News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-05-20

manner irritated him now-her quiet
contentment, her calm acceptance Of
her failure to meet his guests and fill
her place as mistress of his home mad
dened him. He was all the more de-
termined to fight for something else
to begin his campaign for a governor
ship and another woman that moment
you can amuse yourself after I'm
gone" he answered over his shoulder.
Then you are going out?" Mary's
voice echoed the disappointment she
felt.
Yes" Slade continued to be mono
syllable But l want to have a talk
with you. Mary-we've got to come
to some understanding"
"Why, WHAT" Mary began, and
then stopped For the first time she
noticed his changed manner and his
| averted eyes. She started to tumble
| with her workbasket.
81 can't put it off any longer. /
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 you?"
why, yes" came the quick re-
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-
ton" 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
"I-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. 81 can't go on apol-
ogizing for you eternally! You can't |
have a headache every night! | must .
either have a wife who can be the
head of my household or none"
Into the womans 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
ished-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 brutally, but it isn't So"
Don't You love me?" she half
breathed the question timidly.
For brief instant something caught
at Shades heart and tugged and tugged.
He turned with a look of infinite ten
derness and said, simply: Yes, Mary,
l do" His tone was genuine and sim
cere.
Mary laughed little, happy laugh.
At the sound SHADES mood changed
like flash. 1t grated on his already
overweight nerves. 1t seemed to dis
miss the controversy, to end the argu-
ment, to ring the death-knell of the
dream that had come to him. The
way in which she apparently