Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-01-08

WINGED that their paths would newt
ably converge.
Katherine talked animatedly and en-
t~ertainingly of social life abroad and
of the gay times in Washington, and
SHADES heart warmed and his eyes
flashed as he pictured himself a part
of that charmed circle. With keen
penetration he saw the longing of the
girls nature, her iron will, her deter
mination to gain social honors at al
most any cost. He fiattered himself
that when he said the word Katherine
Strickland would be ready to cast her
lot with his.
From the smoking oom of Senator
~Strickland's big house came the stri-
dent sound of mems voices, raised in
excitement, and, it would seem, ac-
claim. Now and again the senator's
smooth, o~ratorical voice would sound
and then SHADES slightly d~eprecatory,
yet firm and pleased. Then would
follow the patter of applause, laughter
and the sudden dropping of voices that
signified earnest nvers
TO Katherine Strickland, sitting in
the softly lighted library adjoining,
every sound had its meaning. Her
! eyes sparkled with keen interest. In
her cheeks glowed the deep rose Of
excitement and exultation. In that other
room she knew they were making his
tory. In that other room they we're
putting up a man for governor, a man
she admired and who had aroused her
interest as no other man had ever
done.
Nothing could stand in that mans
way, she thought, with a catch in her
breath, nothing could stop him now
that he was fairly started. How diff.
ferent this ~domineering, ~forceful per,
sonality from Bob Hayes, the man who
had first won her girls heart, and yet
for whom she had never been willing
to her interest in the polit-
ical and social life which obsessed her
with the same compelling force as II
did Slade.
With an effort she brought her mind
back to the present and to Mrs. Yves.
ley Merritt, who had dropped in on
her way from a dance to pick up her
husband.
you simply weren't listening to q
word / said," Mrs. Merritt complained
in her a~tfectedly affectionate way. az
al asking If you know Mr.. Slade very
we'll"
YES" Katherine replied, lightly
I'VE know him very we'll"
And does he aver mention his
wifef" in Mrs. Merritt's most perfectly
feline manner.
Never once" admitted Katherine
without even an attempt at an evasion
And you have never met herr" Mrs
Merritt was in her glory II she coult
probe.
"No, I have never met her"
How extraordinary! MY HUSBAND
why, Wesley Merritt's name SPELL
hearth and home. domestic purity
while Slade'sI They tell me he hasn'
seen his wife for weeks, and it's tow
talk that he's living at his club. Ant
to think he's eve mentioned her Il
you'll"
Katherine had quietly rung for
servant, and as Mrs. Merritt finished
remarked casually: Martin, see tina
these letters are mailed at once"
Unabashed. Mrs. Merritt was movinl
eagerly about the artistic room. com
Portable in all its appointments, 1t
richness enhanced and mellowed witt
: age, a blend of color that nothing bu
years a give.
/ Fannie Merritt was a decided blonde
Her decision had been made NOR
than ten years before. 1t was a d.
/ cision that, n made, must b
+ abided by, and the woman had bee
living up to it ever since. Her cow
3 was the last word of sartorial eleganc
3 and style. Daringly decollette 1t clun
: to her long, svelte figure with lovin
emphasis, and trailed round her 9,
] quisitely dressed feet. Her hair di
credit to the h~airdresser's long and pi
. tent efforts, and long, bizarre damon
pendants flashed and sparkled frol
her ears. II ever a woman had becom
a slave to her own personal pleasuI
and dress, that woman was Fanni
Merritt. Too s~elf-centered and SELLS
I aver to crave motherhood, she lavishe
t a kind of affection on q watery-eye
8 little poodle, which repaid her wit
lap-dog gratitude.
Q Tonight she was restless and Ill
g ease. Like Katherine, her mind W;
d full of one thought-Slade, Slade, Slat
q but thoughts that took a different
rection. She was sick of his nam
D. sick of hearing of his money, sick
m the talk of his power and of heariI
Ell him named as "the man of the hour
c. He was winning the very honors 81
is had coveted for her husband, and ia
I'd ing them right out from beneath b
rs very eyes and nose. There didn't see
to be a doubt of Slade becoming &c
ernor the very position for which h
It. husband had been striving for the pa
In six terms. Slade with his millio
e. needed the governorship no more TIL
1T a pampered child needs a new tC
while to her husband success or ia
81 - tIs. tiro1 ~ ofthAv AlA x1t.s.