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

Before Bob could open the doOf II
was pushed in from the outside, and
as Katherine looked up, she looked
straight into the eyes of Dan Slade.
For a moment the room was electric
with the intensity of the situation.
Then the girl lifted her head proudly
and met SHADES eyes again. In them
he saw a light he had never seen
there before, a light of soft tender
ness and deep joy, q look that made
his heart start as he realized what he
had lost.
Good morning. Mr.. Slade," she
said coldly az Bot led her out into
the summer sunshine and to life and
love.
AS Slade, hat In hand, stood gazing
at his wife, Mary realized that for
the first time in all their married life
she had the advantage. For once the
roles Of the humble and the domi
neering were reversed. There was q
long pause, awkward only for slade,
for Mary was quite at ease. He
coughed several times, and then, In
a manner he thought quite appropri-
ate, asked:
What did that girl come here for
-Miss-er-"
"Oh-forgotten her manner" came
from Mary, mockingly. Miss Strick-
land came just for a visit"
We'll, what did she want7" Siade
demanded.
"She came to find out what l meant
to do" There vas a world Of irony
in Mary's tone.
What has that got to do with her?
l don't approve OF a woman coming
into my house to find out what you
l don't like it! It's a bit of impu-
dence. What else did she have {
say? Did sheer"
She's not a very confidential GIRL"
returned Mary, evasively.
Il see, So she and Robert have
made up?" Slade considered this
rather a master stroke. By continu-
ing such questions he might get ut
the real state of affairs.
Yes"
We'll, well-In have to do some
thing for them" Slade was pater-
nally patronizing. but he did not de-
ceive Mary.
Your business out here today must
be very urgent What is IT."
Slade tried frantically to find a rea-
son for his visit. When he had left
town it was for the one reason OF
trying to bully Mary into leaving the
cottage and agreeing to a divorce.
With the complexion Of matters SO
changed, he was at a complete loss
to explain his visit. He was irri.
tated and annoyed. He was not used
TO having the tables so completely
turned on him. More than that, the
little cottage never looked more in.
viting. AS a matter Of fact, Slade
had often found the demands of his
new life considerable of a nuisance,
and as a Whit Of the savory lamb
stew came to his nostrils, q memory
of III peace and contentment of the
old life flashed through his mind.
Nothing at the club had been spe
cially tasty of late. More than that,
the drive down had given him an
appetite.
Cooking a stew, Nary" he asked
rather abruptly and inconsequen-
TALLY.
Just n of my old stews," Mary's
voice was Indifferent. She was thor
oughly Disguised with her husband,
now that she knew just what he had
planned to do. Jealousy and out
ragged pride were In her heart. This
man. for whom she had worked and
whose very faults and failings she
had loved, had been deliberately
planning to thrust her aside for q
woman who had enjoyed only the
sweets Of life, a woman whose youth
and beauty and social position put
Mary completely out of the contest.
The very thought was salt I'm her
wounded heart.
"Tn stay to dinner. IL I may" an
nounced Slade. removing his gloves
and laying aside his coat.
Certainly. Take your old chair,
II you like" There was none OF the
enthusiasm that might have BEEN In
Mary's voice II he had come earlier
in the day. She was formally, pains
takingly polite. "You can talk oveT
your business while we eat
Slade watched his wife from under
lowered lids az he ate. He feared
that Mary knew everything. This
calm. constrained atmosphere was
more bathing than an emotional out
burst would have been.
why did you come, Danf" Mary
was rather enjoying his discontinue.
"Oh. yes, I'm take my coffee now,
If ! may, good and strong"
Mary dropped in two humps and
the right amount of cream. more
from long habit than any desire 10
please him.
Il came out here to- Do you know
I rather like my dinner at noon hour,
like we used to have 1t here. Aren't
you eating?"
"Oh, yes, I'll eat" replied Mary.
but you haven't told me why you
came out"