Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-09-24
CHAPTER l--contlnusd.

CHAPTER i--centlnued.
Den" she said, "Ili tell you some
thing. These expensive laundries ruin
your shirts right off. and when
washed 'em they lasted a whole year.
They amt ironed right, either"
oh. my God!" groaned Slade, help
tessly, plying her lack OF understand
ing rather than being angry with her.
Il wish you'd forget, Mary, that I
had to let you wash and scrub once.
We're up now. Let us kick the lad.
der out from under us and stay up
forget how we got here"
But don't want to forget" remon-
strated the little wisp of woman OPP
posita him. Il was perfectly content
ed those days. l amt now. hate
this house. / hate It. It's too big.
The help scare me, SO many OF 'em.
I'd like jest one hired girl and my old
sitting-room set" She stopped medi.
tatively. her thoughts wandering back
to the early days when her husband
took his pick and dinner pail and
tramped of to the mines, and she
sang as she bent over the washtub
and busted herself at the kitchen
stove.
Her husband sat with face averted,
his imagination carrying him far into
the future--a vision Of honor as chief
executive of the state and power in
keeping with the untold riches he had
accumulated.
That's it." he finally exclaimed. Il
want to 60 ahead and you want TO
stick over your washtubs. / need the
support of big people-sot to mix with
'em, and be one OF 'em. And you
wont"
mo, don't have TO-" replied Mary.
II needn't"
You don't see the necessity of join.
ing me?" he asked, testify.
Il don't know how"
do you want to know how?" he
persisted.
NO." came the provokingly indiffer-
snt answer.
You're putting the bars up in the
middle of the road" he continued.
and I'm making up my mind to
change things"
Suddenly Mary's lips Quivered and
hurt look showed in her eyes behind
the misty tears as she realized that
whatever she did irritated her hus-
band. She started to speak, but was
interrupted by the entrance OF serv-
ant who announced that Senator
Strickland and his daughter had just
phoned to say that he and his daugh-
ter would call on their way to the
opera.
SHADES face flushed and paled at the
thought--fiushed at the pleasurable
surprise at this unlooked-for attention
from the senator, and paled as he
thought of the senator's stunningly
gowned daughter arriving to find his
wife tn a cheap, ill-fitting dress that
would have looked badly even for
morning wear.
Mary, you look like a steerase pas
senger," he exclaimed suddenly, turn
Ing on the fiustered little woman, who
was aghast at the very thought OF
call from the senator and his daugh-
ter. go upstairs and dress. Ill
EH5k3 EXCUSES ana hoAu IuCm %Ao SSN
come down"
II can't" she gasped. Il amt got
time. anyway, and ] haven't anything
to go to the opera in"
Siade leaned forward and struck
she table with his clenched fist. Don't
you understand? You must see these
people. Tonight's paper names me for
governor. Strickland's influence is
more necessary to me than any other
mans In the whole state. He controls
the party. He's bringing his daugh-
ter to my house. You're meeting them
socially. Come on, now, come on
he became persuasive-"puto on nice
little gown and come along and snow
them you can do something wen
hold q reception here and it'll be
direct answer to Wesley Merritt's slur
On you in tonight's paper.
Go to the opera with Katherine
StrickIand--with a women who mad
fust returned from Europe-the WON
an who had dined with queen ana
been feted all over the continent. Hold
reception-hostess in this mouse
where she felt, save for her Dan' u
stranger. Meet people who spoke In
what 20 her was a strange and alto
esther unmanageable fashion.
Mary caught her breath with a SOD
Of dismay. The very thought para
lived her. 81 can't, Dan." she nnaiiy
managed to burt out I'D do any
thing else for yoa-but not this.
IN not ask you again" replied