The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-04-29
The Governors Lady
Continued from Page /, Section y

to some understanding"
why. what" Mary began. and
then stopped. For the first time she
noticed his changed manner and his
ayerted eyes. She started to tumble
with her workbasket.
Il can't put it off any longer. L
err" Slade stopped short. He was
finding this attempt at an under
standing" much more difficult than he
had anticipated.
What is it you're trying to say,
DAM" Mary's voice was firmer than
his. What's in your mind? You keep
limiting at something lately and you
never finish it, What is it?"
You're a rich woman in your own
name, Mary. Are you satisfied with
what I've settled on your"
Why, yes" came the quick re-
Spouse. as Mary's puzzled eyes
searched his for a reason for the
strange question. Then she added:
You've been mighty good to me, Dan"
How would you like to go and live
in the country, Mary?"
Glad surprise filled the woman's
eyes. Her thin cheeks flushed as she
clasped her hands excitedly.
ooh, Dan, you know I'd like it.
You're awfully good, father. l knew
you'd back down and give in. This
is no place for US"
You leave me out of the question"
And to his credit the man became
shamefaced.
81 can't leave you out of the Ques-
tion," she protested quickly, not an
inkling of her husbands real meaning
having entered her head. In her per
feet love and loyalty she was imper-
vious TO any hint of neglect or disloy-
atty from him. Had she known his
thoughts her first care would have
been to soothe him as one whose
brain, overtaxed with affairs beyond
her understanding, had suddenly
clouded.
For an instant the man was silent.
His face was turned from hers and he
was looking out the doorway through
which the stately figure of Katherine
| Strickland had just passed and through
which he hoped to walk some day
governor.
'T-I-wouldn't go with you, Mary"
he finally turned and looked her
squarely in the eyes.
"Why-where would you be? Where
would you live? Where would your"
! She stopped and then finished. "Pshaw.
| That's all foolishness, Dan"
Mary" Slade was firmer now. His
voice had a ring of finality, but Mary
didn't understand. Il can't go on apol-
ogizing for you eternally! You can't
have headache every night! / must
either have a wife who can be the
head of my household or none"
Into the woman's heart there leaped
a sharp fear, followed by the childish
idea that perhaps, because she wouldn't
go to the opera, she was to be pun
isEed-sent away alone-until she was
forgiven.
You're tired of me-" she suggested.
If that were true and you filled the
bill, We could put up with each other"
he returned brutality, but it isn't so. "
Don't you love me?" she half
breathed the question timidly
For a brief instant something caught
at SHADES heart and tugged and tugged.
He turned with look of infinite ten
derness and said, simply: Yes, Mary,
/ do" His tone was genuine and sim
cere.
Mary laughed a little, happy laugh.
At the sound SHADES mood changed
like a flash. 1t grated on his already
overweight nerves. 1t seemed to dis
miss the controversy, to end the argu-
ment, to ring the deeth-knen of the
dream that had come to him. The
careless way in which she apparently
dropped the discussion of going away
nettled him. Prompted by a sudden
impulse, he snatched her workbasket
from her lap and flung it the full
length of the room. "D-n that bas-
ketl" he exclaimed. Cant ever see
you without it?"
DAM" Maryis gasp of amazement
was the only sound in the room. 1t
was the first time he had ever been
harsh with her. She shrank back hurt
why ScOu
Dan, you never did that before"
Then, with quiet dignity, she began
TO pick up the basket, the hated darn
ing cotton, the needles and scissors,
and the little worn thimble. Slade,
watching her slight, STOPPING figure,
ought to have been ashamed, but his
anger was flaming hot and he didn't
as much as offer to help.
Mary's mood changed, too.
Il believe you're doing it to get your
own way" she sputtered, but you
amt going to get it. I've got as much
right to my life as you've got to yours. -
AS she came up to him, he stood
grim and silent, suddenly determined
that if she wouldn't go he would. II
she refused his offer of home in the
country, then she could have this great
house to herself and he would live al
the club.
There amt anything you could ask
of me wouldn't do-except-" Mary's
troubled face was looking into his.
Except what / ask" he finished, sar
castically, and hurried from the room
CURLY ordered his dressing bag packed
and then, hat in hand, his overcoat on
his arm, came back into the room
did it ever occur to you, Mary, thai
you're a muller" he asked. You're
sweet and good tempered and amiable
but you'd have given the mule thai
came out of Noah's ark points on how