Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1915-02-26
The Governors S
r I A Nov liza tion Of
Lacy Alice Bradley's Play
BY GERTRUDE STEVENSON
Illustrations from Photographs Of the Stage Production

Bv GERTRUDE Stevenson

ally his slightest wish had been her
keenest desire.
Dan, you wanted that divorce?"
The question was ominous, but Slade
had to admit the point.
We'll, you're going to get It'll"
But / don't want It now"
You're going to have It, Dan
Slade," and Mary's mouth set like a
steel trap. You're going to have 1t
II have to get 1t myself"
What do you want with a divorce
when I'm willing to give INF" stormed
Slade. losing his patience.
How long have you been willing
to give IN, Dan7 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 l know. And |
know why you didn't do It. You
came in here and suddenly you got
look at that girl and me! And 1t
staggered you! For once. something
swept you off your feet! You knew
then that I'd found It all out. You
knew / 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 60 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! II you
pushed me aside for ambition,
might think 1t 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 hel
sweetheart
That's what you've done-for twen
ty.seven years OF youth, for twenty
seven years of figure and eyes ant
freshness and all the rest OF 1t. Yol
put me aside for a younger woman
the very utterance almost lost Mar!
her courage, but she kept on. "Yo'
/. | auidn for woman
Now, no matter what you do. yo
can't get me back"
"Now, Mary" Slade begged. begir
ming to feel that he was losing every
thing worth while.
Il take of my ring" Mary cor
: tinued. ignoring his interruption.
Now it's ended" she finished a
she laid the ring on the table.
Slade strobe up to her In the mar
/ ner which had kept her subdued a
, the 30 years of their married life
> you put that ring on again" he con
, manded. ITS yours! You put tina
ring on"
mo, sir! It's off for good" Fo
! the first time Mary's attitude was on
OF stubborn temper. She was enjo!
t ing complete mastery for the frs
+ time in her life. wild horse
couldn't have got It off yesterday
e thought It was part OF my nature
Il But now, now I'm going to ask you
" go. I've got work to do. I'm closin
t the house. I'm closing 1t for good
4 forever"
Mary had said all she had to sa,
Now that her mind was made up.
= was characteristic OF her to turn
:, action. She started hurriedly an
d noisily to clear up the table. scrapln
the plates and piling them up read
!" to carry into the kitchen.
e For Gods sake. Mary, don't!" pr
Is tested Slade, too bewildered to kno
4. what to do or say.
go along" urged Mary. as she p'
" the sugar bowl in Its place on Il
10 sideboard.
MARY, II you persist In this, /
go back and I'll smash that house
d, town-I'll smash It to pieces"
of threatened. I'll sell II. I'll give
away-break II up! That's what mat
/; all this trouble! You know that! TT
,e ing to live up to that id hous
~ You told me not to build 1t, and tn
is what get for II"
o. go back and smash It. You
I smashed other things that hurt n
worse"
e. MARY, you're not going to turn n
n out OF this house where we've liv
~ SO long together?"
to you've turned yourself out.
OF now" Mary's wrath gathered for
as she repeated her command.
n, "Ah, come now, Mary"
he "You CO." warned Mary. before
he say something I'll regret" She "
or scarcely hearing what Slade was 81
in ing now-her ears we're full Of I
,st things he had said to her in her o.
he home, and that night In Senat
Strickland's library.
II Mary" The one word was full
he protest and a plea for forgiveness.
10. Go before ! say IT," II was
as Mary could do to speak quietly.
,u. MARY" again the word spoke v
q umes
IL. mo use," she replied. as she pick
ys up pile OF dishes. you pushed
uo aside for a younger woman, and n
ire you go," and with both hands full