Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER x--contInued.

Katherine quailed before this sud
den outburst. Then the hope of In
fiuencing the woman to divorce her
husband spurred her on and she re-
Piled:
Yes, there is."
lis she" Mary was u~nprepared
for the admission In spite OF all she
had said. Her voice broke is she
young?"
YES" came from Katherine. Even
at that moment 1t occurred to her
that the situation was unparalleled
this wife asking her-"the other WOE
an"-about herself.
Many years difference in our
ages?"
Il think 80"
rs she prettyf"
People say she is"
Mary experienced q sudden revul-
saon Of feeling.
II don't believe It," she cried. re
fusing to believe what was not pleas
ant to believe. Dan Slade wouldn't
You're mistaken"
As Katherine made no reply, she
went IN. But you seem to be sure?"
I'm certain" answered Katherine.
evenly and without emotion.
do you know herr"
The lace at Katherine's throat nut
sered with her rapid breathing.
"I-yes, slightly"
why, Dan Slade have another WON
an in my old place! So that's lit" as
Katherine remained silent. I'm much
obliged. I'll keep my word. He can
have his divorce any way he wants 1t.
She can have him and his name and
his money" her voice became shill.
Here, I'll give you something to give
him." and she darted into the adjoin-
ing bedroom. "It will remind her Of
something she hasn't got-his youth!
His youth! His youth! Seer" and
she thrust before Katherine's eyes the
picture of Dan Slade when they were
hrst married, the picture she had al
ways worn. That's the way he looked
when he was young. Tell her she
can keep it" And she forced the
brooch into Katherins's reluctant I'm
gers. "She can see what she's missed!
Well. I'm done with it-and with both
of them. There!" and weak from her
frenxied outburst, she sank into a
chair. There was intense silence for
q moment. Katherine stood as il pet
rified. Mary sat with brooding eyes,
thinking. She was the FIRST 10 speak.
trying hard to be brave.
We'll, there's n comfort. 1t amt
as though / had any children. Who'd
ever have thought we would have
come to this-here in this house. II
i had had q baby, here's where II
would have been born-and that's the
real reason / stick to this house-it
amt spunk.
I'VE were both very young" she
talked meditatively. more to herself
than to Katherine. II was awfully
happy. / couldn't wish you any bet
ter. dear" and she turned impulsively
10 the girl, who sat amaxed, breath
iessly watching her, than hoping to
have q child by some young man you
cared for. There's NO happiness like
1t. But one day there was an acct
Gent In the mine and they came and
told me he was hurt-and / thought
craps, he was dead-andEmy sudden
fear for him robbed US of our little
child and me Of all the hope Of ever
Her voice broke with the agony of al
shildless good women since the be
ginning OF time.
"See-an there" she pointed through
NE open door into the next room, "fr
khe bureau drawer-the one by the
window-there's all the little things
rot ready years and years ago." hel
voice quivered piteously. And nov
RIM old and there's another woman
0 younger" the tears were streaming
&own her cheeks now and Katherine'i
heart ached in sympathy with her
The girls throat vas dry and her eyer
biinded by tears as she repeated oveI
md ove again to her accusing CON