The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-08-27

haps Dan would be detained in town
on business. but that she, herself,
would surely come if her hostess
would take her alone. Would it be
time enough if she let her know Dams
plans tomorrow?
When Dan heard the condition of af-
fairs that night he looked his aston
ishment. You accepted an invitation
without knowing whether l would go
or not!!" he exclaimed.
There was q new note Of defiance in
the wife's tone. Il certainly did," she
retorted. II do not mean to miss the
things enjoy just because Of a whim
Of yours"
But suppose l do not want to go?"
Then I shall go without you,' de.
clared the woman firmly.
There was a dead silence for a
minute. Then Daisy went on with:
Il would, however. like to know, for
the sake OF courtesy. what I am to
tell Mrs. Jackson. Common polite
ness demands that you accept or de.
cline"
And uncommon p%oliteness has
moved YOU to leave me out Of your
arrangements" affirmed her husband.
The wife laughed with forced mirth,
then grew grave. See here, Dan,'
she urged, do, for once, look at the
matter sanely and, if possible, unset
fishly. You like ono kind OF thing, I
like another kind. Why may not each
OF us enjoy life incur own way? You
like to stay at home and read, and
l prefer to 60 out and have a good
time. Is not my right to live my
life as good as your right to live
yours?"
You mean" asked her husband.
that you want ME to a you may &C.
cept any invitations without consult
ing me, and am at liberty to decline
or accept them as I plcase?'
"Just that"
For a moment the mar knew that he
felt in his inncrmost soul a throb
OF relief at the possibility that here.
after he need not go about to all kinds
Of society affairs with his wife.
His wife's voice checked his mus.
ings. Really, Dan," she was saying
TREMENDOUSLY, when you remember
that in a few months l won't be able
to go out and have fun, I do not think
that you need grudge me the enjoy
ment of this little outing now"
With a pang of renorse the husband
drew her to him. Forgive me,
dear" he pleaded. II was a brute to
forget. OF course we'll go to the
Jackson's weekend party, and any
where else you want to go, and you
shall have all the good times you
want now, for"-his voice softening-
when you have a dear little child who
needs you, you will not want to go
away from home any more"
His wife looked at him gravely. II
am not so sure Of that" she said
calmly.
And her husband had the wisdom
to make no reply.
During the weeks Of the following
summer when Daisy's physical condi-
ton prevented her going into society,
Dan set aside, a. often as was prac-
ticable, his work, his books, and all
his personal inclinations in order to
minister to her whims and fancies.
He walked with her and drove with
her, for they had taken a furnished
cottage in a quiet country place for
the heated term. He knew that she
was wearied by the monotony of their
daily life, for, as she cared little for
books, and was not we'll enough to
meet the few city people who were
summering in the nearby village, n
day was much like another. He Won
dered sometimes whose fault it all
was. One day a mar met on the train
was talking Of marriage, and dropped
a sentence that fingered in Daniel
prayton's memory for months after.
! ward.
Married life," affirmed his new &C
Quaintance, must have something
more than love to hold two people to-
gcther. A couple who are c~ongenial
may be comparatively happy, even if
they do not feel a passionate love for
each other; but the most ardent love
will faint and die if it is not backed
by ~congeniality of taste and interests.
Were l a woman I would rather that
my husband were my friend than my
lover. A real ma Ices not 20 back
on a friend, but husband and wife
who are not comrades and chums tire
OF each. other, and'-with an express
sive gesturc-"smash something-the
marriage VOWS, or their own lives, un-
less, of course, there is the one great
tie which makes their smashing things
a crime"
And that tie" queried Dan, "is?"
"A child or children, sir!"
"They do not always hold their par.
ents together" Drayton reminded
him.
NO." said tho other bitterly, they
don't, except when the parents are too
decent to let the children pay for
their mistakes"
In his own room that night, after
a dull evening with Daisy, Dan sat
by the open window, smoking and pom.
dering. He dwelt on the evening Just
past, and recalled how Daisy had
talked a little Of what some of her
friends were doing in the mountains
or at the s%eashore, Of what the maya
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