Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-09-17
CHAPTER 1.

in the handsomely appoint
cd library OF his spacious home. To
all fntents he was man at peace with
the world. He had money and power.
He had advanced from a penniless
miner to millionaire figure In the
business world. At fifty his were the
fruits of a well-spent, energetic life.
Handsome and immaculate In his per
fectly tailored evening clothes, he fit-
ted into the beautiful room with it's
rich tapestries and oriental rugs with
all the ease and naturalness OF man
born to culture and wealth.
Every now aad then his eyes wan
dered from his newspaper to the fig-
ure of his wife sitting at the other side
OF the richly carved table. The tiny,
unimpos:ag little woman In her badly
cut, dun-colored gown was the one in
congruous detail In the room. She
was like a shabby little prairie flower
suddenly transplanted to a conserva-
tory where brilliant orchids and lovely
roses bloomed ali about her. her faint
little fragrance overpowered by their
heavy sweetuess-her delicate lowell.
ness completely submerged by very
contrast with the radiant beauty Of
her surroundings.
TO SHADES critical eyes, the dowdy
little figure, with the work basket i'm
her lap and her head bent over the
stocking she was contentedly darning.
was an actual eyesore. He had fitted
up O magnificent home that would
have made perfect setting for prin.
sess, and Ills wife's appearance had
Dot changed a particle from the days
when they lived In a tumble-down cot
lage and he worked In the mines In his
AhirtsIeeves. With the getting OF vast
amounts of money he had acquired q
veneer of manners and tastes that al
tines failed to conceal the rough and
brutal instincts of the real man His
social horizon was enlarging. but
within It his wife seemed to find ne
place He wanted, beyond this anC
everything, to climb the political tree
. and pick the fruits thereof. His wife
seemed not 10 know that there wal
such a thing as a political tres Il
climb. With herself. her husband ant
. her work she was contented an'
happy.
The wives Of other men Of his pc
sition were social queens noted TO
heir beautiful gowns, their entertain
uR and their clever wit. He alon'
vas shackled to woman he weul'
dave been ashamed TO introduce Il
his friends. Only he was tied to
wife he could not force either b.
pleading or argument to enter int
The life which meant SO much to him
Tonight as he rehearsed in hi
mind his many unsuccessful efforts t
make Mary advance and take an intel
est in his life as it was now, rebellto
surged In his heart He had struggle
rear after year to attain his prssen
standing, his present position In tn
world, and Mary, the one loved thin
of his life. insisted on hanging ike
milestone arouEi his neck.
Why. oh. why, couldn't the woma
progress? Why hadn't she develope
a. he had done? Why was she con
plaeently sitting there satisfied to r.
main fast as she had been twent
years ago, hopelessly behind tn
times!
And II she wouldn't advance-wh
should he consent to be held back }
herr II she wouldn't go on with hi
he would leave her behind. II
thought and the resultant decisic
had their birth suddenly but positive
In the mans mind. He would mai
one more argument, one last apes
II Mary wouldn't meet him half wa
Mary could stay behind with her eve
lasting darning and her eternal KIN
ting. She could wash and COOK al
stew and sew. If. she liked. but 81
couldn't do It in his mansion.
But Daniel Slade was no more
comfortable at having her there thi
Mary slade was at being obliged
live In this great, elegant house, WI
tts crowds Of servants and its routin
absolutely foreign and weil-nigh hal
ful to her. Sne knew. ShS NA~N
into her surroundings She realiz
her own fnharmony. Her attempts
look natural and feel comfortat
were pathetic. She felt lost withc
the task OK overseeing the Monda!
washing. She was heart-broken
cause she couldn't personally super
tend the making Of Dams cones. II
lie was incomplete because q MIR
cook made the bread that was serv
On the table and because Dan mes
seemed to miss the evenly eSo'
loaveg that had been her espec
pride I'm the old days.
Mary Slade was as commonplace
n cup of boiled tea She was a pia
ordinary, everyday woman. VINO ios
O simple, unpretentious life. with
neighbors dropping in for |ora
two. exchanging recipes for mum
and debating the proper way TO o
son stew.
There was neither charm nor CO
fort Cor her i'm the vista OF rooms op
sng out from the spacious library.
nrocadsd chairs we're straight
didn't rock. They we're hign-pos
and stfi.ed compared 10 her own u
seated little rocker In the sst.a