcement that he
would be going on the midnight train
He might return in month-more
likely. it would be twelve.
Mrs. Tharpe bad beer out the great
sr part OF the cay She came in at
wilight with a nagging headache.
Throwing herself across a lounge. she
ELI into a deep. dreamless sleep. It
vas nine o'clock when she started up.
with an inexplicable feeling Of alarm.