The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-07-24

Throwing her napkin the table, she stood up,
her gown falling IN shminerlng iolds about the slender
fnlness OF her figure. "Nork-Work-workF ~ she
burst forth passionatey, sanybody would suppose you
teamster or something OF that sort instead OF
official IN the biggest telegraph company IN the
world. Mr., and Mrs. Morse go everywhere and yet
he's busy man; 50 do The president and his wife.
I've no intention Of pokng around here this evening
while you're immersed IN The Telegraph AcscS or
something equally diverting, She added with height
ened color Il mean TO call up the Riggs and tell
them / u 60 with them alone
A swift stab OF jealousy shot through him; il was
not the first time in the last few months that she
had proposed accepting invitations without him.
Il see you're becoming inocuated with the sting of
the social bee
And il an.?" she retorted dehantly haven't |
right to get from life whatever seems to me worth
While"
He suddenly forgot the yearning for sympathy and
understanding that had seemed so urgent a moment
~Nlargyr he stammered with outstretched arms
She backed away from him almost Immediately
patng into place the curs and pufs that his embrace
had disarranged.
Why in j the world 5 didn't YOU say you'd 60 in the
saved all this unpleasant fuss Hurry into your evening
clothes and III phone for taxcab'
A faint Of apprehension swept Deming
Things were going far from well between himself and
Margaret Of late. Involunarily his mind reverted to
the evening six months before, when he had brought
home the evening papers containing the account OF his
promotion.
He had thrown them on the table his blood pound
ing in his exultingy.
Would you care to look them over Margy?" he
asked, with effort at casuaness.
She seated at the piano. an open spread
before her.
"Oh you read it to me-" she called over her shoulder,
running her fingers lightly up and down the keys. He
shuddered yet with the chill her indifference had given
him.
"Childshness" he muttered to himself viciouy jam
ming the studs into his shirt Often OF late, he had
been disconnected find himself wondering what would
become of his illusions regarding his wife # affairs ever
reached crisis between tleinS
The strain OF his financial obligations was growing
unbearable Mrs Deming had no idea of the value
OF money, and dread of her dspleasure sthed his
monstrances The end OF each month that hurried by
left him mentally breathless with the curious sensation
OF having been rushed beyond his capacity.
half guilty feeling of relief filled him when
and Margaret went away for several weeks
leaving her husband in sole possession OF the apartment
shrouded in gray linen and smelling OF carnphor balls
The day after her departure new batch of bills ap-
reared in tie afternoon mail, John tore open the
envelopes ncyousy and sat looking them over, aghast
the amount they represented For the second time
that day he filled blank sheet Of paper full of rapid
figures During the past month his expenditures had
portion TO the amount of his income.
lie must have plain talk with Margaret when she
back and start the new season solid hnan-
cial basis Ii was becoming impossible TO keep on
drifting aimless sly with the tide of circumstance.
With the first cool breath OF autumn Mrs Demng
returned from the seashore full OF enthusiastic plans
for the winter
Mr. Renshaw was telling me about new apart
ment house further down the Drive-its much
fashionable location than this-and I'm going to look
at it, The rents little more than we're paying but
We really ought TO keep up appearances on account OF
your position and
Margaret" he interrupted her desperately, don't
you see we're living far beyond limit now? With
all my strainng | can't make both ends meet. Don't
make the mistake of cassng with Renshaw; he's
a millionaire and crooked one at that
She gave little laugh What pessimst you arel
Tie bills always get paid somehow | notice, so why
worry continually, 1t isn't as if you wouldn't be
making more money as you 60 on Mr. Renshaw says
yonl' be power in the business world some day
Deming hesitated, choosing deliberately fromAt
flood of words that rushed to his lips in reply and
how long do you suppose keep spending
nearly tNiCc as muh as he makes on the bare chance
that some day bis income may warrant III"
She hesitatcd moment then crossing over to where
be sat she perched on his knee, rumpling his hair
lawfully II know you think I'm extravagant Jack,
bat see how well look in my clothesl Other men
mink IN pretty even II YOU don't she whispered into
lis ear
There was no answering smile his face the
aniar little coquetry seemed SadIeny to have lostiks
a3or Unable 10 bear the uelaiity which made
cst Il his gnawng anxiety al mind, &c rose and left
le room. he discussion Ct money matters between
nse and Margaret invariably ended in sharp quarrels
laring which illusions persisted one by one in the
'Arrag ot bitter personalities. AZ FIRST i had seemed
3 m prcposterous that the sordld question OF dollars
md cents coald move her 10 paroxysms OF tears and
rsterica reproaches. hut time went on he grew
CARLY accustomed her outbursts.
Tie realization that bis wife considered him merely
commonplace business man. incapable OF understand
w the brilliant soc4l c 10 which She aspiring,
aHUed S0hN upon lrUlntV--sO SLOWLY tldt ne scarce
iclt The hook lie waA making little ehor, these
ays to keep torch with the amles' Whrl OF her
sistence Often he failed to ask where she was
oug when he her leaving the house, radiant in
shiumcrng evening gown, the bill Tor which was
ser then burning hole iu his pocket.
Twice apparently unobsered he saw hsr in the
ark driving with Renshaw Something in her appear
nte Jared him monen,arly. il that her hat
90 hg or the flush IN ber checks too pronounced? II
light De that after al. Margaret lacked the nice
exception which marks unerringly The distinction be-
,ecu rulearity and "snartness.
Her fcadiEcss each time IN mentioning the incident
ade him suspect that she had him but lie made
b comment marvelng at his own Indifference Moth
g seemed matter particularly except the heavy
iricn with whch he struggling
ne Rad begun t. seriously into debt through
PROVING on his salary in advance and took the
50 remnant Of his resistance to keep himself FROM
mbng iu Wall Street Time dragged mseraby !
ong liis apa'hetc indifference 90 everything in lie
n,uccd Denliug that be was losing his nerve
c,esiou az dull days during which the rain drizzed
smaIly from an overcast ky plunged him into the
pihs Of gloom. He waited grimly for the next
velopment u his situation.
II came in the guse OF visiting card brought in
the Office boy bearing the name MIR. Julius New 5
urg" Scrawled across il the words. Import