Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-30
You'll hardly claim

you think 1t important"
1T Is. You're too i'll to work. but
It seems not too Ill to go driving IN
the park with striking looking women"
With an effort he kept his voice
cold. And you object. is that lit"
Il do
Very well. You've registered your
protest. Is that all?"
mo, 1t is not" She leaned sharply
forward, forgetting to pose and to
smile, the delicate prettiness OF lace
eclipsed by q cloud Of vixenish tenn
Der. 1T is not. I have some SELF
respect and regard for our position
II you haven't. Do you suppose a
husband means nothing to me but a
name?"
He glanced hesitatingly toward the
| door, meditating retreat. Then, with
a grim Tightening OF his lips. he 70
turned his gaze to her.
You really want an Inen'
/ had supposed a husband means TO
you a name-and a check book. Win
inexhaustible leaves"
so you begrudge me the money l
spend! You grow"
Your expense account, fully met, IL
the pest answer to that. I think"
But / want more than money. Do
you think a little money-a little pal
try monaghan repay me for our
neglect and selfishness?'
so you scorn money? It's news to
me. But I think you've nothing to
complain Of"
"Nothing!" she cried. us it moth
ing that / have to go everywhere alone,
always having to listen to whispers
behind my back of my husbands fool
ish attempts to play the man about
town? You see, you couldn't keep
your escapade of last year from me-.
Or that you've turned the old set
against me by cheating poor Timothy
Woodhouse out of his last property!'
He WINGED and flushed painfully at
that. She saw and believed h had
pierced his armor. She rose again.
that she might deliver her final thrust
most effectively.
DO you call it nothing hat you,
who have no time or thought to spare
your wife, brazenly fiaunt your women
in public, on the streets and in the
parks, for all the city to see and gos-
sip about?"
He was standing rigid, both hands
gripping his cane, his gaze fixed I'M
waveringly on her. The frightened lips
had become the merest line.
If you refer to Mrs. Whiting" he
began at last steadily, you will please
use more respectful terms
W ~ how oonnN1nfV
This" she cried t~ragically. this is too
much. l suppose this Mrs. Whiting
il that's her name-is your mistress
perhaps | should say, your latest mis-
tress,'
Why, you"
The storm burst, choking back
speech, but finding an outlet through
his eyes. He reached out swiftly and
caught her hand in a cruel clutch.
crushing the soft useless member I'M
til her rings bit into the flesh and she
cried out in pain.
Let me co." she gasped. You're
hurting me-"
He released her and sank back into
a chair.
Il think we've come to the end Of
our chapter, Unity. But I'll give you
us-one more chance"
You'd think l were a criminal"
I'VE both are-but let that 20. Here
tofore you've made u life. And you've
failed. Since our first month we've
never been really happy, at least in
each other. Now let me choose. Let's
go away somewhere"
- ssu,- w., vorlr ~ n HrooJ cs
Not to New York Or abroad. To
Bethel or some place where we can
live a quiet, decent, natural life. Let
US begin over again and try to re-
cover what we've lost-or rather what
we eve had"
You are absurd"
us it absurd for a nan to ask his
wife-you've claimed the tltle-to
share the life he wants and needs?"
You forget to consider what l would
have from such an arrangement"
You would have me-"
She answered with a contemptuous
shrug. Il will do nothing SO silly.
You ask too much"
"Ah! You're franker than l thought
you could be. Pm glad you're frank
He rose, looking curiously down at
her. III you look back. you'll find I've
never asked you anything until now
I've been content to take-at least,
I've taken-only what it suited your
wnims to give me. And you've given
exactly nothing"
And what" she flung back, have
you given me?"
From another woman that might
be a crushing retort. I've given you
very little. But, as it happens, it's
been all o wanted. You wouldn't
take, you never wanted. the only worth
while thing l had to give" He paused
again. his manner hardening. How.
ever, all that is ended. I go away to
morrow morning. don't think shall
ever e you again."
Even then he might have relented,
IL she had given him reuse But she
gave him no Gus
You're asking for q divorced?
YES"
Il suppose" she sneered. you want
to marry hat woman, your mistress"
He held himself under rigid self.
control. she isn't my mistress.
though I love her. She was the girl
I gave up years ago out OF loyalty to
YOU"
There was nothing lovely about
Unity Truitt just then.
And now you want to renew the
- AA - ~