Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-09


Put Nothing In III"
criticize. she was %engrossed with the
game of being a fine lady. which h
felt sure was her vocation.
Thus peace abode in the Truitt
household and Mark, freed from the
irritation Of constant pickering, was
enabled to give himself wholly to
work. He did not realize hat during
this truce he grew away from his
wife more rapidly than when domestic
inharmony kept her constantly In his
thoughts. During these months he
completed his improved process for
rolling steel cold, which made some
noise In the industrial world.
But there is nothing to which our
species SO readily adapts itself as to
luxury. Content dissolved. Unity be-
gan to complain Of the heavy labor Of
ordering SO big a house. She resumed
her criticisms Of Mark, finding fault
with his fashion Of dress, his man
ners. his habits and his neglect Of
her. She was seized with a devour-
ing mania for amusement, filling the
house almost every evening with
guests and demanding that Mark per-
form his duties as host. Other we
nings she dragged him to the theater.
which he detested. When he, rem
dered peevish by late hour and bore
dom. suggested that there were mat
inees, she put on an injured air that
was more Irritating to him than out
right distemper.
"Other men are glad to go out with
their Wives"
"Other men don't have to work so
hard as l do"
You think of nothing but money"
.'Devilish lucky for you," he was
indiscreet enough to retort; and she
did not merge from her sulks for
several days.
But at last the gnawing canker was
disclosed. One evening SO stormy that
no guests had come, Unity went up
to his study where he was making the
most Of this respite. She talked ram
blingly for a while.
We'll, Unity, out with it," he ex-
claimed impatiently. after several min
utes. What do you want? As you
see, I've got a great deal to do"
II wonder what Is the matter with
Mrs. Henley"
"You ought to know. You see her
often enough, don't your"
"Yes. l zee her-at church! And we
call. But she never invites us to the
things she gives. I wonder why"
probably because she doesn't want
u.s."
Unity looked her protest at this
blunt speech. But she did not aban-
don her project.
II should think. II you're such good
friends with Mr.. Henley. you could
manage it easily enough"
Now you car stop right there" he
answered emphatically. Pm pretty
soft, but there's one thing l draw the
line at. And that's managing to get
invited to other peoples houses. That's
dat!"
And on that he was firm, though
he was made to pay In many ways for
his refusal.
But In due time and without man
agement a dinner invitation came; on
whose initiative, being a secret neither
Henley nor his wife has ever disclosed.
Hence we may not speak surely a.
to the accuracy of certain inferences
that Unity drew.
You see." she cried, showing the
note to Mark. Her manner said plainly,
Il alone did 1t, in spite Of the indif-
ference of my husband"
Il see," he responded dryly. Are
you goihs
She treated this question to the CON
temptuous silence It deserved.
And as Mark stood in the hall and
watched her descending the stairs for
the start, he was bound to confess that
she made a fair-oh. a very fair
picture.
Why" he wondered. did the Al
mighty make so pretty a shell and put
nothing in it?" This seems to prove
that he had been pretty efectuaIy dis
fllusioned.
However careless he might affect to
be, he was himself keenly elated over
the event Often no lad asked him
sSlf why Henley, 50 friendly in all else.
had never let down the bars before his
homs. And - b mounted the steps