The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-01-25

also tell you what to do with your
money, and they'll put up to you a list
Of good, safe, savings-bank invest
ments. the kind that fools and sailors
ought to have. I'll help you choose, IL
you like. I don't want to be ungener-
Gus. This Is your estate"
MY estatei--But. John, I'm your
wifei I don't care for this money. I
don't understand 1t, and / don't want
1t. | want to be your wife, John, the
way / always was--I want to help
! want to be useful TO you all the time,
as I've always tried to be-"
Precisely, l. ira. and ! appreciate
that feeling very much. / feel the
anne way. / want to be as useful as
a to you. We have always been
loyal to each other, faithful with each
other; I know that. There are not ten
men worth my money in this town to-
day who can say what / can-that
they've been faithful to their wives as
| have been to mine. You've been a
good woman, and you've worked hard.
You say you haven't earned this
money, but l think you have. We've
been useful, yes, to each other. But
when we can't be any more. Laura,
why them"
The tears burst from her eyes now.
He frowned. that she should interrupt
him, but went on.
at shall never be said that | was
unkind to you, Laura. Indeed, / shall
always feel kindly to you-always re-
member what you have done"
"But you don't, you don't, joint"
Il don't? What do you mean by
that, Laura? Isn't there the proof?
isn't there a million dollars lying right
In front of you on that table? And
you say this to me, who has just CIV
en- you q cold millionl"
That's 1t. It's a cold million, john"
said she bitterly. 'It's cold!"
"Good Godi The unreasonableness
of womani" said John Rawn. upturn-
ing his eyes. Now I've thought all
this out as carefully as a man can.
I've denied myself, to take this much
capital out of my investments and set
II aside for you. / can make five mill
lions out of that money In the next
i've years. But no, / reserve II, and /
give 1t to you for your estate, so that
you shall never know want-more
money than you ever had q right to
dream OF having. You do that for a
woman, and what does she say7 Why,
she doesn't want II! Good Godl"
John" she said. struggling for her
self-control, you might at least tell
the truth"
What do you mean--the truth"
Its some other woman, OF course!"
Il swear to you. Laura, It's nothing
of the sort. I've been guilty OF no act
with anyone" But she shook her
head.
Don't l known she said. tits al
ways another woman She's a young
woman, whoever she Is. Why don't
you come out and tell me the truth.
Johnf How long before you're going
to be married3" The tears were we'll
ing steadily from her eyes, under the
last of the many and bitter torments
which are 80 often a woman's lot.
II nay to you again. Laura. there are
no plans Of that sort in my mind"
"Then how long will 1t be before
our-our-" She could not say the
word divorce" She had been an
Dld-fashioned wife.
i've nc plans as to that. | was only
wanting to discuss the matter quiet
~ tonight, without any disturbance"
mo-" she said, Il must not break
down. Tell me when does 1t come.
Johnf" But still the tears came.
steadily, and she made no effort to
stop them.
When you like. l would suggest
that you quietly go to some other
place, Laura. That will be best for
me. Why" he added this In q burst
of confidence, there wouldn't be
twenty people around town would
know you'd gone! / can keep a close
tongue. and so can you"
But, John, why should we? I've
eve crossed you in any way. I've
always tried to do what you liked.
Why should we part? I'll be willing
just to live along here quietly. I
can't bear to think of going away. I
like my things, john" she said sud
denly, and seemingly ~irrelevantly,
who told you about all these things,
these collectors pieces hat you've
been getting for so long7"
He WINGED with sudden se~lf-revela-
ton, aAtonished at this intuition on
her part. He had been sincere in his
statement that there was no other
woman In his affections. He had only
forgotten that he had no affections.
He flushed now, but tried to pull to-
gether.
Very well, Laura" said he; you
only prove to me what I've felt for
some time. You can't understand me,
you simply are not up to my require
ments. I'm willing to say you'd be
content to live along here, Just as we
did at Kelly row. ! am not content to
do anything OF the sort. I've been
thinking over this, studying over 1t
Tor some time. There's the answer.
He nodded toward the bundle which
lay upon the table.
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