News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-07-01

| | might, you said ! couldn't help you.
I'm just the same today as | was a
week ago. / haven't changed a bit.
I'm just the plain little dud | always
was. What's true Monday is true
Tuesday. We can't get back to where
we were once"
| "You meet me half way and I'll do
my part" Dan had never known 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 adpSit the point.
"Well, you're going to get it"
"But | don't want 1t now"
you're going to have it, Dan
Slade," and Mary's mouth set like a
steel trap. You're going to have it
if I have to get 1t myself"
"What do you want with a divorce
when I'm willing to give in?" stormed
Slade, losing his patience.
GLOW 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 | know. And
know why you didn't do it. You
came in here and suddenly you got
look at that girl and me! And it
staggered you! For once, something
swept you off your feet! You knew
then that I'd found it all out. You
knew l knew everything And 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 it 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, l.
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 twen-
ty-seven years Of youth, for twenty
seven years of figure and eyes and
freshness and all the rest of it. You
put me aside for a 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"
snow, Mary" Slade begged, begin
ming to feel that he was losing every
thing worth while.
Il 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. Pm closing it 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-I'll smash it to pieces" he
threatened. I'll sell it. 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 it, and this
is what l get for it."
GO back and smash it. 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.
"Ah, come now, Mary"
you CO." warned Mary, before I |
say something I'll regret" She was |
scarcely hearing what Slade was say
ing now-her ears were full of the |
things he had said to her in her own