Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-06

able, and" she finished with q bub.
bling little laugh, 81. guess l wasn't
made for those things, Dan, dear. I'm
too much of home body"
Her very self-satisfied complaceucy
nettled her questioner. The very
sight Of the darning needle in her I'm.
gers maddened him.
Good God, Mary" he exclaimed
cant you ever stop this endless
mendingf Haven't l begged you. day
and night. not to mend my socks. !
won't wear socks all over darns-
they're uncomfortable"
around Mary SHADES sweet mouth as
she answered.:
They're yours, Dan. It's the only
thing left that I can do for you-now.
can't bear to see strangers touch
your things" and her voice trailed
of in Q wistful sigh. a sigh which
might on any other occasion. have
made Its appeal to the earnest-faced
man now gazing at her so grimly.
The lightness Of her tone showed
how little she realized the seriousness
of the situation-how little she under
stood how inadeQuately she was fill,
ing her position as his wife. She
loved her husband with the devotion
OF slave and the reverence of a wor.
shipper at q shrine. but. like many an.
other good woman. she wanted to
show her affection In her own way
and not in his. Because she wanted
to do for him with her hands, she
turned deaf ear to his pleas that
| she use her head. She wanted her
husband to be happy and comfortable,
but she wanted to make him happy
and comfortable according to her own
ideas OF what ought to make a man
satisfied. She had seen him rise grad.
ually at first and then by leaps and
bounds. Now that he had become
wealthy and successful she wanted to
decide for him that he ought to let
well enough alone. To her II seemed
foolish to bother about being COVER.
nor, absurd for him to fret about the
way she dressed and did things.
So. for awhile they sat In silence
and the flre dying down left the room
chilly, 80 chilly that Mary started up
to get a shawl. Halfway to the door.
she was peremptorily called back by
her husband, who. ringing for a maid.
dispatched her for the wrap, while
Mary, humiliated and with something
OF the air OF martyr, went signing
back to the big, uncomfortable chair
to resume the mending that was such
an irritation to her husband.
why can't you learn to be waited
on, MaryH" her husband asked. not un.
kindly. "0ther women do"
I'm slow-slow and old-fashioned,"
the woman answered. quietly. but with
an air which plainly showed that she
was perfectly satisfied with herself
and that she thought he ought to be.
I've never been with women who
knew how to do these things. You
didn't know any such people until
lately. don't want to know them"
she concluded with an engagingly con.
fiding smile.
But ! can't 60 everywhere always
alone" Slade expostulated. "A mans
wife ought to go with him and NEE,
the right kind Of people-otherwise
he's an outsider. What do you think
built this house fort don't work
In the mines any longer with my
hands. I've got to use my head. I
don't drink. l don't smoke. l don't
dissipate-keep yachts and horses-or
women. A mans got to do something.
I'm going into public life. and / want
to entertain here. You'd have me sit
back and take II easy and-rusti"
you deserve everything you've got.
Dan." answered Mrs. Slade, inconse-
quentially. entirely losing the point
Of his TRADE. rYou struggled like q
dog. Nobody knows. only you and
me. We've been through II together. !"
WELL" demanded Slade eagerly
and hopefully. why don't you march
along with me then. Mary?"
His wife turned to him earnestly.
For moment Dan Slade thought the
woman he loved was about to rise to
the occasion.
CTo BE CoNTINuED)