The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-05-06
"Whv notgr he demanded. nYou


He took step nearer. He caught
her roughly by the shoulders. He
buried his lips into the soft tendrils
OF hair around her ear as he almost
shouted: You are going to rob a poor
little woman-step into her house and
snatch away her husband-and the
only excuse you can offer is that you
somebody outright and get away with
1t? It's more honest"
Katherine shrank from him with
a cry of protest.
And all the while you love me-"
he went on, passionately. you love
me"
Il don't" she sobbed
.You liel" he accused, holly.
well, supposing / do-what can
you give me?" she asked coolly.
What can give your" he repeated.
Then with look of utter loathing in
his eyes: You contemplate little"
and he flung her from him.
You're going to sell what's mine
to the highest bidder" he painted.
but SHADES not divorced yet, and
before you get out of this dirty mire
you'll regret it. You'll find yourself
so deep in scandal"
Il WON'T" Katherine protested, We
hemently. Il won't have a scandal"
They'll say he's your lover" his
rage turning into fury.
Katherine looked at him as IL she
had been turned to stone. Then the
real significance of what he had said
famed to a fame the rage that was
burning in her heart-rage at him
at conditions-at everything She
gripped her fingers around one of the
lovely roses at her belt and crushed
it to pulp. Then she ripped th1n
from her gown-his roses-and threw
them among the blazing logs in the
fireplace.
She turned to him with a bitter
laugh. I'm through with you-and
your insults" and she fed from the
room.
Katherine did not go a moment too
soon, for scarcely had the folding
doors closed behind her when the
door from the smoking-room swung
open, and with noisy talk the few re-
naming members of the dinner party
struggled in.
In her agitated condition, even Kath-
crime would have found it difficult to
regain her composure sufficiently to
meet these men.
Ex-Governor Hubbard was in a par.
ticularly happy frame of mind. The
senator's excellent viands and the SEN
ator's choice wines and the senator's
Havanas had succeeded in making him
feel well satisfied with the world in
general and with Slade in particular.
His round face was flushed and his
string tie trifle awry.
Had a good time, senator" he said,
removing his cigar, but there were
too many swallowtails here for me to-
night. When ! was governor of the
state l never wore one. No, nor plug
hat, either"
Il never wore one, and / never
WILL" seconded Colonel Smith, a typ
ical long. lean, lanky westerner, with
the inevitable western cut beard and
hair a bit too long.
Governor, you're right" and Strick-
land gave each man a resounding slap
on the shoulder. Colonel, stick to
your guns. They're nuisance. Now,
boys, forget your homes and your
trains. The others are all gone. Let
us, the ringleaders, adjourn to the
dining-room, and over one Of my
punches"
The governor patted his stomach
tenderly The mention Of the sena-
tors punch was all that was necessary
to weaken his desire to catch a train.
"Ah! Strickland's punch! I'm with
you"
Now, gentlemen" interrupted Mer.
rift in a business-like manner, before
we split up tonight it's understood
we're all Slade men?"
"All Slade men!" was the unani.
nous shout from the colonel, the ex.
Governor Hunt, pious old Pop Hart
and Ingram.
And we're preparing to cope with
| SHADES domestic trouble should IL
come up, and it WILL" went on Mer
| rift.
THE devil, Stricki" broke in the
colonel. Cant it be patched up un
til after election?"
mo, gentlemen" The senator was
unctuous but firm. I'VE must take
Slade as we find him or-drop him
We're in the hands of a peculiar and
dominant personality. We can't make
these big fellows to order"
What / can't understand" com
planned Hubbard, throwing the stub
of his cigar into the fireplace, sis why
they can't get on together"
Take it from me, gentlemen, it's
her fault" exclaimed Merritt, as much
in favor of Slade as he had previously
been opposed to him, now that Fannie
was appeased with the money for her
trip to Europe.
She's preparing to desert him
now" Strickland assured them. Its
irrevocable."
We'll, we can't blame him for be
ing deserted" agreed Hubbard.
You bet we can't! My wife de.
serted me-" declared the colonel with
an attempt at Righteousness, land she
didn't do it a day too soon, either
I've gone right ahead ever since"
Nov, then" went on the industri
Gus Merritt, three of us own papers
These are our points: Mrs. Slade is
-er-er-a woman who has no sympa,
thy with her husband-shuns public
life-is never seen-refused even to
see me. And no sympathy for him,
don't forget that"