Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-03-25

pain as pleasure to her. During
these past few weeks she had been
plunged in a mental turmoil, the signs
of which she had concealed with diff
Guilty. She had fought with herself;
she had tried to reason; she had mar
shaled her pride, but all in vain. At
last she awOke to the terrifying GER
tainty that she was in love with Kirk.
She began to look upon her husband
with a quickened curiosity, and found
him a stranger For years she had
made allowance for his weaknesses,
ignoring them as she ignored his viz
tues, but never before had he appeared
so colorless, so insignificant, above all
so alien. She had barely tolerated him
hitherto, but now she began to de
spise him.
If COrclandt was aware of her change
of feeling and it's cause, his method
of dealing with her showed some keen
ness. Silent contempt was what she
could least endure from him of all
men; yet this was just what his man
ner toward her eXpressed-if it ex-
pressed anything.
Even if he did suspect, what then?
1t was no affair of his; she was her
own mistress. She had given him all
he possessed, she had made a man of
him. He was her creature, and had
no rights beyond what she chose to
give. They saw less and less of each
other. Only before others, or at their
frequent political councils. were they
quite the same as they had been.
Of Anthony, on the other hand, she
arranged to see more than ever fatter-
ing him by a new Difference in her
manner. making him feel always at
ease with her.. In their frequent rides
they covered most of the roads about
the city, even to the ruins of old Pan
anna. Then they began to explore the
bypaths and trails.
One afternoon they turned into an
unfrequented road that led off to the
jungle from the main highway, walk
ing their horses while they marveled
at the beauty Of the foliage. They
burst out into rocky glen, where a
spring of clear water dubbed forth
What discovery" exclaimed Edith
Help me down. please. I'm going to
drink
Kirk dismOunted and lent her a hand
The horses snorted approximately and,
stepping forward, thrust their soft
muzzles eagerly into the stream, then
fell to browsing upon the tender leaves
at their shoulders.
Edith quenched her thirst, shook the
cramp from her limbs and said: Some
time we will have to see where this
road leads. There may be more sur
prises beyond She broke a flower
from its stem and fastened it in Kirk S
buttonhole while he gazed down at her
with friendly eyes.
you're looking aWfully well lately"
he declared
CHANGING up. she met his gaze and
held it for an instant. Something in
her look gave him a little thrill of en-
barraSsment.
Il think I'll give Marquis and Gyp
their dessert" he said and, turning
aside, began to gather a handful of the
greenest leaves. The instant his eyes
were off her she took the horses by their
brides. swung them about and with
sharp blow Of her riding crop sent
them snorting and gathering down the
trail. Kirk wheeled barely in time to
see them disappearing.
Say, why did you do that?' be
asked
Because l wanted to. Isn't that
reason enough?" Her eyes We're reck-
less and her lips white 4 did it be-
cause wanted to talk with you.
well, those horses wouldn't over
hear"
Don't be angry, Kirk l haven't
seen you alone since-that night
'Taboga?" he said guiltily. You're
not going to lecture me again? I'm
sorry enough as it is
what a queer chap you are! Am
so unattractive that you really want to
rush off after those horses? | have
known nen who would have thought it
a privilege to be LETT alone with me
like this"
"l-have no doubt"
you remember for instance, I told
you there was one man at Taboga
whom l did not wish to seer
"YeS-at the sanitarium."
"Well, something like this happened
Once-with him-and l told stephen
"And did you tell Mr.. Cortlandt what
did,"
DO you think l would have come
riding with you if I had?" She shook
her head. "Kirk, used to think you
were an unusually forward young man,
but you're not very worldly, are you?"
He began firmly: ''See here, Mrs.
.Cortlandt, you have been mighty good
to me, and I'm indebted to you and
your husband for a whole lot. l am
terribly fond of you both"
81 SUPPOSE" she said, half defiantly,
''you know how things are with Ste
phen and me-every body must know, l