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

A6ob toUiC WILL q Gel oCAOO Va NC
wilderment. It was the same this
morning as 1t had been each succes
sive morning since Dams departure.
She could not bring herself to the real
ization of the fact that Dan had not
come home-apparently did not intend
to come home.
She had waited up the night he had
gone to the club, just as she had
waited up every night of their married
life, no matter where her husband
was or how late he might be coming
home. AS the night hours heightened
into day she was forced to the ON,
clusion that Dan meant to stay away
for the night. That he wouldn't be
home at all through the day never &C.
CURED to her. She reasoned that a
nights sleep would clear his mind
and that he would have recovered
from his 'tantrum'' the next day. But
Dan didn't run in" that day nor the
next. The days had become weeks,
yet neither by telephone nor letter had
he sent as much as a word.
Finally Mary had mustered up her
courage and telephoned his club. 1t
took courage for Mary to use the tele-
phone on any occasion. She was afraid
Of the sound of her own voice the mo
ment she began to talk into the trans
mitter. This time she feared Dams
displeasure and his possible harsh
ness. Mr.. Slade was out, had left no
message, they did not know when he
would return, vac the disappointing
result as she hung the receiver on the
hook.
This morning, as the maid served
her breakfast, she resolved to try
again. The situation was getting un-
bearable. 1t was bad enough to live
In the great house and be surrounded
by servants with Dan there. Without
him she felt like a prisoner of state
and looked on the servants as 30 many
3ailers.
Leaving her breakfast practically
untasted, Mary again ventured to the
telephone. With faltering voice she
repeated the number. "On~e-three-nine-
four" with beating heart she inquired
for "Mr. Slade;" with sinking courage
she received the answer that Mr.. Slade
had gone out. leaving no message.
Again and again during the day she
repeated the call, only to receive g
similar reply. The possibility OF her
husband having left such a message
to be delivered to her, whether he was
there or not never occurred to the
truthful, eimple-minded little woman,
But Slade did not want to be reached
by her, and IL an untruth, more OF
less, were necessary, the telephone
boy was easily bribed.
Meanwhile Slade was eagerly look
ing forward to his new life. Never
back to the wife he had so coolly de
serted. He was batug dined and ban
quoted and feted, being everywhere
hailed as the candidate for governor
He was smiling the first breath of flu
ture glories with keenest delight. Thii
was the sort Of thing that made q mar
feel big! This was the sort of life tt
lead-with men bowling and salaamini
all around him. He walked with a firmel
tread. His shoulders were thrown
back a bit more arrogantly. His ches
was more noticeable as he Wake,
down the street.
The innate conceit and self-esteen
of the a made him overlook the fac
that the party needed a rich a HI
was quite satisfied that he was beinI
boosted by Strickland and the other
because of his brains, his unusual abb
ity, his oratory and his power to lea
He was happier than he ha,
been for years. Every day the ney
life looked brighter and the old les
desirable.
II he gave q thought to Mary 1t wa
q passing one. Mary was "comfort
able" She had everything that none
could buy. The servants would be tai
ing good car of her, Of course. Q
the lump in Mary's throat as she "a
Mt the lonely breakfast table and q
she went through the still more Ion,
some ordeal Of the formal dinner, b
knew nothing. OF the woman's achin
heart and her yes bright with unshe
tears as she tried to keep up befor
the servants and make excuses for h
absence, Slade was heartlessly O
livious. Or perhaps it was self-estee,
again, that made him unable to fe
for her-the self-esteem of the su
cessful man who feels no woun,
when fighting for what he wants, al
neither knows % cares that othe
feel them. He had a heart, but it W,
u~npleasantly like Pharaoh's.
But of Katherine Strickland's Sta
uesque beauty and her cosmopolit;
manner he was delightfully."- awal
During the weeks since he had IL
home Slade had been calling reg
larly at the Strickland home, partly
consult with the senator and part
for the purpose OF posing for the bu
which Katherine was modelling.
they sat hour after hoar. he pcs.
ccmforts deity 81