Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-01-22
CHAPTER VII.

Left alone, Katherine drew q long
breath. Her face was set and her eyes
were harder than it is good for q
woman's eyes to be. She pictured to
herself the future for which she had
just bargained. There would be
wealth-no more pinching struggle
with masked poverty, her father at
ease, his political debts all paid.
There would be no more p~retense that
her art was for love of it and not for
money-she would be free to follow
her desires in this as In all else.
There would be honor and power as
wife of the states chief executive
and that was but a step to further
honors that she would achieve at
SHADES side-with Slade-always with
Slade-ah!
AS she stood thus the horror of what
she had agreed to do swept over her.
and she sank moaning and shivering
into a chair, covering her face as If
to shut out the hideous vision of her
self as SHADES wife. She did not
hear Bob enter, and did not know he
was in the room until he touched her
shoulder with tender alarm, exclaim-
ing, why. Katherine. what's the
matter?"
He did not think he ever remem.
bered Katherine, strong, irm-willed
Katherine, looking so pathetic and
helpless. She dropped her hands from
her face and he was surprised to see
the misery in her eyes and the drawn
lines about her mouth.
I'm cold-I'm cold! I've had an
awful chill" she tried to say, her
teeth chattering with the sudden cold
that seemed to freeze her lips. Don't
touch me, Bob?" she choked. 1--WE
done it. I've done It. l always knew
I'D do something terrible-I've done
It," Her voice was hollow and her
eyes were blank and expressionless.
katherine, tell me what's the mat
ter? Can't you tell me?" There was
a world of love and tender solicitude
in Bob's voice. His manner seemed
to rouse her, and she began to pace
the floor excitedly.
my minds made up. It's all over
between us now. I'm going to marry
Slade," the words were uttered
quickly, breathlessly.
You're going to marry Slade," Bob
could scarcely believe his ears. "You
must be crazy!"
NO" Her voice was firmer now.
But I'm twenty-seven years old,
t~wenty-seven years old" She bit the
words off with a vengeance. Soon
I'll be thirty-thirty-do you hear?
And you're the only man I've ever
cared a rap for. I've tried to marry
other men, rich men, men with impor-
tant positions. Once / nearly did 1t
in Europe. Then l thought of you.
and ! waited, l waited. And it's too
late now. / can't wait any longer.
I've worried and wondered aver since
/ got home what l could do. What /
could do! SHADES the answer, Bob,
SHADES the answer"
my God, Katherinei" Hayes was
completely bewildered at this unex.
pected outburst. SHADES married"
II don't care" she retorted. de-
family, gaining courage as she talked.
"A woman more or less Is nothing
to that man. He'll move a mountain,
He'll soon sweep her out of his path"
The hot blood surged up into Hayes
face. He was aghast at this peep into
the soul of the woman he had thought
was tender and dear and sweet. Her
complete disregard of Mrs. Slads en-.
ragged him.
$50 this is what Slade has doneir
His fists were clinched. This is what
he's after. This is what you want
I'm not surprised" he went on, bit
teriy. 1T was always in you"
YES" she met this accusation. q