The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-01-09


feet love and loyalty she was imper-
vious to any hint Of neglect or disloy-
atty from him. Had she known his
thoughts her first care would have
been to soothe him as one whose
brain, overtaxed with affairs beyond
her understanding. had suddenly
clouded.
For an instant the man was silent
His face was turned from hers and he
was looking out the doorway through
which the stately figure of Katherine
Strickland had Just passed and through
which he hoped to walk some day
governor.
EI-wouldnt 60 with you. Mary"
he finally turned and looked her
squarely in the eyes.
"Why-where would you be? Where
would you live? Where would your"
She stopped and then finished. "Pshaw.
That's all foolishness. Dan"
Mary" slade was firmer now. His
voice had ring Of flnality, but Mary
didn't understand Il can't go on apol-
ogizing for you eternally! You can't
have headache every night! l must
either have q wife who can be the
head Of my household or none"
Into the woman's heart there leaped
sharp fear, followed by the childish
idea that perhaps, because she wouldn't
go to the opera. she was to be pun
ished-sent away alone-unul she was
forgiven.
You're tired of me-" she suggested
'''If that were true and you filed the
bill. we could put up with each other"
he returned brutally. but it isn't 80"
Don't you love me?" she half
breathed the question timidly.
For a brief instant something caught
at SHADES heart and tugged and tugged.
He turned with look of infinite ten
derness and said, simply: Yes. Mary,
I do" His tone. was genuine and sim
cere.
Mary laughed little, happy laugh.
At the sound SHADES mood changed
like fash. 1t grated on his already
miss the controversy, to end the argu-
ment, to ring the death-knell Of the
dream that had come to him. The
careless way In which she apparently
dropped the discussion of going away
nettled him. Prompted by a sudden
impulse, he snatched her workbasket
from her lap and flung it the full
length Of the room. "D-n that bas-
ket!" he exclaimed. Cant l ever see
you without it,"
"Dan!" Marys gasp Of amazement
was the only sound in the room. 1t
was the first time he had ever been
harsh with her. She shrank bach hurt
and frightened. why. good Lord.
Dan, you never did that before"
Then, with quiet dignity, she began
to pick up the basket, the hated darn
ing cotton, the needles and scissors.
and the little worn thimble. Slade.
watching her slight, STOPPING figure.
ought to have been ashamed, but his
anger was flaming hot and he didn't
as much as offer to help.
Mary's mood changed, too.
II believe you're doing It to get your
own way" she sputtered. but you
amt going to get it. I've got as much
right to my life as you've got to yours"
Az abe came up to him. he stood
grim and silent, suddenly determined
that II she wouldn't 60 he would. If
che refused his offer Of home in the
country. then she could have this great
house to herself and he would live at
the club.
There amt anything you could ask
Of me I wouldn't do-e1cept-" Mar7's
troubled face was looking into his.
Except what l ask. he finished. sar.
castically. and hurried from tho room.
CURLY ordered his dressing bag packed
and then, hat in hand, his overcoat on
his arm, came back into the room.
did It ever occur to you. Mary. that
you're q mule?" he asked. You're
sweet and good tempered and amiable
but you'd have given the mule that
came out Of Noah's ark points on how
to be stubborn"
How often have I failed you in
these years, DAM"
You're failing me now. You won't
look at things with my eyes.
We're not one person, we're two.
Dan," she reminded him. quietly.
well, that's the trouble, we ought
to be one. That's Just what I'm get
ting at We ought to be Of one mind"
Whose? Yours?" and Mary's sweet
mouth puckered into a very little
| smile.
I'm done." slade decided. hope
lessly.
Il can remember the time when you
| would have thought that was cum
Ming" she reproached him.
I'm going to my club. Mary" he