The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-04-29


phone on any occasion. She was afraid
OF the sound of her own voice the mo-
ment she began to talk into the trans
mitter. This time she feared Dams
displeasure and his possible harsh
ness. Mr.. Slade was out, had left 10
message, they did not know when he
would return, was the disappointing
result as she hung the receiver on the
hook.
This morning, as the maid served
her breakfast, she resolved to try
again. The situation was getting un-
bearable. 1t was bad enough to live
in the great house and be surrounded
by servants with Dan there. Without
him she felt like a prisoner Of state
and looked on the servants as so many
jailers.
Leaving her breakfast practically
untasted, Mary again ventured to the
telephone. With faltering voice she
repeated the number "One-three-nine-
four" with beating heart she inquired
for "Mr Slade;" with sinking courage
she received the answer that Mr.. Slade
had gone out, leaving no message.
Again and again during the day she
repeated the call, only to receive a
similar reply. The possibility of her
husband having left such message
to be delivered to her, whether he was
there or not never occurred to the
truthful, simple-minded little woman.
Drtt mt 70 ha
by her, and IL an untruth, more or
less, were necessary, the telephone
boy was easily bribed.
Meanwhile Slade was eagerly look
ing forward to his new life. Never a
man to waver, he did not once look
back to the wife he had so coolly de-
serted. He was being dined and BAN
quoted and feted, being everywhere
hailed as the candidate for governor.
He was shifting the first breath of fu-
ture glories with keenest delight. This
was the sort Of thing that made a man
feel big! This was the sort of life to
lead-with men bowling and salaaming
all around him. He walked with firmer
tread. His shoulders were thrown
back bit more arrogantly. His chest
was more noticeable as he walked
down the street.
The innate conceit and self-esteem
of the man made him overlook the fact
that the party needed rich man. He
was quite satisfied that he was being
boosted by Strickland and the others
because of his brains, his unusual abil-
ity, his oratory and his power to lead
men. He was happier than he had
been for years. Every day the new
life looked brighter and the old less
desirable.
If he gave a thought to Mary 1t was
a passing one Mary was comfort
able" She had everything that money
could buy. The servants would be TAX
| ing good care OF her, of course OF
the lump in Mary's throat as she sat
/ at the lonely breakfast table and as
she went through the still more lone
| some ordeal of the formal dinner, he
| knew nothing OF the woman's aching
heart and her eyes bright with unshed
| tears as she tried to keep up before
the servants and make excuses for his
absence, Slade was heartlessly OBJ
livious. Or perhaps it was self-esteem
again, that made him unable to feel
| for her-the self-esteem of the sue
cessful man who feels no wounds
when fighting for what he wants, and
neither knows nor cares that others
feel them. He had heart, but 1t was
|
But of Katherine Strickland's stat
uesque beauty and her cosmopolitan
manner he was delightfully."- aware.
During the weeks since he had left
home Slade had been calling regu-
larly at the Strickland home, partly to
| consult with the senator and partly
for the purpose of posing for the bust
which Katherine was modelling. AS
they sat hour after hour, he posing
comfortably, she working deftly and
talking even more cleverly, Slade and
Katherine had come to a mutual un.
derstanding. The more they saw of
each other the more each became con-
WINGED that their paths would newt.
ably converge
Katherine talked animatedly and en-.
tertainingly of social life abroad and
of the gay times in Washington, and
SHADES heart warmed and his eyes
flashed as he pictured himself a part
of that charmed circle. With keen
penetration he saw the longing of the
girls nature, her iron will, her deter.
mination to gain social honors at al.
most any cost. He f1attered himself
that when he said the word Katherine
Strickland would be ready to cast her
lot with his.
From the smoking room of Senator
Strickland's big house came the stri-
dent sound Of mems voices, raised in
excitement, and, 1t would seem, &C.
claim. Now and again the senator's
smooth, oratorical voice would sound
and then SHADES slightly deprecatory
yet firm and pleased. Then would
follow the patter of applause. laughter
and the sudden dropping of voices that
signified earnest converse.
To Katherine Strickland, sitting in
the softly lighted library adjoining.
every sound had it's meaning. Her
eyes sparkled with keen interest. In
her cheeks glowed the deep rose OF
excitement and exultation. In that other
room she knew they were making his.
tory. In that other room they were
putting up man for governor, man
she admired and who had aroused her
interest as no other man had ever
done.
Nothing could stand In that mans
way. she thought. with q catch in her