News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-06-24

easily be ruined by scandal"
81 haven't any desire to ruin my
husband" Mary protested, quickly.
mo, I'm sure you haven't" Kath-
crime was more at ease as the con-
versation progressed. "But you being
here and he being few miles away,
of course, there's no excuse to be
offered, is there? 1t is a scandal. Po-
! litically and socially he's ruined unless
he comes back here, or you" Kath-
crime paused, for the simple reason
that she didn't have the heart to fin
| ish.
"Or go away" Mary completed the
sentence. Eyes, and if l go away-I
know what that means. No. I'm not
going away. Miss Strickland, you tell
your father and his friends, from
! me-"
ooh. no-please," Katherine object
| ed. 81 came quite alone, unknown to
him."
We'll, you might as we'll tell him
or anyone else that wants to know"
ooh, no, l couldn't, Mrs. Slade.
couldn't carry any messages. l came
here to find out" Katherine checked
herself. The situation was suddenly
becoming embarrassing.
well, now, you know" Mary an
swered, there won't be any DIVORCE"
81 see-yes-" and she took up her
gloves, preparatory to going.
"E'm very sorry" Mary explained,
'fthat ntborc chnI11d u-1ffn h
this, but that's how it stands. For
once in his life Dan Slade is not 60
ing to have his own way" She smiled.
Now, let's talk of something else. l
hear you draw pictures of your dresses
designs. Is that one of your own
gowns?"
"Oh, yes" Katherine replied ami
ably. 81 often do little sketches for
the fashion magazines, and l do busts.
My friends think it's a fad, when as
a matter of fact, it's for money, for
clothes and things"
81 had no idea" Mary was all SYM
pathy and understanding. You're so
young and need pretty things. That's
one Of the joys I've misunderstanding
a daughter! You know" she began,
suddenly, I've heard a great deal of
you, and you're not at all the young
lady l supposed you were. You're just
as simple and sweet and natural as
you can be. And your affection for
your father!"
Mary got up and, selecting the love-
Hest rose from the cluster in the vase,
carefully wiped the stem and handed
it to Katherine.
Wont you stay for a bit of din
ner? Better have just bite"
81 must CO." returned Katherine alb
sently. Somehow or other she hadn't
quite expected this sort of visit.
81 hope l haven't said anything to
trouble you" she fastened to add.
What l said about this running Mr..
Slade is just an echo of what his
friends say"
my dear child, you haven't hurt my
feelings. Perhaps you know some
thing l don't know" she asked, sud
denly. do sit down again. Stay just
a minute. I'd like to talk some more.
You're. out in the world and I'm quite
alone People aren't as frank with
me as they might be. Suppose I'm
your mother-just let me say it-and
my husband wanted divorce-he's
old enough to be your father-we'd all
get together to find out why, wouldn't
WEI"
81 suppose we would" and Kath-
crime took the chair Mrs. Slade had
indicated.
What 1 want to know is why
people think Mr.. Slade wants a di-
vorce? Why, isn't a separation bad
enough?"
Il don't know that I" For the life of
her she could think of no answer to
this directly simple line of questioning.
well, there's only one reason /
ever knew Of" Mary continued, when !
a mans so insistent. l guess you |
know the kind of reason l mean-a-
well-a younger reason"
you mean-a woman?" Kath- |
crimes voice was cold and firm.
Yes, do. 1t doesn't seem to sur
prise you," Mary declared suddenly |
that Katherine had known at |
once just what she had in mind. Miss |
l think you know some
thing more than you're telling me |
and you hate to say it, What would
you do in my placer" she asked as
Katherine's silence gave virtual as
sent.
~" Katherine asked vacantly. She /
thought moment. Then quickly, ear
nestly: I'm tell you what I'd do. I'd
do what they all do. I'd save what's
left of the affection / once had. It's
no use standing over a man with the
end of a chain in your hand; that
doesn't get him back. I'd take his
money, the luxury-Td simply-well,
I'd dissolve partnership and I'd go.
I'd 60 to some place where life inter
ested me and get what 1 could out Of
It I'd live as l never had lived, and
I'd make him pay"
That's a new idea to me-" Mary
was listening intently. Il never