The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-09

week ago. I haven't changed a bit. |
I'm just the plain little dud I always |
was. What's true Monday Is true
we were once"
you meet me half way and I'll do
my part" Dan had never knows her
TO be obstinate like this before. Usu-
ally his slightest wish had been her
keenest desire.
Dan. you wanted that divorce?"
The question was ominous, but Slade
had to admit the point.
well, you're going to get it,"
"But / don't want 1t now"
you're going to, have 1t, Dan
Slade," and Mary's mouth set like
steel trap. You're going to have it
If I have to get IL myself
What do you want with divorce
when I'm willing to give in?" stormed
Slade, losing his patience.
How long have you been willing
to give in, Dan? What did you come
out here for?" She paused, but he
did not answer You came to force
me out of this house. Don't tell me
you didn't, because I know. And
know why you didn't do Ii. You
came In here and suddenly you got
a look at that girl and me! And 1t
staggered you! For once, something
swept you off your feet! You knew
then that I'd found it all out. You
knew knew everything Ana now
you've been thrown over by that girl.
She's thrown you over! Between the
two OF us-you're caught. And that's
the real reason that you're not stand
Ing here shaking your finger in my
face and telling me to go out, TO get
out, TO co.
Mary stopped for breath, and
walked up and down the room before
she proceeded with her bitter denun-
citation.
And the worst of 1t is that after
the girls gone you actually ask me
to take yer back-to take yer back
just as they all do. It's another man
come home to mother Well, here's
one woman that's not going to take
her husband back! No, sir If you
pushed me aside for ambition, /
might think it over, but you've
pushed me aside for that girls twenty
seven years of prettiness," and she
| pointed an accusing finger at the door
through which Katherine Strickland
| had gone hand-in-hand with her
| sweetheart.
That's what you've done-for TWEEN
| ty-seven years of youth, for twenty
seven years OF figure and eyes and
| freshness and all the rest of 1t. You
| put me aside for younger woman
| the very utterance almost lost Mary
her courage, but she kept on. You
put me aside for younger woman.
Now, no matter what you do, you
can't get me back!''
! Now, Mary" Slade begged, begin
ming to feel that he was losing every
/ thing worth while.
IT take off my ring" Mary con-
/ tinued. ignoring his interruption.
Now it's ended she finished as
she laid the ring on the table.
Slade strobe up to her in the man.
ner which had kept her subdued all
the 80 years of their married life
You put that ring on again. he COM
manded. Its yours! You put that
ring on
/ mo, sir It's off for good" For
the first time Mary's attitude was one
OF stubborn temper. She was enjoy
| ing complete mastery for the first
| time in her life. wild horses
couldn't have got it off yesterday
thought it was part of my nature!
But now, now I'm going to ask you to
go. I've got work to do. I'm closing
the house. I'm closing 1t for good
forever"
/ Mary had said all she had to say.
Now that her mind was made up, it
was characteristic of her to turn to
action. She started hurriedly and
noisily to clear up the table, scraping
the plates and piling them up ready
to carry into the kitchen.
! For Gods sake, Mary, don't!" pro
tested Slade, too bewildered to know
what to do or say.
go along" urged Mary as she put
the sugar bowl in its place on the
sideboard
Mary, If you persist IN this, I'll
go back and I'll smash that house in
town-Tll smash it to pieces" he
threatened. I'll sell 1t. I'll give it
away-break it up! That's what made
all this trouble! You know that! Try
ing to live up to that id house.
You told me not to build 1t, and this
Is what I get for it,
GO back and smash Ii. You've
smashed other things that hurt me
worse"
Mary, you're not going to turn me
out of this house where we've lived
SO long together"
You've turned yourself out Go,
now" Mary's wrath gathered force
as she repeated her command.
4 "Ah, come now, Mary
You CO." warned Mary before j