The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-07-22

b FN4SN2sHN QSuly, iOUh1uS DIT HIS WlISs
Nv 8SNk He had an impression
- en- that she had spoken and
80 @H that he, momentarily lost
azzzzazzz8 in the intricacies of the In.
terstate Tunnel deal, had
neglected to answer her.
What did you say, Sara?" he ask
cd. But his words were drowned in
the roar Of a passing Forty-second
street car
The wheels of the taxicab bounced
softly across the car tracks, and the
ride home-uptoWn-was continued
with speed undiminished. Little flashes
of cold light Illuminated the interior
Of the vehicle in quick succession,
thrown by the passing procession Of
high-swinging arc lamps, swiftly sill
houetting the woman's pure profile
against the dark background of cush-
ions. Steele watched, for the moment
forgetful of the Interstate Tunnel
efoblem, swelling with the pride Of
possession
by George" he said, with content
sd appreciation, "she is beautiful"
Thank you, DEAR" she said; st
didn't think you'd notice."
What was it, dear?" he asked.
what was it you said while back|
said ?'-with rising infection.
She frowned in pretty perp1exity, try
ing to remember.
Just as closed the door," he help
ed. II thought you asked a question
IL was thinking Of something else at
the moment
ooh! OF course you were thinking
OF something else; you are always
thinking of something else, Jim.''
There was a note of petulance In her
voice that puzzled him. "And that
was what asked. It was silly enough
Il said. "A penny for your thoughts
Extravaganza, for l knew you were
thinking Of business"
He felt vaguely that he was being
indicted and began clumsily to defend
himself.
Eyes. You were right. Affairs In
rather mix UP, just now, little girl;
they bother chap. Important deal
Oh"
Always, always" she commented,
wearily--eyen trile bitterly.
But he did not hear; the bare refer
ence to the Importance of the tunnel
deal had plunged his mind into pro-
Sundity Of calculations.
While he fumbled with his keys,
che shiyered noticeably In the brisk
air Of the early morning hours.
@Colds dear?" he asked, reused out
of his affairs for the moment.
Smiling up at him, "a wee Bit" she
confessed, "but happy, jim"
"Eh?" He stared Happy"
Happy" she repeated with a low
laugh as the door swung open.
Steele gazed after her, bewildered,
while he shot the bolts. Then he fol-
lowed her upstairs, heavily. Ten min
utes later, she looked up from her
dressing table to see him standing in
the doorway OF her boudoir, glowering
Aewn upon her. He had exchanged
has dress coat for u quilted smoking
Jacket, his shoes for slippers, and was
smoking; she smiled, struck by the
6rotesque figure he made.
'Well?" she queried. archly, her
hands busy with her hair.
What made you say that, sara?"
he demanded, bluntly.
Her eyes widened.
"Say what, Jim?"
about being happy. What made
you mention It? Why are you more
happy tonight than any other2 Aren't
you generally happy, little grip
She rose, came over to him, kissed
him. Then, fumbling with "a frog on
his jacket, II was more happy tonight
than usually" she admitted. Il sup
pose generally-Tm as happy as I've
any right to be, dear
Il don't understand" His face
showed that plainly. "Why-tonight
especially?"
Because my husband was with me.
How little, how very little OF your
time you give your wife, jim"
'fWhy-I--' he stammered awk-
wardly, struggling with totally new
idea. This had never occurred to him
before.
you are away all day." she went
on-not complaining, but making
calm statement of fact-"and every
night you are off to the club, or some
one is here, closeted with you. It's
business. 1 know, but Why, ]
hardly ever have you to myself, Jim.
Tonight, the opera, the music. the
lights, with you-why, 1t was like an
oasis to mean oasis in weary, hus-
bandless desert" She laughed nerv-
ously.
.'But-but business he tried to
object, realizing the justice Of her
finding.
is there nothing In life but Wall
Street? ~ she pleaded, softly. .CansEts
you give it up. Jim, before long, for
my sake? Why should you keep on
and on forever, wearing your life out
for what? You've made comfort
able fortune. dear: it's enough to last