Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-06-12

|
an ordeal. You're going to say some
thing dreadful. Before you begin
want to say that I'll do anything t
get things back Just the same as they
were before--anything. There's moth
Ing you could ask me | won't do
nothing! There! Now! Now go on.
and she sank weakly into a chair.
Look here" Slade was cruelty alb
rupt. This separation Is permanent
Nothing's going to change It,"
Separation" She gave him g
blank, amazed stare. "Why, Dan
who's talking about separation? We
can't be separated"
I'VE can be--we are. When l left
you that night 1t was for good and
all. Mary. We can't get along togeth
er and I've made up my mind to it.
It's settled"
You mean to say you haven't
missed yer homer You haven't want.
ed me to give in? You mean what q
happened 10 for the best?"
YES" he answered icily.
Mary gazed at him In bewilderment.
You're not the man l talked to five
weeks ago. don't know you. 1t
must be the people about you---or
its"
Like q fash the possibility Of an
other woman came into her mind.
But she dismissed 1t as quickly as it
had come. She would not insult him
or herself-or their love by such a
suggestion.
Il am another man from the one
you married." slade agreed, but you
wouldn't see It,"
lis 1t my fault that | married a man
who's turned into somebody else p"
Mary argued. fighting, fighting for her
life. her haDpiness-for him. 81 mar
ried you, Dan. I married a poor young
fellow who was hard worked and
helped him along. We started fair,
Dan, but this amt fair" lapsing more
and more into poor grammar ard dia-
lect as her excitement rose. you got
beyond me, but it was because l
worked and saved the pennies for you,
while you went out and got helped and
learned. Cooking didn't learn me.
didn't even know was behind the
times or unsatisfactory until one day
YOU"
Slade nervously assured himself
that all the doors were tightly closed.
He suppressed the twinge of shame
for his stealthy action by assuring
himself that 1t was not fear--simply
business caution. To his cowardly
wrenchlng of his wife's heart he gave
no thought at all. 1t was move in
the game. He made It as dispassion-
ately as one moves a chessman on
the board. Mary was looking at him
with new light in her brown eyes
as he turned to her again. She spoke
again.
1T was all right until you made
that lucky deal, Dan, with the money
l helped you to make and you pulled
me out from behind my stove and
tried to make me parlor ornament.
I'd hate to think where you'd been
today. II yer had. Five years ago you
took all the work loved to do out of
my hands and now you're furnishing
me because did work"
mo. I'm not" slade demonstrated,
moved in spite of himself by her
simple, eloquent argument.
YES. yuh are, Dan. you're Just as
good as whipping me for layin' up
the foundation Of every dollar you've
got and here | am at my age sitting
in idleness In q great big barn of a
house with my Job gone." she finished
pathetically.
well. that's life." declared slade
unfeelingly.
Then it's pretty poor thing" and
she shook her head sadly. No, 1t amt
life. 1t shouldn't be. There's some
thing wrong in a mans getting 80
far up be can't live with the wife he
married because she cooked and
worked instead Of playing. 1t amt
just!"
"Oh. what's the use. Mary?" slade
sighed YEARLY, as though he, and
not she. were the injured one.
"Dan," Mary lowered her voice and
looked at him earnestly. III brought
up q girl today and we were poor,
would you advise me to say, Take
piano lessons. learn languages, keep
up to the times, never mind doing
your share or being economical
I'm not going to argue" Slade re.
piled loftily.
"Yuh can't Dan," declared Mary
with conviction. There amt no ar.
gument It's one-sided. Suppose I'd
changed and you'd stayed the same,
what would all your friends say?
Poor Slade, his wifes crazy-or bad
probably bad No. yer can't get me
to see I'll"
well, whether you see 1t or not
that's just where we stand. You'd
better let me call Robert to take you
home"
wait, DAM she pleaded. evil
you see me again at home, II go
now?"
There was tense pause. slade did
not reply.
II see. see." She dropped YEARLY
into q chair and suddenly the tears
started In her eyes.
Please, Mary, remember where you
are" Slade was o trile less cold.
"Pll let you know my plans. All you
have to do 10 to abide by them You
say you'll do anything for me, that's
all ask you to do. abide by my plans.
| wish you much happiness. the best
OF everything, . life beyond anything