Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-12-18
CHAPTER i-contInued.

your shirts right of, and when
washed 'em they lasted = whole year.
They amt ironed right, either"
"Oh. my God!" groaned Slade. help
1essly, plying her lack Of understand.
ing rather than being angry with her.
II wish you'd forget, Mary. that
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 q woman op-
posite him. II was perfectly content
Cd those days. l amt now. ! hate
this house. l hate 1t. It's too big
The help scare me, so many Of EN-.
"a 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 futurs-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. II
want to 60 ahead and you want to
stick over your washtubs. need the
support Of big people-got to mix with
'em, and be one of 'em. And you
won't"
mo. don't have to-" replied Mary.
II needn't"
you don't see the necessity Of join
ing met" he asked, testify.
II don't know how"
do you want to know how" he
persisted.
NO." came the provokingly indiffsr-
ont 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 40 she realized that
whatever she did irritated her hus-
hand. 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 tho
thought-hushed 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 in q cheap, ill-ftting dress that
would have looked badly even for
morning wear.
MARY, you look like . steerags pas
senger," he exclaimed suddenly, turn
ing on the hustered little woman, who
was aghast at the very thought Of .
call from the senator and his laugh
ter. go upstairs and dress. I'll
make excuses and hold them till you
come down."
II can't" she gasped. II amt got
time, anyway, and haven't anything
to 90 to tho opera In"
Slade leaned forward and struck
the table with his clenched fist. Don't
you understand? You must see these
people. Tonight's paper names me for
governor. Strickland's influence 10
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 persuasivs-"puto on . nice
little gown and come along and show
them you can do something. Wen
hold reception here and It'll bs .
direct answer to Wesley Merritt's slur
on you in tonight's paper"
Go to the opera with Katherine
otrickland-with q women who had
Just returned from Europs-ths wom-
IN who had dined with q queen and
been feted all over the continent. Hold
= recsption-hostess in this house
where she felt. save for her Dan, q
stranger. Meet people who spoke in
what to her was q strange and alto.
gether unmanageabls fashion.
Mary caught her breath with = sob
OF dismay. The very thought para.
lyxed her. II can't. Dan." she finally
managed to blurt out. I'D do any
thing else for you-but not this"
"IIl not ask you again." replied
glade. ominously. and poor Mary. too
excited to interpret the threat, picked
mp her sewing and her newspapers
and made for the door.
Tell thsm," she exclaimed breath
lessly, tell them had headache
that's Q fashionable enough excuse
anyway" And. terrified. She ned out
Of the room ~ Katherine Strickland
anA her father were announced
CHAPTER u.