Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-13

youth and beauty and assured COM
mand OF all the intricacies OF social
grace and charm. Her wide, full eyes
met his with an engaging, frank curl
osity to see this new factor In the po-
litical world. Her gown was tri-
umph Of soft, shimmering silk and
alluring chiffoD--a gown that empha.
sized the charm Of her proud, statu-
esque figure. She was the sort Of
woman that makes a man glow with
pride to present as his wife or daugh-
ter. She was all that Mary Slade was
not.
| Slade stood looking at her, fasci.
mated, forgetting for the moment the
man she was with. remembering moth
Ing but the magnetic personality Of
the woman whose reputation for do
lag big things In q big way was al
ready known to hlm-a woman whose
eyes meeting his gave back fash for
flash and understanding for under
standing.
| Almost mechanically Slade found
himself acknowledging Senator Strick-
lands formal presentation OF his
daughter. Heeitatingly he offered his
hand, which the girl. perfectly at
ease. grasped with a cordial. sympa.
thetic pressure. Her eyes were look
ing critically into his, much as II she
were trying to read him through and
through and take his measure for fu.
ture use.
Her easy. graceful acceptance OF the
situation. her thoughtful inquiry for
Mrs. Shades health, prompted by we'll
bred sympathy rather than any curl.
GUS interest, and the cultured modula-
tion Of her splendid voice, charmed
him as no woman had ever done be-
fore.
There was nothing OF the shy, retir.
Ing ingenue In Katherine Strlcklands
makeup. She was a woman Of splen-
did physique and wonderful mental de-
velopment Her appeal to a man was
that Of a dominant intellect as much
as Of a lovely woman. She immedi-
ately impressed Slade as being keen.
witted. strong-minded and clever. His
admiration displayed Itself In his shin
ing eyes and his unusually affable, at.
tentive manner.
Suddenly he found himself compar-
Ing his own little old.fashioned wife
with this handsome, self-possessed
Woman before him. What wife Kath.
crime Strickland would be for the gov
ernor OF q state! What picture she
would make presiding at the head OF
a millionaire's dinner tablesl How
wonderfully such woman would
adorn the richly furnished rooms OF
his newly built mansion! Instead OF
the work-worn fingers Of his wife, con-
tinuously fumbling with darning
threads, he saw, In a mental vision.
this woman's lovely hands constantly
engaged in unwinding the thre- ds OF
problematic political tangles. Here
was q woman who would be a mans
wife and comrade-the very antithesis
OF the household drudge his own wife
was content to be, with no interest
outside OF the four walls OF her home
and no desire for anything bigger in
life than the daily routine OF break.
fast, dinner and supper. washing on
Monday. Ironing on Tuesday. and 30
on TO the end of the week-week after
week In the same deadly rut. Here
was a woman who would "go along
with a man"-possibly a step ahead.
blazing the way for new and greater
glories and recognizing no limit.
Slade brought his reflections to a
sudden halt as he remembered the
girls father.
why. what has happened to you.
senator! Your face looks different
than It did this afternoon"
Her fault" replied the senator,
with a smile OF tolerant affection, In.
dicatlng his daughter. "she made me
cut my beard this way. It's French"
Katherine laughed q delightful,
throaty little laugh.
Nonsense. father" she protested.
"of course. like the West, but I
don't believe in being absolutely typ
ical. ! was horrihed when I got back
|
cal. much.cartooned Westerner."
Mr.. Slade." resumed Strickland, "a
few influential men from different
parts OF our state are having meet.
Ing In town tomorrow. and want you
to meet them. I'm arranging a little
impromptu dinner. and thought Kath.
crime might be able to persuade Mrs.
Slade and yourself to Join u.s."
oh, father. tell the truth" Kath.
crime Interrupted. These gentlemen
want to meet you, Mr.. Slade. hear
we're to expect great things OF you.
You see, I've been mixed up in poll.
tics all my life. and do love to have
a hand In them"
Shed run for president II they'd
let her." teased her father.
Indeed would" the girl admitted,
brazenly. 1--WE got politics In my
blood, and home doesn't seem like
home unless politics are being brewed
In our dining.room. SO you'll both
come. won't you-you and Mrs. slade." Z"
Slade was stammering his accept.
ance when Strickland interrupted alb.
ruptly.
How'd you like to be governor.
Slade7"
slade threw back his head with a
laugh that was intended to denote
complete unconcern.