The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-08-24
FOR DAMS DEAR SAKE
BY ELlNOR GATES.

had taken the Farms under rather a
long lease-Green Farms, to be exact,
the show place CT the colony. Who
ever lived in it must have money,
also social sponsors; also, beyond all,
personality.
You see, Olney, who owned the
Farms, although tired Of the place,
yet held 1t in certain petulant re-
gard, which made him exacting as to
possible tenants.
The which Is illuminating-bot as
to owner and new tenant Olney had
never seen her, but what he had
heard from mutual acquaintance so
prepossessed him in her favor that
his Inquiries had not gone beyond her
bank account
The colony, of course, swarmed In
welcome to her. That she was dis
tinctly new was all in her favor. A
vague haze OF romance enshrouded
her past.
No armor is so impenetrable as a
casual frankness that scouts the
name Of secrets. Mrs. Latran was
amazingly frank-even about her age.
Twenty-Five she gave herself out to
be, signing that it was so near to
thirty and waving away consoling
speech that she hardly looked twenty
five. Further, she spoke Of her col
lege, OF her native country, touching
very lightly on the fact that she was
the last OF her race. Oddly, she did
not think ever to mention the family
name, but there was no tripping her,
even if anybody had tried it, over
country sights and sounds, and habits
of mind.
1t was even odder-women took to
her amazingly. AS Teeny Ware put
1T, she was the best sort Of good fell
low.
Olney, who came down in August,
laughed over the saying. His COM
ing was surprise. Or course, he did
not go to the Farms, but he did meet
the mistress of it many times. Also,
he studied her intently-a thing he
had rarely done for any woman.
Notwithstanding, they got on ad-
admirably. She apparently ignored
the challenge of his scrutiny and was
gay and cordial as with all the rest
So there was really scant warrant for
his saying to her at the end of a fort
night, Madam, whatever the game is
henceforth you must count me in"
mot yet. 1t would spoil-every-
thing, she answered, and it was
amazing what mirth and mockery
danced over her eyes and mouth. Il
dare not even let my whole self in,"
she ran on. "The experiment is as
gorgeous as soap bubble-and as
easily broken"
Il won't break it," Olney answered,
kindly. Tell me by little. AS, for
instance, isn't Dan Langton the orig
inal first cause of it,"
"You are his best friend?" shespar-
ried
Olney nodded, but said quickly: 81
come next to you. No-he hasn't
said so outright-but when he talked
of you the very first timeI knew"
$50 that's why you let me come
here" she said, smiling and nodding
and l have believed 1t was all my
wonderful man of business. Sayi
What did he tell your"
"Nothing-had no chance" Olney
answered TRANQUILITY. Then, dropping
to plaintive key: please remember
I've weak heart-can't stand this
strain Of curiosity Tell me and I'll
never tell anybody-but Dan."
"You mean-about the expert
ment?" she asked.
Olney smiled a Yes" She went
on quickly, as though fearing to lose
courage: The experiment is-to see
il bookmade woman can hold her
own with--the other sort"
Explain! This is all Sanskrit to
me-" Olney exploded.
She drew deep breath and hur-
ried on: MY mother was a cook, my
father day laborer He died when
/ was five, and when | was fifteen my
mother followed him. Then old Ruel
Latran, for whom she had worked all
my life, cripple and blind, married
giving me everything For seven
years l was eyes, hands, feet to him,
never stirring from the house except
for walks while he slept l don't
know how he got the notion, but he
himself proposed correspondence
courses to me. Also he let me have
books and leisure, getting in a stout
nurse so / might have more time AL
most his last words before the stroke
were: Make yourself lady so you'll
do credit to the money l did my
best-am doing it still.
after l was free there was a Pc
Rod of travel In course of it / met
Dan. You know what he is-how
high-strung, how almost finicky-yet
in a week he was begging me to
marry him. / would have done it
gladly only for one thing-I loved
him just as crafty, just as unreason-
ably as he loved me. | couldn't take
the chance Of making him ashamed
OF me-that is to say, of making him
hate me. So I've come here among
his own sort to try myself out Tell
me-what chance have I Of winning?"
No chance about tits a dead
moral certainty" Olney declared
brusquely, getting up and shaking
both her hands. Over his shoulder
he added: I'm going to cali up Dan.