Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-04-15

hour we've been alone together I've
told you, and you let me go on believ-
ing you cared. l have no pride.
am not ashamed. It's too late for
shame now. Why. even my husband
knows"
With an exclamation he seized her
by the arm. "You don't mean thatv'
he cried fiercely. But she wrenched
herself away
"Why do you think l made a man of
you? Why did force you up and up
and over the heads of others? Why
are you in line for the best position on
the railroad? Did you think you had
made good by your own efforts?" She
laughed harshly. ST took RunneIs and
Wade and Kimble and the others that
you liked and forced them up with
you. SO you'd have an organization
that couldn't be pulled down."
"Did-did you do all that?'
Il u1u more. broke with Arfarez
because of what his son did to you. [
juggled the politics of this country, [
threw him over and took Garavel-
Garavel! My God. what a mockery!
But I won't let you'll won't let that
girl spoil my work. / fostered this
quarrel between JolsOn and the super
intendent, and I've used Runnels to
break trail for you. Why? Ask your
self why! Oh, Kirk" she cried. you
mustn't marry that girl! I'll make
you great man.
'You seem to forget Cortlandt." he
said duly.
She gave a scornful laugh. You
needn't bring Stephen in. He doesn't
count. l doubt if he'd even care"
"I'm not going to listen to you" he
cried. 81 suppose I've been fool, but
this must end right here"
"You can't marry that girl" she re-
iterated, Historically. She was half
sobbing again, but not with the weak
ness of a woman; her grief was more
like that of a despairing man.
"For heavens sake. pull yourself to-
gether," said Kirk. "You have SER
wants. II don't know what to say. l
want to get out, / want to think It
over. Tm-dreadfully sorry. That's
all I can seem to think about now"
He turned and went blindly to the
door, leaving her without look be-
hind.
When he had gone she drew off her
riding gloves, removed her hat and
dropped them both upon the nearest
chair, then crept YEARLY up the stairs
to her room.
A moment later the latticed wooden
blinds at the end of the parlor swung
open, and through the front window
stepped Stephen Cortlandt. Behind
him was a hammock swung in the
coolest part of the balcony The pupils
of his eyes. ordinarily so dead and
expressionless. were distended like
those of a man under the influence Of
a drug or suffering from violent head
ache. He listened attentively for an
instant. his head on one side. then,
hearing footsteps approaching from the
rear of the house, he strolled into the
hall.
A maid appeared with tray, glass
and a bottle. 81 could not find the
medicine" she said, "but l brought you
some absinthe. 1t will deaden the
pain. sir"
He thanked her and with shaking
fingers poured the glass full, then
drank it off like so much water.
you're not going out again in the
heat, STRIP
Eyes. Tell Mrs. Cortlandt that am
dining at the University club.''
Kirk never passed more unpleasant
night than the one which followed. In
the morning he went straight TO Run
nels with the statement that he could
take no part in the little testimonial
they had intended to give Cortlandt
"But it's too late now to back out
I saw him at the University club last
evening and fixed the date for Satur-
day night"
did you tell him I was in the af-
fair?''
Certainly. 1 said it was your idea.
It affected him deeply too. never saw
chap so moved over a little thing
Kirk thought quickly. Perhaps Edith
had spoken rashly in her excitement
and her husband did not know her
feelings after all. Perhaps he only
suspected. In that case it would never
do to withdraw. 1t would seem like
confession OF guilt.
"If he has accepted that ends it, 1
suppose" he said finally.
'What has happened?" Runnels was
watching him sharply.
Nothing. 1 merely wish 1 hadn't
entered into the arrangement. that's
all. I'VE ordered watch for him, too
and it's being engraved. l wanted to
give him something to show my own
personal gratitude for what he and his
wife have done for me. Lord! 1t took
a months salary. 1 know it's jay