Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-06

aoofe tne priceless rug that was one
OF her husbands newest purchases.
All big crises In life are the re-
suits of trifles. It took the merest
incident to crystalline Shades thought
into action. Mary had picked up a
portion Of the paper after It had
dropped from her husbands hands
she started to read the printed page
with all the serious Importance Of a
little child trying to do something
very big and grown-up.
Suddenly her eyes lighted with
pleasure and tender smile Of pride
and delight Illuminated her features.
In turning the pages she had sud.
denly discovered picture OF her hus.
band, under which she read q simple
but significant line:
Daniel S. Slade. q Possible Cover.
nor"
"oh, Dan," she cried, happily. isn't
this a fine picture OF you. l could
almost Imagine 1t was going to speak
to me-"
Then she paused little wistfully
and doubtfully before she asked:
But do you really want to be gov.
ernor7
Want to be!"
slade caught his breath as he rs-
peated her question.
want TO be-when every aim and
ambition the last few years had been
made In the one direction, toward
the one longed-for goal-political
power! Want to be-when years be.
fore he had turned his eyes on the
governors chair and had been bat.
Ting grimly. silently, persistently
toward that end ever sincel Want to
be-when that was his one ambition,
the one thing he had yet to achieve!
He sighed wearily to himself. That
Mary could ask that question was the
best proof OF how irrevocably they
mad drifted apart. Living In the same
house with him. eating at the same
table, day after day at his side, the
little woman knew no more OF his
real self or his ambitions than the
merest stranger.
It's nice story about yer. Dan"
Mary went on. all unconscious OF the
struggle going on Just few feet away
from her-the struggle between the
heart OF a man that calls out to the
companion OF his youth. the sharer OF
his joys and struggles and the brain
OF a man that demands the glory OF
power and the fulfilment OF ambition
But, Dan." questioned Mary'l
gentle little voice. who's The Cover
nor's Ladyf"
His wife. Of course" snapped Slade
What does It say about your
He reached over and took the paper
from her hands. leaned forward ea
gerly toward the light and frownet
as he read:
Should Daniel 8. Slade, the ex
miner. ex.town marshal, ex-sherlff. eI
United States marshal. ex-land boomer
and multimillionaire. arrive, II will b.
interesting to see the governors LADY
busting the gubernatorlal chair-prob
ably the only occupation congenial tc
this kind-hearted and plain littl,
woman"
busting the gubernatorial chair.
Slade repeated mockingly. cut to tn,
quick by this public sllusion to hi
wife's plainness and lack OF socia
graces.
That simple little phrase. stinginr
as II was brief. was as a match fam,
to dry timber. II was all that wa.
necessary to bring the hot rage surg
Ing through him to the boiling point
The sweetness OF the little woman,
expression. the tenderness OF her eyei
whenever they rested upon him, tn,
plaintive softness OF her voice mean
nothing to him then. Through angr,
eyes he saw only the lack OF smart
ness In her somber brown dress, onl,
the note OF absurdity she struck amiC
the exquisite surroundings OF tn,
room he had furnished for her. II,
thought OF nothing but the sorry spec
tacle she would make at a brllllan
dinner or smart function where beau
tiful women In fashionable chlffonI
chatted freely and easily OF men an,
things In the progress OF the nation
This Is some OF Wesley Merritt
tin.horn footing writing" growlet
Slade. "D-n his dirty work."
As her husband muttered TO him
self. Mary had calmly resumed he
endless mending OF socks. long year,
OF thrift and saving making II impos
sible for her to throw away even
well-worn pair In spite OF the fac
that the need for repairing had Ion,
since passed.
Slade found himself looking at tn,
little woman who had been his wifi
for twenty years. through lean year
and hard years. az faithful and pa
tient then AZ later, when success firs
began to come his way. very much a
he might have scrutinized an entir
stranger. For a moment tho TRACED,
OF their present state caught at hi
soul, and ho felt the INFINITE patho
OF the womans predlcament. A softe
note came into his voice as he aske,
slowly:
Say. haven't you got any clothes
Mary1 Haven't you any OF tho thing
other women wear at night-silk o
lace or rufIles or-whatever tho
arei"
"Yos. I've got EN-" Mary replied
indifferently. but It's too cold /
wear 'em, and those silk stocking