The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-05-27
CHAPTER XII.

Before Bob could open the door 1t
was pushed in from the outside, and
as Katherine looked up, she looked
straight into the eyes of Dan Slade.
with the intensity of the situation.
Then the girl lifted her head proudly
and met Slade's eyes again. In them
he saw a light he had never seen
there before, light of soft tender
ness and deep joy, a look that made
his heart start as he realized what he
had lost.
Good morning, Mr.. Slade," she
said coldly as Bob led her out into
the summer sunshine and to life and
love.
AS Slade, hat in hand, stood gazing
at his wife, Mary realized that for
the first time in all their married life
she had the advantage. For once the
roles of the humble and the domi-
neering were reversed. There was a
long pause, awkward only for Slade,
for Mary was quite at ease. He
coughed several times, and then, in
a manner he thought quite appropri-
ate, asked:
What did that girl come here for
-Miss-er-"
"Oh-forgotten her name?" came
from Mary, mockingly. Miss Strick-
land came just for visit"
"Well, what did she want?" Slade
demanded.
"She came to find out what meant
to do" There was world of irony
in Mary's tone.
"What has that got to do with her? =?
I don't approve of a woman coming
into my house to find out what you
l dCn't like it! It's a bit of impu-
dence. What else did she have to
say? Did sheer"
"She's not very confidential girl
returned Mary, evasively.
81 see. So she and Robert have
made up?" Slade considered this
rather a master stroke. By continu.
ing such questions he might get at
the real state of affairs.
"Yes."
Well, well-Ill have to do some
thing for them" Slade was pater
nally patronizing, but he did not de
ceive Mary.
Your business out here today must
be very urgent. What is it?"
Slade tried frantically to find rea
son for his visit When he had left
! town 1t was for the one reason oi
trying to bully Mary into leaving the
cottage and agreeing to a divorce
With the complexion of matters Sc
changed, he was at a complete los:
to explain his visit. He was irri
tated and annoyed. He was not USED
} having the tables so completely
turned on him. More than that, thu
| little cottage never looked more in
viting. AS a matter of fact, Slad'
had. often found the demands of hi
new life considerable of a nuisance
and as Whit of the savory laml
stew came to his nostrils, memor,
of the peace and contentment of tn,
old life flashed through his mind
Nothing at the club had been espe
cially tasty of late. More than that
the drive down had given him a.
appetite.
Cooking a stew, Mary?" he aske,
rather abruptly and inconsequer
TALLY.
Just one of my old stews," Mary
voice was Indifferent. She was thol
oughly disgusted with her husband
now that she knew just what he ha
planned tc do. Jealousy and ou
ragged pride were in her heart. Thi
man, for whom she had worked an
whose very faults and failings sh
had loved, had been deliberatel
planning to thrust her aside for
woman who had enjoyed only th
sweets of life, a woman whose yout
and beauty and social position pr
Mary completely out of the contes
The very thought was salt in he
wounded heart.
'I'll stay to dinner, if I may" al
nounced Slade, removing his glove
and laying aside his coat.
Certainly. Take your old cfrai
If you like" There was none of til
enthusiasm that might have been |
Mary's voice If he had come earle
in the day. She was formally, pain
takingly polite. You can talk ovt
your business while we eat"
Slade watched his wife from undt