The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-09-05

Oh nearing me talk! n demanded.
why, no." he answered mendaci-
ously, but the heat in town today was
very enervating."
Now, alone, he whispered the truth.
Heaven forgive me! l was bored to
DEATH"
He sat for some time trying to APP
preciate what the condition of affairs
meant, how he and his wife would live
together through all the coming years,
each preying on the other. HIS soul
sickened at the thought. Did Daisy
appreciate 1t as he did?
Her voice calling him from the next
room came as an answer to his ques-
ton. He obeyed her summons prompt
ly, carrying his cigar with him.
Dan" came the sweet but fret
fui voice, won't tomorrow be the first
Of September"
Eyes, dear" (That perfunctory
dear! How hard married couples
work" IT'D
%"And we will surely go home the
fifteenth, won't WEI"
Certainly"
Thank the Lord!" she murmured.
Daniel and Daisy Drayton had been
married five years when their son was
born. Daisy took the responsibilities
of motherhood as she took everything,
lightly. She was not to blame, for it
was her nature. A full pint-measure
is really just as full as is a gallon
measure. The husband used to re-
mind himself Of this fact when he
was tempted to be impatient with
what he called, when angry, her "shal-
low nature" Perhaps, after ALL he
would muse. she is wiser than l..
Things don't hurt her long. AS for
Newell, ! won't let them hurt me.
She and / will Just have to rub along
as other people do. And, thank God,
there's the baby to keep life endur.
able!"
For the dissatisfied man soon found
that the knowledge that he had a son
to love and live for did much toward
making the future bright.
AS long as Daisy had her baby and
her social pleasures she looked no
deeper into conditions. She did not
neglect her child as the pima of to-
day terms neglect. She made time
each day to play with him, to rock him
In her arms and to listen to sugges-
tons from his nurse as to what was
needed to make his tasteful wardrobe
even more elaborate.
Familiarity with society and obedi-
ence to its many claims did not breed
contempt of it in Daisy. AS she and
her husband grew farther apart, she
threw herself into the gay life more
enthusiastically than ever. AS Dan
must be at his Office all day he need
never be pressed into service for after
noon engagements. But he still, with
such patience as he could muster, did
escort duty to evening affairs, except
on the n night of the week on which
Daisy attended the meeting Of the
musical club to which she belonged.
To this club she went in a cab, re-
turning in one. She did not mention
to her husband that one Of the men
members often accompanied her to her
front door. But one evening, return
ing home earlier than usual, she sug-
gested that Tom Nash, her escort,
come in for a few minutes. Dan,
hearing a mans voice in the drawing
room, left his book and came In, as
in duty bound, making an ennuye
third In the brief chat that ensued
before the guest took his departure.
The next morning at breakfast the
husband remarked, apropos of the con-
v%ersation Of the previous evening, that
Tom Nash carried light guns"
The wife flushed uncomfortably. 81
wish you would not criticize my
friends" she demurred.
Dan raised his brows in surprise.
rs he a friend of yours?" he queried.
Il thought of him simply as a chance
acquaintance"
H has been Of service to me sew
eral times" insisted Daisy, too much
vexed to consider the admission she
was making, lin bringing me home
from the club"
Her husband frowned. IT wish" he
protested, that you would not have
men bring you home at night"
why, not?" queried the woman
p~etulantly. Il see no reason why 1
should take that drive alone"
And II I am willing to leave at a
garage a standing order for a taxi for
you whenever you want one, see no
reason why any man need at as es-
cort to you"
Fortunately" retorted the wife,
other men have more regard for my
comfort and safety than you have"
A hard look came into the mans
eyes. Only last week he had received
a letter from his sister, who had been
paying a visit In Daisy's former home
town, and it had contained a sentence
that had rankied. Il wonder" 1t ran,
IF you ever knew that Daisy was n
gagged to another man when she met
you, and that rumor declares that she
did not break off her affair with him
until after she had accepted you"
Dan had grown hot with indignation
when he read the sentence, but the
resentment was against his sister, not
Daisy. He did not believe the rumor.
Women were jealous; his wife was a
popular beauty, his sister an unattrac-
tive spinster. But. underneath, the
suspicion remained, not dead, but
smoldering. At his wife's taunt 1t
flashed into a blaze.
you seem to know a great deal
of other mems regard for you." he said
significantly. Apparently you know
how to handle several of them at a