Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-12-18
CHAPTER vI-contlnued.

There are strangers there who
learned Of your-er-domestic difficult
ties for the first time tonight" Strick-
land continued. Merritt has thrown
the bombshell."
why, l thought" slade began to
protest.
Hes all right" came the senator's
reassuring tones. ut had to come
out. He's got his coat of in there
for you now. He maintains that the
opposition papers are bound to take
1t up at any moment Now. what do
you adviser"
"The TRUTH" thundered Slade. my
wife is preparing to desert me. 1t
will happen"-Hayes jumped up and
flung himself out Of the room-"to-
morrow-the next day-any hour"
II see," and the senator looked
grave. 'Is this irrevocable. Slade"
'Irrevocable." declared Slade, posi-
lively. "As have told you several
times. senator, It is irrevocable. I'll
stand by that"
Convinced that Slade knew his own
mind In this matter as well as he had
the reputation for knowing It In all
other matters, Strickland returned to
the waiting politicians.
Slade had been alone but q few
minutes when Katherine returned.
well, Mr.. Slade," the girl ex-
claimed, things seem to be coming
our way"
Slade was in no mood for mere con-
versation. He was annoyed at Hayes
attitude, and incensed because his
private affairs were being publicly
discussed In the next room. Mentally
he consigned Hayes to the devil, his
wife to the far East OF the country,
and registered vow with himself that
he would have that divorce and the
woman he wanted in spite OF every
body and everything.
He resolved to sound Katherine out
then and there. He turned over in
his mind the most cold-blooded prop
osition that a man ever made to a
woman. He was planning to ask her
to marry him. when he should be
free. to decorate his home, preside at
his table, share his wealth and the
honors OF the chief executive Of the
state. There would be no warmth
in his tone. no love in his heart, no
hunger of his lips for hers, no yearn-
Ing OF his arms for her yielding figure,
there would be none OF the fire of
youth, nothing OF the love OF little
children. nothing Of the spirit that
makes OF marriage sacrament rather
than thing OF convenience.
As Katherine walked across the
room. moving toward him with the
quiet grace and dignity OF the well.
trained. well.gowned woman, he had
a feeting memory Of the slight, badly
dressed little woman, whose difidence
in strange surroundings had always
fretted him. She a governors wife
Impossible! He rose and stood be-
side the woman whom he proposed to
use as another living stepping stone.
Miss Strickland" his mind fully
made up, you've done lot for me
| tuo tt" "tthb Muhb you We
been making that bust. think un-
derstand you In way. The more !
see OF you the more ! think I'D
like to make a-well. n bargain with
you. That doesn't seem to be quite
the word" he hesitated as the girl
averted her eyes. yet think that's
what We call IT,"
"A bargain" echoed Katherine.
"Yes. a bargain he repeated. 81
never knew but one woman well-that
was Mrs. Slade. She's a good woman
"a mighty good woman. but we can't
Il never had a home-not a home
like Strickland's. When have another
house-that1l be what I'll want, I'll
want my friends, my acquaintances.
TO come there. want-well-head
quarters. And I want a woman at
the head OF my house that can be
proud of-like Strickland"
Katherine was not surprised. She
had anticipated some such move MS
this on his part, but now that she
was face to face with the unvarnished
suggestion. she found herself more
checked than she would have be-
lieved.
'1n couple Of months I'll stand
Free" he went on. Perhaps sooner
I don't expect any woman's going tc
love me-she isn't. Got to do that
when you're young. But I'D do all
could for tho woman. Shed have ev
erything-money and-the power that
goes with II. want to say right
here that wouldn't speak II thought
young Hayes had a chance. saw
he didn't"
At the mention OF Hayes nam,
Katherine had an instant's vision o.
Bobs tender face-his eyes burning
with love looking into ,hers--of hii
youth-his strength-his fine honor
and her heart cried out desperately
pitifully. for the shelter OF hlu arms