The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-02-18

on between her and Cnarley, L don
know what"
He stood looking at her, stupefed.
as che went on, simply.
John, married folks oughtn't to be
apart too much. They sort OF get
weaned from each other. Grace was
too ambitious. She'd got, here, what
she thought her husband couldn't get,
what she'd come to think she had to
have. | might have told her better,
but ! wasn't here. Not that I'm re-
proving you, John, not at all. Besides,
we have all got to go, some day. But
loved her. And the baby"
80 did / love her, and the baby"
he began. Tears were In his eyes.
Laura, ! have had nothing but
trouble. And now you have come
here"
Eyes, / know; IL must seem a little
queer to you, John; SO I'm going right
away again, to-night-before morning,
II there's any way | can get down
town"
Yes, yes!"
because, I know If / was seen
around her, and people found out who
| am, who I-was-there might be
| some sort of talk which would be hard
for you, John. | reckon you have
| trouble enough without that. | didn't
want to bother you. / came mostly be-
| cause of Grace. But-John, l always
did like to tell the truth, and / have
to tell II now-I came a little, too,
because of you'll"
"Of me? Why Laurai"
Eyes. I did. l read the papers, OF
course, all the time. I have known
about you, although you haven't heard
of me. You have moved up In the
world. John, and as for Newell, |
have just gone back to Kelly Row,
where we used to live. OF course, I'm
glad you have been lucky. But then,
lately, the papers all began to say you
we're in trouble. I've read all kinds
of things about you. I heard hat you
we're ruined-that you hadn't a dol
lar left in all the world"
Its true" he growled; "as near
as | know, it's rue There is no hope
for me now. It's all up!"
But, John, you had 30 much
money!"
Yes, but it's gone now. 1t doesn't
take 1t long TO go when 1t starts the
other way. The market makes a man,
and 1t breaks him just as quick, and a
lot quicker. It's done me, Laura. I'm
ruined. I haven't a thing left In the
world; not even my wife. Have o
come here to twit me with 1t? What
do I owe you, that / have to listen to
your"
why. nothing, John, that's true;
nothing at all, not In the least. ! have
no right here at all, l know that. I
understand that, when I-when-f
went away from here. But that wasn't
why / came back tonight"
Then why did you come? You al
ways had the faculty. Laura, OF doing
the wrong thing. You've been a curse
ito me all my hfei"
Some OF that's true, John" she an.
swered simply, "and a good deal isn't.
Maybe | said the wrong thing some
times, or did the wrong thing. l never
had much training. ! was meant for
Kelly Row, l reckon-I'd never have
fitted In here. We tried It'll But ]
didn't come to glorify myself because
you've lost this place, and everything
you had. / just thought"
We'll, Laura, what was 1t you just
thought? | can't stand here talking
all the time. II isn't right, 1t isn't
proper. I'm worn outi"
"Of course 1t isn't, John. I'm going
right away. But you see, when / came
| just thought this way-here
am |, an old woman that don't need
much money any more. And there's
Grace; and maybe now John has
need for money when everybody's
turned against him. And II he does
need money. why"
What do you mean, Laura 2" gasped
John Rawn. What's that you said
about money!"
"How much would do you any good,
John?" she asked. fumbling in her
bullying handbag.
Il might as well wish for the moon
as for a dollar" he said bitterly. "If
| had O million, or a half-million, to-
morrow, I'd pull It all together, even
yet"
"A half million, John? ?" she said, TAX
ing out of her bag a little, wrinkled,
fiat port-monnaie such as women